Does America Need to be Despised to Need Reform?

Submitted by Allison Knight-Khan (United States), Aug 24, 2005 at 23:55

I am an Ahmadi. We believe in the jihad of the pen. We hope to influence the world. We invite the world to become Muslim. Inshallah, the world will become Muslim, albeit, taking the painful route, and I don't mean by force. The only true jihad is the jihad of self-reform.
Things are happening in permissive America that would have shocked my parents generation. My father was surprised that there were male prostitutes. When I watched tv as a child, I could watch it all day and never see nudity. Now I am afraid to let my kids see the news, because I don't know if they will dredge a dead body, show nudity or just dress to appear as nude as possible. My three and five year old were asking what "rape" was because it was mentioned so often in the local Georgia news.
I don't despise America, but I recognise a need for a moral reform when I see one. I wonder if Mr. Daniel Pipes could tell me who despised America in 1930? from your first reference.
I have been reading the letters of my great grandfather, a Christian missionary to Turkey in 1850. (He was unsuccessful in converting Muslims to Christianity.) He referred to New York as Babel. He felt it was full of sins. Are Muslims the only ones to criticise the morality in the USA? I think not. Everyone can see the great moral decline, if they want to--if they are honest.
Do you know how to change it for the better? I didn't know before I was Muslim. Islam is SO clear on how to better the world. Forbid evil. Encourage good. Simple.

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