National Open Mosque Week...a way and means to fight Islamophobia

[As a prelude to the below, my article on the Common Threads Dinner - got rave reviews from my
the social justice committee that I've joined through my church. Was quite pleased about that, particularly since I was a tad nervous on how well it would be received.]

This week in the US - is National Open Mosque Week. The below was issued as a press release. If you live in the NYC area? Or in an area that has Mosques - I highly recommend that you check it out. I went to a Mosque in Istanbul and other areas of Turkey, and it opened my eyes. Diversity is something we all need to embrace. And it starts here.


The Islamic Leadership Council of New York, a federation of mosques and Islamic organizations in New York City, is against bigotry and Islamophobia in the United States and particularly in New York and will conduct a Week of Dialogue and host Open House at Mosques during October 17 to October 24, 2010.

Imam Al-Amin Abdul Latif, President of the Islamic Leadership Council, expresses his outrage and condemnation those who for their vested interests have sought such an un-American path that violates our values and Constitution. Imam Al-Amin emphasizes that Muslims have to be proactive and reach out to non-Muslims with the message of Islam. Similarly, inviting non-Muslims to mosques and Islamic centers and sharing Islamic literature with them will help correct their perception of Islam and Muslims in America. Imam Al-Amin said that this was the reason the national Islamic leaders in their summit held in New York City on Sept. 19, decided to conduct a Week of Dialogue. Therefore, during this week, mosques all over the United States will organize open houses and invite neighbors and non-Muslim friend to attend special seminars and programs so that they can know more about Islam and Muslims.

( Mosque Open House Schedule in NY Area )

This list can also be found on NY1.

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Are there any nice people? Depends on the day of the week I suppose. And the passing mood. Are there any nice fandoms, again day of the week and the passing mood. Any nice politicians - most likely not - they looked like they were going to eat each other alive in the gubernationational debate tonight (governor's debate for NY). You think you have problems? People aren't always nice.
Never really liked that word anyway. I prefer interesting. Nice makes me think of Miss Universe contestants with plastic smiles and speeches. Or Pollyanna with the Shirley Temple curls.

Remember getting into a bit of a debate with someone on a fanboard back in 2003, don't remember what it was about (most likely Spike or Angel - that was usually the subject, we fought about the same things back then that people fight about now, the arguments haven't changed, just the players) and they said that they thought of me as a nice sort of girl. My retort? Oh, whatever, gave you that idea??? Then I ripped apart his argument. It was not a proud moment, but admittedly fun. For some reason the word "nice" rubbed me wrong. It's such a boring word. Lacks texture. Flavor. Like the word sad or ugly. Well, it was fun, that is, until someone popped up and ripped apart my argument, and so on, and so forth...until we grew tired of pissing each other off and one upping each other, in what amounted to little more than an unwinnable pissing contest and called it a night or a month depending on the debate. You sing tomato..and I sing tomatoe...let's call the whole thing off.

What I love about my flist is the majority of it does not look at things the same way I do. Diversity while admittedly annoying is something I've always sought, masochistically at times.
They talked me into trying Angel the Series again when I completely gave up on it, and convinced me to see the characters of Angel and Cordelia in a new and different way. And they did it without pissing me off. They also...talked me into trying Doctor Who, even if it didn't work for me the first season or two. And a whole host of other things. The people I've known since 2003, when I first jumped on board this thing - have seen me go through a lot, as I have watched them. The ups and downs. We aren't always nice to each other, or even remotely tolerant, and I've had knock down, drag out battles with most of them - but in the end...it was a wash, and we called it a night and gave each other a cyber hug or wave or just a shrug.

Life or so I've discerned or gathered, my syntax sucks I know - why do you put up with me? is often about contentious relationships...and navigating our way through them. Work, net, etc...it's tiring at times. Wish it were easier. But hey, I snark therefore I am. And I try not to take any of it too seriously, laugh at this comedy of errors...and hopefully my self in the bargain. And don't sweat the small stuff...

It's late and to bed must go I.

Note to self - no more bubblegum after eight o'clock.