| WRMEA Archives 2006-2010 - 2009 July |
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July 2009, pages 54-55
Muslim-American Activism
Muslim Leader Addresses Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
 | |
| |
LUAI AMRO, president of the Islamic Center of Des Moines, spoke at a monthly lunch and discussion sponsored by Interfaith Alliance of Iowa on April 17 in Des Moines.
Following the meal, Amro presented a brief lecture describing Islam for a mostly Christian and Jewish audience at Plymouth Congregational Church. “The more information and understanding we share, the better a community we are going to become,” he stated.
During a wide-ranging question-and-answer period following Amro’s formal remarks, most of the questioners seemed to have a genuine interest in expanding their knowledge of Islam and learning more about Muslims.
“What is jihad?” asked one man.
“Jihad means striving for perfection…trying to change your inner and outer self. The jihad is to strive for a better life, better things,” explained Amro.
“For me, here in America, getting up at 6:30 and going to work when I could be sleeping in the winter, that’s jihad. Me studying, that’s jihad. Me not eating the fat food, that’s jihad [laughter in the audience]. Praying five times a day, that’s jihad. That’s the meaning of jihad,” he elaborated.
“Worship in Islam is not just praying, it is living your life the way God wants you to do it,” said Amro.
Some questions were clearly friendly. “What misunderstanding or inaccurate stereotype do you object to most?” asked one questioner.
“Stereotyping is extremely hurtful and damaging to any religion or group,” responded Amro, who listed several negative stereotypes popularized by entertainment and mainstream news media outlets—including the Arab terrorist, the uneducated Muslim, the Muslim woman forced to live behind the veil.
“These are the kinds of things that are really shocking to me,” said Amro, who pointed out that two predominantly Muslim countries, Pakistan and Indonesia, have had women leaders, whereas the United States has not.
Amro did not shrink from questions that sought to emphasize the differences between Christianity and Islam but declined to dwell on them, instead offering a more positive approach to community relations.
“Even with the differences we have a lot of things in common,” he insisted.
One questioner, seeking to characterize Muslims as terrorists, veered into fearmongering when he raised questions about terrorist training camps in the United States and suggested that there might be one in eastern Iowa.
“There are no training camps here,” replied Amro.
In Amro’s opinion, the term “radical Islam,” so often heard in public discussions in the West, is especially unhelpful. “Radicalism, extremism doesn’t belong to the religion,” he emphasized.
“Killing innocent people is not right! [Those who do that] are terrorists, killers. Call them whatever you want to call them,” Amro said, “but don’t associate that with the religion.”
This reporter put two questions to Amro: “Generally speaking, what kind of positive outcomes do Muslims hope for in the Middle East? And, how might non-Muslim Americans be more supportive of Muslims’ aspirations for better community relations here?”
“The biggest support you can give to anyone, Muslims or non-Muslims, is to try to understand.…Understanding takes the fear away and is beneficial to all parties,” replied Amro.
“The Middle East is a hot button,” he acknowledged. “You know, I am a Palestinian. I pray that we won’t have refugee camps anymore. It’s been 60 years. Give them what everybody else in this world is looking for, a peaceful place where they can work, practice their religion, raise their kids, get an education, that’s all. Peace is something we want, but we want it just. We want it not one-sided, but fair.”
Amro, who has lived and worked in Iowa for many years, earned an undergraduate degree in chemistry at Central College in Pella, IA. He has also completed coursework toward an MPA and MBA at Drake University in Des Moines. His position as president of the Islamic Center of Des Moines is an elective office.
—Michael Gillespie
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|