Fwd: Sept 7th: Pasadena Portraits on Muslims
Regina Richter
|
Dear Community leaders; In September we will mark the 10th anniversary of
9/11. On that tragic day we, the people
of America,
came together and for a brief moment displayed to the world that a
multi-cultural, multi-theological nation is bound and strengthened by a common
thread. Sadly, over the past decade that
thread has become stressed and frayed.
We have Representative King holding hearings about the radicalization of
Muslims, Herman Cain whipping up a froth of Islamaphobia. Earlier this year
State legislators in Orange County
became YOUTUBE sensations when caught denigrating all Muslims as wife beaters and
worse at a constituent rally.
To be
Muslim in America
or even in our City is to know suspicious glances, looks of distrust and to
feel a certain level of unease. For a
country whose founding principal was religious freedom and tolerance we have
become a nation divided by intolerance.
We have forgotten that with our own freedom comes the responsibility to
insure that others have the same freedom and enjoy the same level of tolerance. Americans have been frightened by myths,
misinformation and a general lack of knowledge about our Muslim neighbors.
Therefore, on September 7th the Human Relations Commission, in conjunction
with Goraya Consulting, will present an important community dialog that will
explore the myths and stereotypes surrounding Islam and Muslims. We want to encourage everyone to attend, ask
questions, get answers and begin to help bridge the divide that has begun to
fracture our civil society. The forum
will be held in Council Chambers, 100 N. Garfield beginning promptly at 6:00. Attached is a flyer so you may post and encourage everyone to participate. If you have questions you may reach me at 626-796-6878 or Sonya Amos at 626-744-4234
Respectfully, Terrie Allen, Vice-Chair Pasadena Human Relations Commission |