by proldic » Sun Sep 04, 2005 8:13 pm
Factoid: Previous to 9/11, American Muslims were largely conservative republicans, more than 80% of whom voted for Bush in 2000, especially in Florida. In contrast, more than 80% of American Jews voted liberal Democrat, especially in Florida. <br><br>Bush confidante Karen Hughes meets with American Muslims<br><br>By Manya A. Brachear<br>Tribune staff reporter<br>Published September 2, 2005, 8:44 PM CDT<br><br>President Bush's ambassador to the Arab world enlisted new allies to condemn terror after a meeting with some of the nation's senior Islamic leaders and young Muslims on Friday.<br><br>Karen Hughes, Bush's newly named undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, praised an initiative by the Islamic Society of North America to publish and disseminate a brochure denouncing violence and building on a fatwa, or religious edict, condemning terrorism issued by American Muslim scholars more than a month ago.<br><br>Hughes helped kick off a three-day convention of the country's largest Islamic organization, composed mostly of Arab and South Asian Muslims, at the Rosemont Convention Center.<br><br>"Words are important," Hughes said. "It's important for people to hear ... terrorism is the epitome of injustice ... especially when we face an enemy that misappropriates words. Those are words the entire world needs to hear. My job is to amplify those voices."<br><br>Kareem Irfan, a Chicago attorney who serves on the society's national board, said he hopes the measure will cast out "inklings of doubt from segments of society" who do not understand that Islam is a religion of peace.<br><br>"This has not been taken for political correctness," he said. "This has not been taken to be apologetic. This was done because of a passionate belief."<br><br>But some Muslim participants said they were not impressed by the initiative or by Hughes' pledge to promote their cause to other nations. They called for straight talk instead of propaganda. By endorsing the fatwa and inviting Hughes, they said, the society is doing a disservice to the fight for civil liberties and colluding with the government.<br><br>"It will separate the Muslims," said Warith Deen Umar, a controversial New York cleric who helped found the National Association of Muslim Chaplains and who opposes the fatwa. "If we don't sign on to this, we are the bad guys."<br><br>A former TV reporter and longtime adviser to Bush, Hughes now is entrusted with shaping America's image abroad, with an emphasis on promoting democracy in the Arab world, a mission some say the administration has neglected.<br><br>"As we seek to engage the wider Muslim world, I thought it was, first of all, very important to listen and try to understand and work with the voices of our own American Muslim community," she said.<br><br>Hughes also met with young leaders from the national Muslim Student Association. Those conversations touched on civil liberties, Hughes said, adding that she would report to committees that advise the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.<br><br>She said she is confident that international audiences will welcome American ideals and values once they are explained accurately and honestly.<br><br>"Truth is our most powerful weapon," Hughes said. "We're dealing with an enemy ... a terrorist network that wants to close minds."<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-050902hughes,1,6189013.story?coll=chi-news-hed">www.chicagotribune.com/ne...i-news-hed</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br> <p></p><i></i>
