All sides should stop the violence and meet to work out a diplomatic and political compromise. But aggression, oppression, invasion, killing and wounding of civilians cannot be allowed and must be condemned.
Pray, if you pray. Contact your representatives, and especially President-Elect Obama. I’ll post analysis and action alerts later.
1.
Announcement: There will be a prayer vigil for peace in Gazaand the
world on Saturday evening, January 3, 2009, from 5-6 pm at the
Oklahoma Capitol building in Oklahoma City, OK. If you plan to attend,
you should bring blankets and a flash light, candles are not allowed.Item 2:
CAIR-OK to Host Press Conference, Vigil for Middle East Peace
(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – 12/31/08) On Monday, January 5, the
Oklahomachapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK)
will hold apress conference and a “Peace Vigil for Gaza” at the state
Capitol building inOklahoma City.
Vigil participants will call on public officials to help stop Israeli
attacks onthe Gaza Strip, restore the cease-fire and promote peace
with justice in theMiddle East during the coming year.WHAT: Press Conference on GazaWHEN: Monday, January 5, 2009, 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Oklahoma State Capitol. 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 432 B.
OklahomaCity, OKWHAT: Peace Vigil for GazaWHEN: Monday, January 5, 2009, Noon – 1 p.m.
(Please dress warmly and arriveby 11:30 a.m.)
WHERE: South Plaza of the Oklahoma State Capitol. 2300 N. Lincoln
Blvd.,Oklahoma City,
OKCONTACT: Razi Hashmi, CAIR-OK Executive Director,
405-415-6851,rhashmi@cair. comRichard Falk, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in the
Palestinianterritories, told the BBC: “Israel is committing a shocking
series ofatrocities by using modern weaponry against a defenseless
population -attacking a population that has been enduring a severe
blockade for manymonths.”SEE: Gaza Air Campaign ‘a First Stage’ (BBC)http://news. bbc.co.uk/
2/hi/middle_ east/7804218. stm SEE ALSO: Family Mourns 5 Daughters as Civilian
Death Toll Mounts (Wash.Post)http://tinyurl. com/9ckcjoCAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices
andchapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance
understandingof Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower AmericanMuslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.CONTACT: CAIR-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi, E-Mail: rhashmi@cair.
com; CAIR-OK Chairperson Lobna Hewedi, E-Mail: lhewedi@cair. comRazi HashmiExecutive DirectorCouncil on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR)Oklahoma Chapter
CAIR National: http://www.cair. com
The poster I saw today with the swastika and star of david together really was, classy.
The poster I saw today with the swastika and star of david together really was, classy.
That poster was unfortunate, to say the least. I cringed when I first saw it. I certainly don’t defend it, but I know, as I’m sure you know, that public events draw all kinds of people, with various levels of taste and political sophistication. Many times at peace events for a cause I support, I see errant messages or behavior I don’t. This is true of all sides, and of itself is not a reason to condemn the event’s purpose or statement. Think of the woman at the 2004 Republican convention mocking Kerry’s war services with a Bandaid “purple heart” — not classy, and veterans all all persuasions had a right to be offended. Examples would be endless…
That poster was unfortunate, to say the least. I cringed when I first saw it. I certainly don’t defend it, but I know, as I’m sure you know, that public events draw all kinds of people, with various levels of taste and political sophistication. Many times at peace events for a cause I support, I see errant messages or behavior I don’t. This is true of all sides, and of itself is not a reason to condemn the event’s purpose or statement. Think of the woman at the 2004 Republican convention mocking Kerry’s war services with a Bandaid “purple heart” — not classy, and veterans all all persuasions had a right to be offended. Examples would be endless…