"Islam Beyond the Stereotypes" Attracts Large Audience

By Pat and Samir Twair

"Islam Beyond the Stereotypes" was the title of a program presented by the Muslim Public Affairs Council at the Islamic Center of Southern California. Among the more than 100 guests attending was a sprinkling of Orthodox Jews wearing yarmulkas and Christian clergy identified by their clerical collars.

At the closing session, Islamic Center Chairman Dr. Maher Hathout discussed "Fundamentalism Explored,'' and Los Angeles Congressman Howard Berman discussed "Muslims Through the Eyes of a Congressman."

Drawing upon a medical analogy, Dr. Hathout, a California cardiologist, stated that scientists tag or target a bad cell and try to kill it. Likewise, he said, the American media are tagging Muslims with the word " fundamentalist. "

"In the United States, it isn't considered proper to attack religion, but it's a free game to attack a fundamentalist," he said.

Pointing out that Islam is against violence, Dr. Hathout criticized the media for associating violence with Muslims. "It wasn't Muslims who bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or who dropped Agent Orange on Vietnam," he said. "We often hear the phrase 'Judeo-Christian' tradition, but in truth it has nothing in common except the exclusion of Islam. You call us an Eastern religion as if Jesus was born in the Bronx, or Moses was born in Paris."

Democratic Representative Berman told the audience he was coming to the Islamic Center as a Jew and as a Zionist. Noting that he is aware that Islam is one of the three great monotheistic religions and that the majority of Muslims are neither terrorists nor oil millionaires, Representative Berman said it is false to assert a conflict exists between Islam and the West.

''Media hysteria about Islam feeds hate crimes," he said. He called upon Jews and Muslims to unite in combating the stereotype that equates Islam with terrorism.

Advocating the end of the embargo on arms to Bosnia, Representative Berman said Bosnia is not only a Muslim tragedy, but a human tragedy. He said it is the European allies who are holding President Clinton back from beginning air strikes on Serbs besieging Bosnian cities.

During the question-and-answer session, Dr. Hathout was queried on what Islam teaches about Israel.

"The modern state of Israel was created in 1948," he responded. "Islam came into existence some 1400 years before. There is nothing in the Qur'an about the Knesset. [Muslim] statements have been made that a people shouldn't be pushed out of their homes and lands according to their religion. "

Asked for his reaction to the Israeli bombing of Lebanon, Representative Berman said he believes in a Jewish homeland, but that Israel cannot be a perpetual occupier and also a democracy.

Berman, who has built a reputation as one of Israel's staunchest congressional supporters, added: "There have been abuses and over-reactions by Israel just as there have been serious provocation's by the Palestinians." He expressed his conviction that the peace process can bring about a just solution to the conflict.

Another question directed to Dr. Hathout was what term he would use for those Muslims labeled as "fundamentalist terrorists."

"I would call them people who are doing something wrong,'' he replied. "I would identify them by their proper names. When John Hinckley shot President Reagan, I didn't hear the media referring to him as a 'Protestant fundamentalist."'

When asked why Muslims don't lift the death sentence imposed by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini on Salman Rushdie for writing The Satanic Verses, Dr. Hathout said: "This is a case of selective deafness on the part of the Western media. Most Islamic institutions have condemned it [the death sentence], but the world has not heard this."

Congressman Berman was asked his opinion of Israeli Likud leader Benyamin Netanyahu's statement that Islam is the new danger to the West.

"This isn't the first time I've disagreed with Netanyahu," he retorted. "I don't find this argument an appealing one."

RAND Hosts Conference

Had RAND's annual conference on the Middle East occurred a month later, it might have focused on the most momentous event there in 50 years, the possibility of a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. Instead, the Aug. 27 and 28 sessions at RAND headquarters in Santa Monica focused on internal dissentions threatening the area since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Entitled "Unity vs. Separatism in the Mideast," the conference was arranged by Mary Morris of RAND's Mideast-Southwest Asia Study Group.

Discussing "Islamic Fundamentalism" at the opening session, Dr. Yvonne Haddad of the University of Massachusetts said many Arabs see Islam as a source of strength, owing to the fear of it in the West, and particularly in Israel. Washington's acquiescence while Muslims are killed in Kashmir, Israel and Bosnia has led to tremendous resentment, she said.

Prof. Haddad added that, while the West criticizes the Muslim world for not granting women full equality, the West is open to criticism for not using its technical and financial assistance to promote economic and political rights in recipient countries.

Prof. Adeed Dawisha of George Mason University pointed out that although the (Muslim) radicals are a distinct minority it is they who attract media coverage. He called upon the silent majority of moderate Muslims to speak up.

At a session he chaired on "Regional Organizations and Cooperation," RAND's Dr. Joseph Kechichian predicted that Syria and Egypt will be admitted to the Gulf Cooperation Council in the near future.

Summing up the conference, Morris pointed out that a discussion of threats to regional tranquility would have focused on U.S.-Soviet interests in the past. "Now the threat is internal," she said. "Instability now can arise from communal and ethnic problems that create refugees."

Israeli Bonds Win

Proof that when the voting has anything to do with Israel, constituent wishes go out the window was offered by the California Senate's passage of Assembly Bill 216, calling for investment of California pension funds in Israeli bonds. The bill was introduced on April 12 by Burt Margolin to the state assembly, where it sailed through 62 to 8.

Soon after, a strong campaign was launched against the bill by several organizations, including the County of Santa Cruz, the National Association of Arab Americans, the Council for the National Interest and New American View. As many as 300 to 500 letters and phone calls criticizing the bill were made to individual senators. Many protesters wondered why the California State Employees Association (CSEA) and Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) did not file objections against the bill, which called for the investment of their pension funds in high-risk (BBB-rated) Israeli bonds.

Assemblyman Margolin asked State Sen. Hershel Rosenthal to serve as senate floor "jockey" for AB 216. When the senate reconvened Aug. 16 from a sum mer break, Rosenthal evidently had to wait for two weeks before he could muster 22 senators out of a possible 40 to vote for the controversial bill. Only five senators voted against it, but the remaining 13 wrote letters informing their constituents that they had not voted for the risky use of state pension funds.

Republican Marian Bergeson reported she had cast a yes vote in error, and immediately approached the desk to request a change in her vote. When she learned her no vote was not registered, Sen. Bergeson wrote a letter of protest to Gov. Pete Wilson stating that "this turn of events disturbs me greatly because I have opposed this bill from its inception. I encourage you to veto it so our public employees will have the peace of mind—and fiscal controls—they deserve." It might have been wise if Sen. Bergeson had asked for a recount to see if any other "no" votes were "overlooked. "

When AB 216 was returned to the assembly, it passed the second time 45 to 23, indicating that at least 15 more assembly members had caught wind of the voters' displeasure with the bill since its first time around.

Gazan Addresses Jews

Dr. Sabri El Farra had scarcely unpacked from attending the peace accord signing in Washington, DC, when he was asked to speak at a Rosh Hashanah eve service at the Wilshire Theater in Los Angeles. Rabbi David Baron had met the Palestinian physician several years ago through the Foundation for Middle East Peace. The rabbi asked Dr. El Farra to discuss the peace issue at a Los Angeles Jewish temple whose congregants include many in the entertainment field.

Dr. El Farra called on American Jews to support the peace process and to support financial projects in Gaza. He described a meeting after the White House signing of 50 Arab and 50 Jewish leaders with President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Dr. El Farra said he specifically asked two committed congressional supporters of Israel, Reps. Tom Lantos (DCA) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), to take
the lead in Congress on behalf of special appropriations bills for Gaza and Jericho.

Citing high unemployment and nonexistent infrastructure as the foremost problems facing Gazans, Dr. El Farra said a huge transfer of aid must begin immediately if peace is to succeed.