From an American Muslim

Submitted by Thomas J Hamza Mohammed Haidon (New Zealand), Apr 6, 2003 at 05:12

It is sometimes very difficult to face reality. As an American Muslim, I must face the reality, as should all members of the American Islamic community that there is a very real element of truth to what Mr Pipes is saying. It is natural for American Muslims to feel islolated, however there is a remedy. We need to clean our backyard of terrorism, and separate ourselves from the Islamacists. The lines have been drawn and the time is now to do so. As an American, we are faced with both external and internal threats. As American Muslims we have a greater responsibility to support our country, and separate ourselves from the Akbar's and John Allen Mohammed's of our country. This starts in the Masjid, it starts with policing ourselves and showing the non-Muslim population that we are partners in the war on terror. But alas the truth is difficult for American Muslims to face. As hard as it is however, it's true.

Since we cannot police ourselves effectively, justifiably there is a duty upon law enforcement to scrutinize us to a higher degree. The reason why American hear so much about moderate Islam is because this large majority of Muslims is silent. It is time to speak up... open our mosques... open our communities... to the non-Mulsim public.

Instead of criticizing Daniel Pipes, moderate Muslims should thank him. Mr Pipes has always made a distinction between Islamic fundamentalism, and moderate Islam. If the American Muslim community took affirmative steps to distant itself from anti-American sentiment, anti-Semitism and terrorism, non-Muslim Americans would take notice.

Its time to speak up...

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