“We are not savages, we are not barbarians.” (link)
In light of all the negative, violent protests we are hearing about, I thought these positive stories deserved some attention.
::more below the fold::
Peaceful protests were held in Canadian cities today — 1300-1500 in Toronto and 250-300 in Montréal. What caught my attention however, was not the demonstrations themselves, but that many mosques in these cities, and others, opened their doors to the public. Altogether, they spoke of denouncing violence, opening communication, and most of all, fostering understanding.
“We find it’s the only constructive way to respond to this issue of the caricature, present the Muslim community and who is Muhammad,” said Mohamed Kamel of the Al-Ommah Al-Islamiah Mosque. (link)
<== (Photo from CBC, Muslims protest in Toronto, Montreal against controversial cartoons).
In Toronto, the 1300-1500 demonstrated outside the Danish Consulate. The protest remained peaceful, and the message conveyed was furthering understanding:
“We want to include all our members and friends in Canada to be part of what we are feeling today,” one speaker told the crowd.
“To understand the hurt that we feel, to understand the injury that we feel.” (link)
The Muslim Association of New Brunswick also protested by opening their doors: afternoon prayers were open to the public. They said that this was their way of protesting, their way to bridge the gap, their way to express themselves.
Approximately 100 visitors attended the Open House to discuss the Muslim faith. CTV news spoke with two non-Muslims who attended the Open House (via TV broadcast; link n/a at this time — will update w/ link if it becomes available),
“I thought I’d drop in here especially because of this cartoon thing, which I think is deplorable. We should respect one another’s religion.”
“It’s getting to understand one another and when we know one another we won’t be afraid. It’s fear of the unknown.”
Internationally, peaceful protests ocurred in Turkey, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. (link)
I wanted to highlight these positive stories about this issue.
Thank you Olivia, for this and to know that ppl from all walks of life can open up their hearts to understanding and celebration of what others are feeling. It is remarkable to know that those of different faiths can come together and share, finally! We need not be different at all. All we need is understanding and enduring love for each other. I think we can start a new beginning if we just tried..sincerely tried.
This is wonderful to know. Thanks again…hugs
…we need to hear the good news too. Otherwise we lose hope. Small steps matter. Hugs to you too Brenda 🙂
I wish we heard more of these stories, too. I was talking to someone yesterday, and they were complaining about “why don’t the regular/moderate muslims speak out?” They do, we just never hear it on the news.
Shows the responsibility the media has in framing issues. They have the ability to create massive chaos as we have witnessed here. They are not innocent in this situation.
Olivia thanks for posting this. If only we saw more stories like this.
Thanks for reading. I thought the open house idea was a wonderful idea.
Is this the first time this happened in Canada?
Just curious because mosques in Germany already practise this for years. One weekend each year, mosques all over Germany open their doors for the “public”, so to speak.
No, this isn’t the first time — many hold annual open houses in Canada as in Germany.
In this instance, I thought that an open house was quite an enlightened and positive step (in contrast to the protests), and that’s what I wanted to pass along — we’ve been hearing so much about the negative stories.
Hi Olivia..thanks so much for this diary…and once again I’d say the MSM is complicit as has been mentioned in not covering either the peaceful demonstrations or to foster understanding of the Muslim religion and it’s stance of non-violence.
are considered houses of God, and are always open to anyone who wants to come pray.
I understand this was a special event, etc. but for the benefit of those who may not know, anyone can go to any house of worship any time the doors are open for services or prayer, and no one is going to be at the door asking for proof that you are a Hindu or a Jew or a Muslim or a Presbyterian (let me just take a look at that potato salad, ma’am. Peas. Just as I thought. You are not a Presbyterian, you are clearly a Jew from the Ukraine. Who are you trying to fool? That stuff is even pink! Now please leave the premises immediately)
A sad note, in the US houses of worship used to be open always but because of crime now they all lock the doors except for times when services or other activities are taking place.
Thanks for this.
What troubles me about their involvement, is that in this case the media itself is the story.
.
TEL AVIV (Trouw Newspaper) February 14th, 2006
A Danish paper publishes a cartoon that mocks Muslims.
An Iranian paper responds with a Holocaust cartoons contest –
Now a group of Israelis announce their own anti-Semitic cartoons contest!
DIMONA - An Israeli Comix GroupAmitai Sandy (29), graphic artist and publisher of Dimona Comix Publishing, from Tel-Aviv, Israel, has followed the unfolding of the “Muhammad cartoon-gate” events in amazement, until finally he came up with the right answer to all this insanity – and so he announced today the launch of a new anti-Semitic cartoons contest – this time drawn by Jews themselves!
“We’ll show the world we can do the best, sharpest, most offensive Jew hating cartoons ever published! No Iranian will beat us on our home turf!”
The contest has been announced today on the http://www.boomka.org website, and the initiator accept submissions of cartoons, caricatures and short comic strips from people all over the world. The deadline is Sunday March 5, and the best works will be displayed in an Exhibition in Tel-Aviv, Israel.
“But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.”
▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY
What do you make of this situation? Do you think this challenge is a good idea?
I read a post last night at Arthur Silbur’s blog based on a Salon article that stated:
I don’t think any of this is going to end well — for anyone.