That Darn Resolution

Did you all make a new years resolution? Hurry up you have a few hours before the new year comes in. You can begin your list and see how far you get?

Okay, so each year people make new years resolutions. I usually make them when the new years begin, sometimes people make them well before the new years and they take stock of what is going on with their past years resolutions.

I happen to be one striving to be a bit more orderly in how I approach life. This year I came up with some resolutions. I wanted to share my thoughts on them but thought I would like to ask what other Muslims are resolving to do this upcoming year, the year that ends in 8, a year of the Olympics..a year of many celebrations and sorrows yet to come.

Please share your thoughts. I will post mine according to the response and frankness people display.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

The community at Muslamics took keen interest in discussing this issue of the "Ramadan Resolution." I believe I took a more harsher perspective toward people who thought this was a a "PR" stunt. We even conducted our own poll on this which found that 24 of the 43 people who voted believed this was a shameless PR stunt. These individuals I believe share the perspective of the following religious leaders who published "letters to the editors" in the Glendale News Press.

They stated that the "congressional resolution recognizing the Islamic holy month of Ramadan as important is reportedly being touted by U.S. Muslims as an important sign that they are gaining acceptance in America and becoming part of the fabric of the country." And the following is how leaders in other faith communities- Christian- feel about Muslims:

I am first and foremost a Christian. Secondly, I am an American. These two labels once went together; not that we lived in a theocracy, or that everybody truly embraced Jesus as their lord and savior, but we testified with our hands on His Bible, our Senate opened with a Christian blessing, the Constitution was dated from the first Christmas (i.e., “In the year of our Lord . . .”) and the Pilgrims’ stated purpose in the Compact was the “advancement the Christian faith.”

My point is that our nation, however much certain people wish to deny it, began and sustained with a belief in the true and biblical God; not Zeus, or Ra, Odin, or even the Allah of Ramadan.

For Congress to endorse other gods essentially repudiates the exclusive claims of the One that we have known and are known for. Such resolutions should not be made anyway, but officially recognizing Islam as “one of the great religions of the world” when it is an imported belief system that denies all the essential tenets of Christianity is too much. Islam denies the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, that Jesus is the Son of God, and especially, that He is God, the Son.

We are at war with Muslims abroad, and we worry about their intentions here. Christians have no divine mandate to destroy those who oppose Jesus, but we do have biblical warrant to support America. Is this true of Muslims? They have yet to resolve as one voice to denounce the violence and intentions of jihadists, terrorists and Sept. 11, 2001.

Now, I don’t deny that we have become quite the pluralistic society, but should we exalt the foreign religions to a place on par or even above our own? We should sincerely love our Muslim neighbors, but just as sincerely oppose Islam.

THE REV. BRYAN GRIEM

Senior Pastor

MontroseCommunityChurch.org

Also here is something from our Armenian friends:

A congressional resolution recognizing Ramadan is certainly an act of political correctness, but then again, so are all these types of resolutions. What else can you say about them? It’s not like they’re advocating one belief system over another, they merely recognize a portion of reality. In so doing, they’re bringing a level of comfort to members of our community — other Americans.

We need to stop being scared to face reality.

There is a sizable Muslim population in America. And the beauty of America and her “dream” is that there is room for everyone in this country. I have heard the argument that “those countries” would never allow or grant non-Islamic minorities the equal status or recognition with the mainstream religion.

But to me, that’s exactly the point.

We are not like the other countries. That’s what makes America great: its ability to incorporate so many into something greater than the components that make it up.

Ironically, this week’s news headlines pointed to another recognition resolution regarding the Armenian Genocide.

We witnessed the sad demonstration of denial by the political establishment, the president included, which wanted to compromise truth and justice for the sake of politics.

You can’t escape the reality of an organized, systematic annihilation of one group of people by a government. Its called genocide.

And a great country like America, with all of its greatness, cannot be intimidated to not speak the truth.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

Armenian Church

In His Shoes Mission

And here is yet one more:

I think most of us appreciate the freedom of religious practice our country affords. That means, of course, that I am honor-bound to be respectable to others of different faiths, and to recognize their right to believe as they wish.

Islam has gotten a lot of press post-Sept. 11, 2001, so recognizing it may well be a matter of political correctness. I’d certainly be uncomfortable, though, if Christianity had attracted attention in the same manner, and I’d be vocal about it.

A few folks may want to turn our country into a theocracy in line with their beliefs about God, but that’s not my concern. I am confident that when Jesus Christ returns, He will by Himself establish His kingdom on a worldwide scale. I’m happy to know that according to His promise I’ll be a part of it, and not cast out of it.

What I think is offensive to many religious people is the modern societal pressure upon us to accept all faiths as equally valid and true. I follow Jesus Christ because I believe He alone is the truth personified, He alone is the way to know God. I accept other faiths’ right to exist, but I reject the notion that their prophets are on a par with my wonderful Lord.

PASTOR JON BARTA

Burbank

This really is only a certain perspective, one that is part of a larger trend according to Pew polls and other statistics done about having Muslims as neighbors. I do believe as I mentioned, given our circumstances, the challenges we face in this country and within our own Muslim community, this resolution is/was a "historical" marker on the integral nature Islam has played in America and will continue to play.

U.S. Congress passes Ramadan bill

Edited post: I am withholding personal commentary on the ramifications of the passage of this bill. Take it as you wish. The original purpose of this post was for the general edification of Muslamics' readers, and I am going to leave it that way. Please feel free to comment.

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110th CONGRESS
1st Session - H. RES. 635

Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 5, 2007

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. MEEKS of New York, and Mr. KEITH ELLISON) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commending Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith.

Whereas since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, threats and incidents of violence have been directed at law-abiding, patriotic Americans of African, Arab, and South Asian descent, particularly members of the Islamic faith;

Whereas, on September 14, 2001, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, American Muslims, and Americans from South Asia in the wake of the terrorist attacks;

Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,500,000,000 Muslims worldwide;

Whereas Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide, and is the 9th month of the Muslim calendar year; and

Whereas the observance of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan commences at dusk on September 13, 2007, and continues for one lunar month: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That--

(1) during this time of conflict, in order to demonstrate solidarity with and support for members of the community of Islam in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives recognizes the Islamic faith as one of the great religions of the world; and

(2) in observance of and out of respect for the commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, the House of Representatives acknowledges the onset of Ramadan and expresses its deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world on this significant occasion.

The Congress passed the resolution unanimously 376-0 on October 2,2007.