Peacemakers are Grateful for Islam Day

Hawaii State Legislators are being criticized by the vocal minority for their courageous decision to pass a resolution declaring September 24th, 2009 as Islam Day.  This day is not an official holiday.  There are no expenditures of any kind.  It is just a day set aside to recognize the contributions of those who follow the faith of Islam.

In comparison, this May is National Jewish Heritage Month (http://www.jewishheritage.gov/).  This is fantastic because it serves to highlight the contributions of Jewish Americans.  What is so outstanding is that even a .gov domain was purchased for this occasion.  Trust me, I am not being sarcastic when I say that I applaud this effort.  There are a lot of people out there that hold harsh feelings against Jewish Americans and so Jewish Americans are working hard to show their contributions to America.

Muslim Americans are working hard to as well to show their contributions.  There are now several grave markers in Arlington National Cemetery bearing the Islamic Crescent indicating the death of service members who were adherents to the Islamic faith and serving their nation.  There are now several legislators at the local, state, and federal levels who are Muslim.  There are Muslim newscasters, athletes, professors, doctors, engineers, teachers, fbi agents, secret service agents, law enforcement agents, police officers, fire fighters, coaches, cubmasters and scoutmasters, and other servants of the community.  Muslims are more and more visible today in the United States and we want so desperately to distance ourselves from the image of terrorism.

Why would we want to do that?  Well, the very word Islam is derived from an Arabic word that means peace.  Three letters, ‘S’, ‘L’, ‘M’ compose the root that is found in muSLiM, SaLaM, iSLaM, and many other words.  So when the phrase Islamic Terrorism is used, imagine how it brings a cringe to the Muslim’s ear and the tearing at the Muslim’s heart.  It is what we call an Oxymoron; and I would like to stress the “moron” portion of the word.  Now I am a peaceful person so I don’t want to call anyone a moron, but don’t you think it is moronic to call someone a “peaceful terrorist”?

There is nothing Islamic about terrorism just as there is nothing Christian about terrorism?  No one called the IRA Christian terrorists.  Why would they?  They knew that Christianity doesn’t condone terrorism.  But why don’t they know that Islam doesn’t condone it either?
I always hear the same response over and over.  “Why don’t you Muslims tell us what Islam really is?”  Well, my simple response is “Why, would you listen?”  Or better yet, “We did and we do but you still don’t listen.”

So we got one day in Hawai’i to recognize Islam and all the talking heads are up in arms.  Well, this Italian-German, Army Veteran, Eagle Scout, father of 4 (3 of which who were born on Oahu), Muslim who was born, raised, and has lived in the good old US of A is thankful to the brave men and women of the Hawai’i state Legislature.  I think you have given renewed meaning to the word Aloha.  And for that, I would like to say, Mahalo nui loa.