Replies regarding Eid stamp remarkable

* EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letters are a sampling of the more

than 100 letters that flooded the Pilot’s inbox after Lolita Harper’s

column titled, “Someone is putting her foot down about a stamp,” was

picked up by the national organization, Council for American Islamic

Relations (CAIR).

CAIR, which was formed to promote a positive image of Islam and

educate nonadherents about the religion, distributes a daily

newsletter to various members, media outlets and member

organizations. In response, letters came from American Muslims all

over the country -- including dozens from Orange County -- and one

was sent from as far as Pakistan. Here are some of them.

Thank you for standing up against bigotry and ignorance. Eid is a

wonderful holiday that all Muslim families look forward to. Islam is

about peace, tolerance and family values. There are terrorists in the

world. Some of them claim to be Muslims. However, we should not let

their actions define what Islam is all about.

Thank you and the Daily Pilot for publishing it.

ABDUL SHAMMAA

Huntington Beach

Thank you for writing such a wonderful article defending Islam. It

is a breath of fresh air to have a reporter like you. Keep up the

good work.

IMAM IBRAHIM

Garden Grove

I just wanted to say how grateful I am to Lolita Harper for

writing her article about the controversy over the issuing of the Eid

stamp. Being a Muslim-American, it’s really nice to read that there

are some journalists out there who don’t just blindly go with the

flow of the masses and who are intelligent and brave enough to take a

stand against unjustified stereotypes against Muslims.

I hope more people will follow Harper’s example of actually

learning more about Islamic practices in order to understand the true

meaning behind them. Harper, thanks for upholding the American values

of tolerance and understanding for all people, I really appreciate

it.

ALIYA HUSSAINI

Anaheim Hills

I just wanted to say, “Thank you.” Lolita Harper is awesome. Her

article was well done and brought up excellent points. Keep up the

great work.

OMAR ZAKI

Anaheim

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Omar Zaki is the director of governmental

relations for the Council On American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

I read Lolita Harper’s column titled “Someone’s putting her foot

down about a stamp “ which ran Monday in the Daily Pilot and wish to

thank her on my behalf and all the sane citizens of Orange County,

who see the points she has made.

Thank you so very much for helping us all live together in peace.

With all the troubles in the world, the actions of concerned and

sensitive people like Harper, who look beyond the status quo and

stand up for what is right make a great difference in our lives.

Kind regards and best wishes for the holidays.

RAHIM SABADIA

Yorba Linda

Thank you for that wonderful, thoughtful and funny piece on the

Eid stamp. At first read, I skipped the by-line and was pleasantly

surprised at the end to discover that it was written by someone

outside the Muslim community. You have restored some of my lost faith

in the media here. Keep up the good work.

LAILA KARAMALLY

Anaheim

Mass e-mails with venomous accusations and hatred against Islam

and Muslims are nothing new. But what is new -- actually refreshing

-- are people who stand up against bigotry. Lolita Harper’s column in

defense of Eid and Islam is an enlightened, rationalistic response to

such negativity.

Harper does more to bridge the gaps of misunderstanding and

ignorance than do so-called “watchdogs,” such as former Costa Mesa

Councilwoman Heather Somers, can ever dream of. It is unfortunate

that people who feel that they can lead our communities and

neighborhoods can have such extremist views about people they never

tried to reach out to and understand. It is even more unfortunate

that certain people have to forward these views without ever

questioning them.

Thank God for the Rev. Dennis Shorts and Lolita Harpers of the

world, who -- because they interact with people and make their lives

about inclusiveness and understanding -- avoid such viciousness.

SABIHA KHAN

Anaheim

I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed the column on the Eid

stamp. I think that it was very informative. I think it also made a

good point: that Americans are basically very good people, and given

the correct information, most will be very tolerant and accepting.

You did a better job explaining and reasoning then even many

Muslims would be capable of doing, since we may get emotional.

BASHIR MATIN

Orange County

Thank you, Lolita Harper, for a wonderful article. As a born

American citizen, and practicing Muslim woman, it was sad to hear

about such an uproar over a stamp and the ignorance that exists about

Islam. But it was refreshing to read your comments and feedback. Your

come backs to Russ Niewierowski’s statements had me laughing out

loud. I am forwarding your article to all my contacts.

Thank you once again for reinforcing the beliefs that this country

was established on.

MARYAM DADABHOY

Anaheim

Thank you so much for an insightful article. As a Muslim-American

woman who lives in Huntington Beach, I appreciate you taking the time

to converse with my neighbors, Russ Niewierowski and former Costa

Mesa Councilwoman Heather Somers. It’s sad when some people either

sincerely can’t see the obvious flaws in their argument, or who

simply do not want to face the truth that their arguments are based

on a double-standard.

I appreciate that you took the time and energy to stand up for

reason and fair play. Thank you. May the blessings of this Ramadan

and this holiday season shower upon you.

SHEREEN SABET

Huntington Beach

Nice column regarding the Eid stamp. It’s amazing how

misinformation -- and fear -- is spread among us these days.

NIDAL IBRAHIM

Huntington Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Nidal Ibrahim is the editor of Arab American

Business Magazine.

I read Lolita Harper’s article on latimes.com, and I wanted to

thank the paper for trying to present a more balanced approach toward

Islam here in America.

I can’ t tell you how difficult it has been to be a Muslim since

Sept. 11, 2001. Immediately following the attacks, my family did not

leave the house for three days, for fear of retribution. I remember

sitting on the computer, writing letters to government officials and

news media all day and night, and wondering in my heart if my country

was getting ready to turn against me.

In the years since, I have had to curb my political and community

activism for fear of reprisal. Can you imagine what it’s like being

afraid to express an opinion because you might get fired for it? I do

not publish my name on my Web site anymore because I am afraid the

political opinions I express will be used against me or forwarded to

my employer.

I listen to right-wing war hawks like Michael Savage and Sean

Hannity vilify my religion. I am forced to deal with purported

religious leaders like Pat Robertson and Jerry Vines insult my faith.

And these are only the big examples. Everyday I am forced to listen

to some simple-minded bigot explain why Islam is evil and how we want

to destroy the fabric of America’s social and cultural institutions.

Whether its a senator or a local radio host, the amount of bigotry

Muslims face in America today is inescapable in it volume and its

vitriol.

Thus, when I come across an article like this, it is like a fresh

breeze against a tormented psyche. It reminds me that there are

people in this country that still hold true to the values that our

country was founded upon - values of plurality, tolerance, and

freedom of expression.

Thank you for keeping my faith in America strong.

JAMAL KHAWAJA

Texas

I just wanted to drop a line of appreciation for the article

Monday regarding our beautiful Eid holiday and the lovely stamp that

commemorates it. It is indeed “scary” to see that such prominent

local figures believe so strongly in something so misguided and

ignorant. Yet, it is always refreshing to find that there are still

many people of reason out there. In Islam it is said that even

speaking a word of truth in the face of a tyrant is Jihad. Perhaps

Lolita Harper has done such on a smaller scale, but know indeed that

no word of truth or reason is ever trivial. Like many others, I

appreciate the efforts at promoting understanding and awareness. Have

a good holiday season.

AMNA IKRAM BHATTI

Orange County

Thank you for your enlightening and somewhat humorous column

regarding all the “Islamophobes,” who are angry about the Eid stamp.

As a Muslim convert, I always get a kick out of people trying to lump

1.2 billion Muslims into one little stereotype. When people meet me

(a 6-foot tall, blond “white dude”) and I tell them that I am a

Muslim, they usually do a little double take.

As you point out in your article, this great country was founded

on a belief in religious freedom. Muslims have earned a place at the

table and the Eid Stamp is a symbol of the fact that there are

millions of law-abiding, God loving Muslims in the U.S.

Your article goes a long way toward dispelling myths about Islam

and Muslims. I thank you for your thoughtful approach.

JIM HACKING

St. Louis

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Jim Hacking is the executive director of the

Council for American Islamic Relations in St. Louis.

I hope this reaches you in the best of health and highest of

spirit.

Thank you so much to Lolita Harper for writing “Someone’s putting

her foot down about a stamp.” It was so nice to read such a nice

article. There are so many people who are unaware of who Muslims are

and what Islam is all about, evident by the comments of those two

individuals. Again, thank you.

LOBNA HEWEDI

Anaheim

I greatly appreciate Lolita Harper’s article regarding the

commemoration of Eid with a stamp. Her conversation with Russ

Niewierowski and the former councilwoman and watchdog Heather Somers

was so knowledgeable and sincere, whereas theirs was seemingly very

ignorant and hypocritical.

The word Islam itself means peace and as Harper so rightly pointed

out, Eid is a holiday of celebrating the end of the month of Ramadan

-- a month of fasting -- with our families and friends. Islam is not

a religion of terrorists nor a religion of any particular country.

There are Muslims celebrating Eid in every country of the world

today.

Thanks once again to for a job well done.

RESHMA FARUKHI

Orange

Lolita Harper once again spoke my mind and heart in her Daily

Pilot encounter with misguided fanatics. I’d like to thank you and

everyone who says and writes the truth. I can now celebrate Eid with

beautiful thoughts about Los Angeles County, Orange County and your

organization.

HISHAM ELKATIB

Corona

I enjoyed Lolita Harper’s column about anti-Muslim fanatics

getting riled up about the Eid stamp. Eid, as Harper points out, is a

Muslim holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas. It follows a month of

fasting, worshipping God, celebrating with family and friends, and

giving to charity. Even though I am a Quaker, not a Muslim, I have

fasted during Ramadan for the past three years in order to get know

the Muslim faith and community better. I have broken fast in the

evening at mosques and at the homes of Muslims and I have always been

graciously treated.

I should add that Muslims always speak of Jesus and the Hebrew

prophets with great respect and admiration. It seems fitting for the

U.S. Postal Service to honor the millions of Muslim-Americans who

love this country (and God) with the same intensity as Christian or

Jewish Americans.

ANTHONY MANOUSOS

Torrance