What Can I Do? - Not In Our Name - Interfaith Domestic Violence Awareness Event

On March 14, 2009, the American Islamic Fellowship in Atlanta, GA will host the SecondAnnual Faith-Based Domestic Violence Awareness Event. This event is designed to emphasize thatpeople of all faiths unconditionally condemn abuse and violence of all kinds. This event aims to highlightintercultural and interfaith efforts to bring an end to this social problem that transcends faith, racial,ethnic, class, and gender boundaries. Speakers at the event will share different faith and culturalperspectives in a united denunciation of Domestic Violence. This event aims to address the severity ofdomestic violence, to initiate partnerships and to network between various organizations and faithcommunities, as well as to highlight resources available to those in need.

The event will call communities and organizations to action, as confronting and defeatingdomestic violence is a collective and complex problem. The event will partner with representatives fromvarious local and national domestic violence organizations to provide information and support regardingtheir respective efforts. The organizers of this Second Annual Faith-Based Domestic Violence AwarenessEvent aspire to assist in expanding and promoting awareness about the resources available tothose affected by Domestic Violence. Through sustained efforts and cooperation across communities,cultures and geographic regions, we hope to maintain the networks and partnerships achieved inorganizing this event to work together year-round in combating the causes and repercussions of domesticviolence throughout the world.

In Atlanta, the American Islamic Fellowship will host this event on March 14, 2008. The eventwill take place at Emory University’s White Hall Room 208 from 7:00pm-9:00pm, featuringnetworking and light refreshments. Speakers will include Mona Eltahawy, an award-winning syndicatedcolumnist and an international public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues, Ayonna Johnson of theWomen's Resource Center for Domestic Violence, Tzipporah Gerson, a volunteer with the Shalom Bayitprogram of the Jewish and Family Career Services in Atlanta, and Dr. Sue Boardman, an ordainedminister in the Presbyterian Church, a partner in ChangeWorksAtlanta, and a founding director ofHannah's House, a Domestic Violence shelter program. Music will be performed by Kerry Wentworth.The event aims to attract representatives from many faith traditions.

For more information and resources, please visit the Not In Our Name website or contact the American Islamic Fellowship at info@americanislamicfellowship.com.

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American Islamic Fellowship
blog@americansislamicfellowship.com

Ashes to Ashes

When my friend asked me to go to and Ash Wednesday service with her, I jumped at the chance. My friend is Catholic and I had never been to an actual service in a Catholic Church. I'd only sat through a couple funerals, which apparently were Vatican I because they were mostly in Latin. I had been to several Ash Wednesday services in my life, but mostly at Episcopal or Methodist Churches. Always looking for a new adventure.


On the way, my friend and I discussed what we were giving up for Lent, a Christian season of fasting and prayer I think of as a "Ramadan light". She had not decided anything yet. I had a clear choice, fast food. I had discussed this intent with both my mother and sisters just the night before that. Usually when it comes to Lent, the thing I am giving up blasts out like a cannon in front of me. This year was no different.


I walked into the cavernous sanctuary and the place was incredibly packed. I never remember the day being this popular. Nice to think about all the others who are sacrificing along with me. I observed the service and saw how close it was to the ones I'd already experienced and how close the words spoke were to the intentions I'd heard many times during Ramadan. The priest came around to put ashes on foreheads and before I could react, he put them on my head as well. He spoke the words of Mark 1:15 as he put the ashes on, "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." I immediately took in these words and thought of the part of the Qur'an which it talks about the Gospel and how it is a guide. I smiled knowing my own secret in the room in which I stood and how much I hope I would live these words as I had the ashes put on my head.

As the service went on, I was able to contemplate my own beliefs, internalize prayers as others were spoke and connect with the reason why others, even though they have other practices, were part of a very similar journey. I also thought of my grandfather, who was a Catholic, and felt like I was holding his hand through a shared experience.


The ashes are taken from the palms of the previous year's Palm Sunday. The palms represent the high honor given to Jesus as he entered Jerusalem. Wearing those ashes help me honor a man I considered to be a fabulous teacher. Here, I was able to learn through a journey he had taken.


Sacrifice and remembrance are two things I bring with me through Lent. I celebrate it as a way to connect to my friends and family, but also because, like Ramadan, it helps me remember those who have no choice but to sacrifice a lot.

What Can I Do? Aasiya Zubair Hassan's Death

The American Islamic Fellowship was saddened and dismayed to hear of the death of Aasiya Zubair Hassan. Ms. Hassan worked hard to build bridges among the many different cultures of the world and was very respected by our community. AIF was also saddened to hear her husband, Muzzammil Hassan, has been charged in her murder. AIF Advisor, Asra Nomani writes about the family's struggles; "Deadly Family Secrets."

The AIF condemns all acts of violence irrespective of who is involved and what the impetus may have been. Domestic violence is a widespread problem that crosses all cultures, faiths, communities, races, and ethnic groups.On March 14, 2009, AIF is sponsoring the 2nd Annual "Not In Our Name: United Against Domestic Violence" (NION). NION is an inter and intra-faith effort to educate the public about this particularly difficult societal struggle. NION hopes to move participants to action and bring together diverse voices from many faith traditions to show solidarity toward bringing an end to all kinds of violence. Mona Eltahawy, an award-winning international journalist will be speaking at the event and addresses the issue of domestic violence in Islam surrounding Ms. Hassan's death in her article, "The Sister We Missed."

For more information about "Not In Our Name: United Against Domestic Violence," as well as informational, educational, and activist resources for domestic violence available nationally, please visit the NION website.

Many voices from within the Islamic community are speaking out against this terrible tragedy including the Islamic Society of North America who issued this statement. The SBIA San Jose Masjid has begun the initiative, "Imams Speak Out: Domestic Violence Will Not Be Tolerated in Our Communities" in an effort to spur Imams and communities to discuss this problem at Friday services. Muslims for Progressive Values, is sponsoring a petition to End Domestic Violence in the Muslim World. Please visit the petition site for more information.

Please contact AIF at newsletter@americanislamicfellowship.com for more information or questions.

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Board of Directors
American Islamic Fellowship
newsletter@americanislamicfellowship.com

Spiritual Journeys

Where have we come from and where are we now was the theme from the discussion about Spiritual Journeys at our recent meeting. Dr. Ben Johnson led each participant on a journey through the past. We started at our birth days and let significant events come to us through a relaxing exercise rather than through forceful thinking. We then looked at these events, made them a chapter in our stories and named each one. Then, we discussed how the events and the exercise made us feel rather than discuss the particular instances in our lives.

What about you?

Where have you come from and where are you now?

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Kelly
American Islamic Fellowship
blog@americanislamicfellowship.com

The trials of a puppy-mom

My husband and I adopted a puppy 2 months ago. Mercedes was already 6 months old but completely uninhibited. She had been at the Atlanta Humane Society for 3 months before she came to live with us. She was actually returned to the shelter once before. Our suspicion was that her previous adopted family hadn't spent the time needed to train her. Which is A LOT!!!

Mercedes is my husband's very first dog- ever. It was an interesting progression, really. He had always been a "no dog" policy man. That was, until we bought a house- that had a yard. Over the next few months he started whispering into my ear at night. "You want a dog.... The back yard is empty... what do you want to name your puppy?.... can't you hear her whimpering?..." Eventually, the subliminal messages caused their desired effect. I caved. He knows me- he knew that once I was sold on the idea I would proceed to research every last detail... I haunted http://www.petfinder.com/ and online dated more than one puppy before we ever visited a shelter. I researched every breed known to man to figure out which one would be right for us. We decided on a laborador retriever. And so, of course, we ended up with a hound/pointer mix, because people don't adopt dogs- dogs adopt people. She gazed at us with those big brown eyes and floppy orange ears and we couldn't walk away.

She has a wonderful temperment- very sweet and friendly but a little timid around new and excitable dogs or loud noises. But whew! Training is no easy task!! When we first got her she jumped like a maniac, mouthed and nipped and knocked things over. She had no house manners, was not potty trained -at all- and would chew up and destroy anything she could get her mouth on. We had to be vigilant. We were obsessive new puppy parents- trying to calm her down and make a decent family member out of the wild beast!

Two months later: She sits, lays down, STAYS for up to 4 minutes!, crawls, shakes, high-fives, waves, heels and is walking better on a leash. She rarely pees in the house. She jumps less, doesn't nip and only thinks about mouthing sometimes. We are still working on "off" and "leave it." She'll fetch the ball and sometimes bring it back but she loves to play soccer. She has given up being destructive- she now chews nicely on her squeaky toys without ripping out their guts. She still wants to play with the cats who do not want to play with her, but we are working on that too. We haven't tackled the digging just yet- we just don't let her stay in the yard too long by herself.

We went to the Dog Park today and she had her fill of doggy-play and is now sleeping soundly in her crate.

I am so fascinated by her- how she learns and behaves and changes... Is this what it's like to have children?

I feel blessed to have her in my life- to experience both the pleasure of her nuzzle as well as the frustration of training her to keep all four feet on the ground.

Much Peace,

Melissa

AIF Website (Update!)

The AIF Website is happy once again and functioning like it should.

The changes are mostly to help the site run better, but please check out the site and see for yourself.

http://www.americanislamicfellowship.com

Please make any suggestions, comments, etc... to admin@americanislamicfellowship.com

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Kelly
American Islamic Fellowship
blog@americanislamicfellowship.com