Whether you love it, hate it or are indifferent to it, television is a fixture in most American homes today. Ninety-eight percent of households in the United States have at least one television set and 34 percent have two.
Already, Muslim children are used to processed foods and automated living. They are now being trained for 'processed thinking' and 'automated culture' through television. And it is an uneven contest, as the powerful television, through its programming, overpowers our innocent children.
When Muslims think of Baghdad, they don't think of Saddam Hussain. Tyrants like him come and go. They think of their glorious past: the legends of Caliph Harun Rashid; the libraries of this great city, which were the largest in the world; literary classics like the 1001 Arabian Nights; and one of the greatest Islamic scholars of all time, Imam Abu Haneefa.
One Muslim African-American woman's account of discrimination on the basis of her headscarf. This convert sister describes her experiences with Hijab in public.
War appears inevitable. But, I continue to hope that the cloud will lift. Perhaps Saddam will yet turn tail and run. Perhaps reason will somehow still prevail. I along with millions of Americans will pray for the safety of our troops, for the innocent civilians in Iraq, and for the security of our homeland.
The media in your city will be looking for local Muslim reaction to the war on Iraq in the coming days. A press release, issued as soon as possible, can not only help them get your points across in a clear and well thought-out manner, but it can also be a way to alert local media that you are ready to be interviewed.