by Sam Hamod
This is but a short overview of how we may work with media, politicians
and
opinion leaders in our communities, regionally and nationally. This
crisis
brought about by the bombings of Sept. 11 is a tragedy for so many; we
give
our condolences to those who lost relatives and loved ones in these
attacks.
As Muslims and Arabs, though many have faced discrimination and threats,
we
must see this as an opportunity to teach people about Islamic and Arab
cultures. Up to this point in history, no one wanted to know much about
Islam or the Arabs. But now, books on Islam and the Arabs are flying
off
the shelves. We must now step into this opening of interest in a
variety of
ways.
The following ideas and solutions apply to both Muslims and Christians
among
us:
It is time that Muslims and Christians reached out to the media and to
churches to explain Islam and early Christianity. We must make clear
that we
condemn the bombings in NYC and DC; Islam and Christianity expressly
forbids
attacks on civilians and also forbids suicide.
This is also a time to get on as many radio and television shows as is
possible. You do this by contacting the news directors of the various
stations and explain who you or your group represents and that you would
like an opportunity to speak to the situation at hand. You may or may
not
get on the air; if not, you may also tell the station management that
you'd
be happy to come in and explain Islam to them so that they are better
informed (this is important also because so many have misconceptions
about
Islam by lack of knowledge, dysinformation and by the orientalists in
the
zionist camp) and the mixing up of Islam with Arabs and that not Arabs
are
Muslims and that not all Muslims are Arabs. For the Christians, it is
important that you explain the first Christians were Arabs, the Church
of
the Holy Sepulchre is cared for and guarded by Palestinian (Arab)
Christians, etc. Too often these facts about both Islam and
Christianity
are not known to the bulk of Americans.
Muslims and Christians must also reach out to churches; you will find
these
people receptive and willing to learn. Here in the San Diego area, we
have
had great success explaining Islam and how close Islam is to
Christianity in
so many ways. Multiply all those you speak to by the number of persons
they
speak to and you will find that a group of even 50 will reach out to
thousands by network and through friendships etc. You will also find a
reservoir of good-will among these people. When I went out to speak to
a
group of 600 people who had come together enmasse from a group of
Protestant
churches, I received a standing ovation when I finished speaking; the
same
will happen to you I'm sure. BUT REMEMBER ONE THING, YOU ARE NOT THERE
TO
CONVERT THEM TO ISLAM; you are but there to inform them about Islam so
that
they can aid us and we can become friends for the long run (not just in
this
crisis). For too long the Muslim community has stayed by itself and
not
reached out, or felt they were superior to the Christian community and
some
in the Christian community felt this way about the Muslims; this is not
the
way, and was never the right way. We are brothers and sisters of the
BOOKs
from Allah (God). As Muslims and Christians, we must both reach out in
this
way; you will find that God will assist you if your message is true.
You may also write letters to the local, regional and national
newspapers;
op-ed pieces are also good. Don't be upset if your letters are not
often
published; these editors get thousands of letters everyday and they
choose
according to the number coming in, from whom they come in, etc. Often,
the
more that come in from a certain position, the more of those that are
published--so, by all means, send letters or emails as often as you can
so
that they see you have a strong and active community.
Op Ed pieces are harder to get published. There are some excellent
pieces
written by Hussein Ibish from the ADC; I recommend you read some of
these,
as well as pieces by Edward Said and Hanan Ashrawi. You will see their
clarity, their succinctness and their ability to marshall good, strong
arguments for their positions. They always keep their composure and do
not
go off the deep-end with their statements and their arguments; and, they
do
cry about our condition but try to deal with it. Crying will do us no
good,
either on television, radio or in print; stand strong and firm, make
your
points and conclude. But remember, for every assertion you make, after
your
brief introduction, give at least 1 or 2 proofs; go on to the next
assertion
and then again give proofs; most good letters make only 1 or 2 points,
most
good op-ed pieces make only 2 or 3 good points and then conclude.
It would also be good if you send a distinguished delegation out to meet
with some of the local politicians, newspaper and other opinion makers
and
media leaders in your community so as to established a line of
communication
with them. Conversation breeds respect and friendship--and we need and
want all of this that we can get. This has happened here in San Diego;
Majeed Khoury of the ADC has developed good relations with the Mayor as
has
Imam Fardan because they understood he didn't want to get caught up in
partisan or international politics; I'm sure others of you have also set
up
good relations in your communities. You must understand, these mayors
and
politicians will help us as citizens, but they do not want to get into
international disputes (something out of their areas of power and
expertise)
ethnic or religious disputes because for them it is ultimately a
lose/lose
situation. In these meetings, simply set up a sense of mutual respect
and
lines of communications. In these meetings, you should always ask the
mayor,
congressman or senator who they would like you to contact when trying to
get
through to them so that you know the structure they want you to work
through; they will appreciate this and you will be more successful in
your
future relations with these people; the same goes for media and other
opinion leaders.
Also, never attack these opinion leaders; you may defend yourself, but
NEVER
ATTACK them; if you do, you're on the losing side immediately and it
will
take you a long time to recover from this. REMEMBER THIS, POLITICIANS
AND
OPINION LEADERS HAVE A LOT OF ACES IN THEIR HANDS, A LOT OF POWER AND
THEY
HAVE LONG MEMORIES. You don't have to be afraid of them, but you do
have to
respect their power and remember, as you respect them, so too will they
learn to respect you and your group.
Finally, set up a
professional group as a media committee to
coordinate media relations. In this group, you must
have media savvy people who are committed to working in this area.
Give responsibilities to each of them for various media and
political outlets and positions and then monitor and respond
accordingly in a fair, temperate and rational manner. You must
always seek out those who are committed, but also those who will
work within the group and not try to be a Lone Ranger--we've had too
many of those types in the Arab and Muslim world in the past and
they have done us no good in the end. In this group also, set up a
hierarchy so that if you or anyone else drops out or cannot make an
important meeting, the meeting will carry on without you. The same
is true for your organizational structure; there must be a developed
infrastructure within so that if and when this present leadership
may leave or be out of commission, the infrastructure works and
other leaders come forth. Too many of our groups have not developed
infrastructures--this is a necessity.
Also, remember, many readers and listeners do not see the world from our
point of view; in order to communicate, you must understand and
empathize
into your audience--if you don't, then you're wasting your time and you
will
not help our cause.
Also, within your media group, before you isue major press releases or
statements, have a consensus of your executive committe on the message;
5
heads are often better than one--none of us can see 360 degrees.
CHRISTIAN ARABS, many of whom are in the ADC and other organizations may
follow the same ideas, but in addition they must also go out to the
churches
and explain to their Christian brethren that Palestinians (Arabs) were
the
first converts to Christianity as I said earlier. This is important
because of the attacks against Arabs and Arab Americans by Jerry
Falwell,
Billy Graham, Jimmy Swaggert and Pat Robertson and various
talk show
people
like Rush Limbaugh and Roger Hedgecock. You will find that many
Christian
ministers and even those men mentioned don't know the history of
Christianity and the role the Arabs played in the first church of
Christ--in
the Orthodox, Maronite and Catholic Churches--in addition to being among
the
first and largest number of converts to Christianity. At the same time,
you
may also inform them about Islam--that Islam believes in only ONE GOD,
that
JESUS was of Divine Birth, that Jesus brought miracles from God to show
his
righteous message, that Jesus sits beside God in heaven, that Jesus will
return on the day of judgement, that we share the same moral beliefs for
human behavior, that there is a heaven and hell that is the same, that
we
are all born from Adam and Eve, that Abraham is the father of our
religions,
and that Muslims believe in the Old Testament, the New Testament and the
Qur'an (which is but an addition,not a contradiction, to those two
earlier
Holy Books from God), and that Allah means God (even Christian Arabs
use
the term Allah to mean God, as the Spanish use Dios etc.) so that we
help
one another in understanding and also so that we help others understand
all
the facets of our civilization.
You must also make clear, as I know many do, that not all Arabs are
Muslims
and not all Muslim are Arabs (the largest nation of Muslims is
Indonesia,
the second largest population of Muslims in the world is in India). It
is
important to explain also that many of the homes destroyed and people
killed
in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Hebron were Christian--therefore, they should
sympathize with you and not with those who are killing all of our
brethren,
Christian and Muslim.
As to Bin Laden, no Muslim can accept his praise of those who attacked
NYC
or DC; he was wrong to do this, he was praising the work of the devil.
However, it is true when he pointed out the unfair policy of the U.S.
that
favors Israel so heavily and does great damage to Iraqi children--but we
must always separate him from our legitimate grievances with U.S.
foreign
policy.
All of us, Muslim and Christians must work together. We must also get
over
any racial divides we have had in the past. I have seen many Muslims
look
down upon American born Muslims and American born African American
Muslims
and upon converts to Islam; this must stop once and for all. ISLAM
KNOWS NO
COLOR; CHRISTIANITY KNOWS NO COLOR OR RACE.
The same is true among Muslim and Christians--we are one PEOPLE OF THE
BOOK
and only Allah (God) is to judge us, we are not to say our religion is
better than yours etc. etc.--only Allah knows that and what is in our
hearts
and our hearts should be focused on God, not on earthly arguments that
will
avail us of naught.
Ironically, this is a time when the world can come together, but we have
to
work hard to achieve it, not only to protect our rights in the United
States, but also to help America stay on the path of justice and not
revenge
or mistaken notions of the "enemy."
As I said, this is but a brief overview of methods of dealing with
media,
politicians and opinion leaders; I'm sure there are more more ideas that
some of you are using; if so, please share them with us.
Let us hope we avail ourselves of this opportunity in the midst of
tragedy.
by courtesy & © 2001 Sam Hamod
by the same author:
