From the ICNA Website

The following is the ICNA position regarding moon sightings and the start of Ramadan:

In the Name of Allah, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you so that you may attain God consciousness” – (Al-Quran 2:183)

Ramadan, the month of great blessings and rewards, is just a few days away. May Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, enable us all to reap the rewards of this great month.

“The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) has traditionally adopted the opinion of sighting the moon in North America . On the advice of ICNA’s Scholars Committee, we have decided to continue following our existing approach and will not be adopting a calendar which is primarily based on calculations.

An overwhelming majority of the National Shura Council’s members, in their meeting held on September 19, 2006, have also decided to go by the local moon sighting. However, for the sake of unity, we suggest that Muslims cooperate and follow their local Masjid and community, whether they follow our approach or not.”

Islam is not just a religion but ‘a way of life’. A Muslim submits to Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, not just in prayers and fasting but submission in all affairs of his or her life. And one important aspect of this submission lies in mutual respect and love for other Muslims and being part of the Muslim community.

“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not divided among yourselves…” (Quran 3:103)

Let us all focus our attention on pleasing Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, our Lord, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

8-42

By TMO Staff Writer

The Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine had its convocation on May 21, 2006. It will be heartening to the Muslim community that it has been extremely well-represented by one brilliant student, Fatima M. Ahmed.

There are three students out of class of seventy who graduated with high honors. She scored 99% and 100%, respectively, on the two parts of her licensing exam.

Because of her scholastic achievement and professional potential, she was selected for membership in the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Honor Society. Only eight students had this honor this year, but Fatima leads that list.

Fatima was also selected for the award of the American College of Dentists, Ohio Division for her scholastic attainment and her potential for professional achievement.

Ms. Ahmed also demonstrated outstanding leadership and academic excellence and received the Ealeanor Bushee Senior Woman Award.

Ms. Ahmed’s decency is shown by her past experience of donating care to many people. She has spent many hours providing dental treatment to uninsured needy people in the Free Clinic of Cleveland, and also by the time she spent providing dental help to people in rural Alaska, at an Indian reservation. She also spent one week of her time in the Dominican Republic providing dental care there.

All these services were well recognized at the convocation at CWRU.

Fatima is also a 2004 gold-medal winner, an honor given by the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin.

Fatima has decided to specialize in Orthodontics. The Muslim Media Network congratulates Fatima on her excellence and wishes her good luck in her career.

Thank you Fatima for bringing honor and a good name to your parents, your community, your countries–the United States and India.

Fatima is the daughter of Dr. Iqbal Ahmed and Dr. Razia Ahmed and the sister of Dr. Maryam Ahmed.

8-42

By the Associated Press

NEW YORK – A controversial new study contends nearly 655,000 Iraqis have died because of the war, suggesting a far higher death toll than previous estimates, including the avowedly conservative statistics cited in this newspaper from Iraq Body Count.

The timing of the survey’s release, just a few weeks before the U.S. congressional elections, led one expert to call it “politics.”

In the new study, researchers attempt to calculate how many more Iraqis have died since March 2003 than one would expect without the war. Their conclusion, based on interviews of households and not a body count, is that about 600,000 died from violence, mostly gunfire. They also found a small increase in deaths from other causes like heart disease and cancer.

“Deaths are occurring in Iraq now at a rate more than three times that from before the invasion of March 2003,” Dr. Gilbert Burnham, lead author of the study, said in a statement.

The study by Burnham, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and others is to be published Thursday on the Web site of The Lancet, a medical journal.An accurate count of Iraqi deaths has been difficult to obtain, but one respected group puts its rough estimate at closer to 50,000. And at least one expert was skeptical of the new findings.

‘Way too high’

“They’re almost certainly way too high,” said Anthony Cordesman of the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington. He criticized the way the estimate was derived and noted that the results were released shortly before the Nov. 7 election.

“This is not analysis, this is politics,” Cordesman said.

The work updates an earlier Johns Hopkins study–that one was released just before the November 2004 presidential election. At the time, the lead researcher, Les Roberts of Hopkins, said the timing was deliberate. Many of the same researchers were involved in the latest estimate.

Speaking of the new study, Burnham said the estimate was much higher than others because it was derived from a house-to-house survey rather than approaches that depend on body counts or media reports.

A private group called Iraqi Body Count, for example, says it has recorded about 44,000 to 49,000 civilian Iraqi deaths. But it notes that those totals are based on media reports, which it says probably overlook “many if not most civilian casualties.”

For Burnham’s study, researchers gathered data from a sample of 1,849 Iraqi households with a total of 12,801 residents from late May to early July. That sample was used to extrapolate the total figure. The estimate deals with deaths up to July.

Difficult data

The survey participants attributed about 31 percent of violent deaths to coalition forces.

Accurate death tolls have been difficult to obtain ever since the Iraq conflict began in March 2003.

When top Iraqi political officials cite death numbers, they often refuse to say where the numbers came from.

The Health Ministry, which tallies civilian deaths, relies on reports from government hospitals and morgues.

The Interior Ministry compiles its figures from police stations, while the Defense

Ministry reports deaths only among army soldiers and insurgents killed in combat.

The United Nations keeps its own count, based largely on reports from the Baghdad morgue and the Health Ministry.

The major funder of the new study was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

8-42

Following are the President’s message to the Senate and the text of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment signed on behalf of the United States by Deputy Secretary of State John C. Whitehead on April 18, 1988, at the United Nations. The United States became the 63d nation to sign the convention, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1984 and entered into force on June 26, 198 7, after it was ratified by 20 nations.

MESSAGE TO THE SENATE, MAY 20, 1988.sup.1

With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, subject to certain reservations, understandings, and declarations, I transmit herewith the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Convention was adopted by unanimous agreement of the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1984, and entered into force on June 26, 1987. The United States signed it on April 18, 1988. 1 also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State on the Convention.

The United States participated actively and effectively in the negotiation of the Convention . It marks a significant step in the development during this century of international measures against torture and other inhuman treatment or punishment. Ratification of the Convention by the United States will clearly express United States opposition to torture, an abhorrent practice unfortunately still prevalent in the world today.

The core provisions of the Convention establish a regime for international cooperation in the criminal prosecution of torturers relying on so-called “universal jurisdiction.” Each State Party is required either to prosecute torturers who are found in its territory or to extradite them to other countries for prosecution.

In view of the large number of States concerned, it was not possible to negotiate a treaty that was acceptable to the United States in all respects. Accordingly, certain reservations, understandings, and declarations have been drafted, which are discussed in the report of the Department of State. With the inclusion of these reservations, understandings, and declarations, I believe there are no constitutional or other legal obstacles to United States ratification, The recommended legislation necessary to implement the Convention will be submitted to the Congress separately.

Should the Senate give its advice and consent to ratification of the Convention, I intend at the time of deposit of United States ratification to make a declaration pursuant to Article 28 that the United States does not recognize the competence of the Committee against Torture under Article 20 to make confidential investigations of charges that torture is being systematically practiced in the United States. In addition, I intend not to make declarations, pursuant to Articles 21 and 22 of the Convention, recognizing the competence of the Committee against Torture to receive and consider communications from States and individuals alleging that the United States is violating the Convention. I believe that a final United States decision as to whether to accept such competence of the Committee should be withheld until we have had an opportunity to assess the Committee’s work. It would be possible for the United States in the future to accept the competence of the Committee pursuant to Articles 20, 21, and 22, should experience with the Committee prove satisfactory and should the United States consider this step desirable.

By giving its advice and consent to ratification of this Convention, the Senate of the United States will demonstrate unequivocally our desire to bring an end to the abhorrent practice of torture.

RONALD REAGAN

TEXT OF CONVENTION2

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

The States Parties to this Convention,

Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family in the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Recognizing that those rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,

Considering the obligation of States under the Charter, in particular Article 55, to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Having regard to Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which provide that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Having regard also to the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1975.

Desiring to make more effective the struggle against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment throughout the world.

Have agreed as follows:

PART I

Article 1

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “torture” means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.

2. This article is without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which does or may contain provisions of wider application.

Article 2

1. Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction.

2. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.

3. An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture.

Article 3

1. No State Party shall expel, return (“refouler”) or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.

2. For the purpose of determining whether there are such grounds, the competent authorities shall take into account all relevant considerations including, where applicable, the existence in the State concerned of a consistent pattern of gross, flagrant or mass violations of human rights.

Article 4

1. Each State Party shall ensure that all acts of torture are offences under its criminal law. The same shall apply to an attempt to commit torture and to an act by any person which constitutes complicity or participation in torture.

2. Each State Party shall make these offences punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account their grave nature.

Article 5

1. Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences referred to in article 4 in the following eases:

(a) When the offences are committed in any territory under its jurisdiction or on board a ship or aircraft registered in that State;

(b) When the alleged offender is a national of that State;

(c) When the victim is a national of that State if that State considers it appropriate.

2. Each State Party shall likewise take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over such offences in cases where the alleged offender is present in any territory under its jurisdiction and it does not extradite him pursuant to article 8 to any of the States mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article.

3. This Convention does not exclude any criminal jurisdiction exercised in accordance with internal law.

Article 6

1. Upon being satisfied, after an examination of information available to it, that the circumstances so warrant, any State Party in whose territory a person alleged to have committed any offence referred to in article 4 is present shall take him into custody or take other legal measures to ensure his presence. The custody and other legal measures shall be as provided in the law of that State but may be continued only for such time as is necessary to enable any criminal or extradition proceedings to be instituted.

2. Such State shall immediately make a preliminary inquiry into the facts.

3. Any person in custody pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article shall be assisted in communicating immediately with the nearest appropriate representative of the State of which he is a national, or, if he is a stateless person, with the representative of the State where he usually resides.

4. When a State, pursuant to this article, has taken a person into custody, it shall immediately notify the States referred to in article 5, paragraph 1, of the fact that such person is in custody and of the circumstances which warrant his detention. The State which makes the preliminary inquiry contemplated in paragraph 2 of this article shall promptly report its findings to the said States and shall indicate whether it intends to exercise jurisdiction.

Article 7

1. The State Party in the territory under whose jurisdiction a person alleged to have committed any offence referred to in article 4 is found shall in the cases contemplated in article 5, if it does not extradite him, submit the case to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution.

2. These authorities shall take their decision in the same manner as in the case of any ordinary offence of a serious nature under the law of that State. In the cases referred to in article 5, paragraph 2, the standards of evidence required for prosecution and conviction shall in no way be less stringent than those which apply in the eases referred to in article 5, paragraph 1.

3. Any person regarding whom proceedings are brought in connection with any of the offences referred to in article 4 shall be guaranteed fair treatment at all stages of the proceedings.

Article 8

1. The offences referred to in article 4 shall be deemed to be included as extraditable offences in any extradition treaty existing between States Parties. States Parties undertake to include such offences as extraditable offences in every extradition treaty to be concluded between them.

2. If a State Party which makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty receives a request for extradition from another State Party with which it has no extraditiontreaty, it may consider this Convention as the legal basis for extradition in respect to such offences. Extradition shall be subject to the other conditions provided by the law of the requested State.

3. States Parties which do not make extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall recognize such offences as extraditable offences between themselves subject to the conditions provided by the law of the requested State.

4. Such offences shall be treated, for the purpose of extradition between States Parties, as if they had been committed not only in the place in which they occurred but also in the territories of the States required to establish their jurisdiction in accordance with article 5, paragraph 1.

Article 9

1. States Parties shall afford one another the greatest measure of assistance in connection with criminal proceedings brought in respect of any of the offences referred to in article 4, including the supply of all evidence at their disposal necessary for the proceedings.

2. States Parties shall carry out their obligations under paragraph I of this article in conformity ‘With any treaties on mutual judicial assistance that may exist between them.

Article 10

1. Each State Party shall ensure that education and information regarding the prohibition against torture are fully included in the training of law enforcement personnel, civil or military, medical personnel, public officials and other persons who may be involved in the custody, interrogation or treatment of any individual subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment.

2. Each State Party shall include this prohibition in the rules or instructions issued in regard to the duties and functions of any such persons.

Article 11

Each State Party shall keep under systematic review interrogation rules, instructions, methods and practices as well as arrangements for the custody and treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment in any territory under its jurisdiction, with a view to preventing any cases of torture.

Article 12

Each State Party shall ensure that its competent authorities proceed to a prompt and impartial investigation, wherever there is reasonable ground to believe that an act of torture has been committed in any territory under its jurisdiction.

Article 13

Each State Party shall ensure that any individual who alleges he has been subjected to torture in any territory under its jurisdiction has the right to complain to, and to have his case promptly and impartially examined by, its competent authorities. Steps shall be taken to ensure that the complainant and witnesses are protected against all ill-treatment or intimidation as a consequence of his complaint or any evidence given.

Article 14

1. Each State Party shall ensure in its legal system that the victim of any act of torture obtains redress and has an enforceable right to fair and adequate compensation, including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible. In the event of the death of the victim as a result of an act of torture, his dependents shall be entitled to compensation.

2. Nothing in this article shall affect any right of the victim or other persons to compensation which may exist under national law.

Article 15

Each State Party shall ensure that any statement which is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings, except against a person accused of torture as evidence that the statement was made.

Article 16

1. Each State Party shall undertake to prevent in any territory under its jurisdiction other acts of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment which do not amount to torture as defined in article 1, when such acts are committed by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. In particular, the obligations contained in articles 10, 11, 12 and 13 shall apply with the substitution for references to torture of references to other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

2. The provisions of this Convention are without prejudice to the provisions of any other international instrument or national law which prohibits cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment or which relates to extradition or expulsion.

PART II

Article 17

1. There shall be established a Committee against Torture (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) which shall carry out the functions hereinafter provided. The Committee shall consist of ten experts of high moral standing and recognized competence in the field of human rights, who shall serve in their personal capacity. The experts shall be elected by the States Parties, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution and to the usefulness of the participation of some persons having legal experience.

2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by States Parties, Each State Party may nominate one person from among its own nationals. States Parties shall bear in mind the usefulness of nominating persons who are also members of the Human Rights Committee established under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and who are willing to serve on the Committee against Torture.

3. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at biennial meetings of States Parties convened by the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. At those meetings, for which two-thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting,

4. The initial election shall be held no later than six months after the date of the entry into force of this Convention. At least four months before the date of each election, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties inviting them to submit their nominations within three months. The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated, indicating the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Parties.

5. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. They shall be eligible for re-election if renominated. However, the term of five of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election the names of these five members shall be chosen by lot by the chairman of the meeting referred to in paragraph 3 of this article.

6. If a member of the Committee dies or resigns or for any other cause can no longer perform his Committee duties, the State Party which nominated him shall appoint another expert from among its nationals to serve for the remainder of his term, subject to the approval of the majority of the States Parties. The approval shall be considered given unless half or more of the States Parties respond negatively within six weeks after having been informed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the proposed appointment.

7. States Parties shall be responsible for the expenses of the members of the Committee while they are in performance of Committee duties.

Article 18

1. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years. They may be re-elected.

2. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure, but these rules shall provide, interalia, that:

(a) Six members shall constitute a quorum;

(b) Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority vote of the members present.

3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Committee under this Convention.

4. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the initial meeting of the Committee. After its initial meeting, the Committee shall meet at such times as shall be provided in the rules of procedure.

5. The States Paities shall be responsible for expenses incurred in connection with the holding of meetings of the States Parties and of the Committee, including reimbursement to the United Nations for any expenses, such as the cost of staff and facilities, incurred by the United Nations pursuant to paragraph 3 of this article.

Article 19 1. States Parties shall submit to the Committee, through the Seeretary-General of the United Nations, reports on the measures they have taken to give effect to their undertakings under this Convention, within one year after the entry into force of the Convention for the State Party concerned. Thereafter the States Parties shall submit supplementary reports every four years on any new measures taken and such other reports as the Committee may request.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit the reports to all States Parties,

3. Each report shall be considered by the Committee which may make such general comments on the report as it may consider appropriate and shall forward these to the State Party concerned. That State Party may respond with any observations it chooses to the Committee.

4. The Committee may, at its discretion, decide to include any comments made by it in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article, together with the observations thereon received from the State Party concerned, in its annual report made in accordance with article 24. If so requested by the State Party concerned, the Committee may also include a copy of the report submitted under paragraph 1 of this article.

Article 20

1. If the Committee receives reliable information which appears to it to contain wellfounded indications that torture is being systematically practised in the territory of a State Party, the Committee shall invite that State Party to co-operate in the examination of the information and to this end to submit observations with regard to the information concerned.

2. Taking into account any observations which may have been submitted by the State Party concerned, as well as any other relevant information available to it, the Committee may, if it decides that this is warranted, designate one or more of its members to make a confidential inquiry and to report to the Committee urgently.

3. If an inquiry is made in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article, the Committee shall seek the co-operation of the State Party concerned. In agreement with that State Party, such an inquiry may include a visit to its territory.

4. After examining the findings of its member or members submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article, the Committee shall transmit these findings to the State Party concerned together with any comments or suggestions which seem appropriate in view of the situation.

5. All the proceedings of the Committee referred to in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this article shall be confidential, and at all stages of the proceedings the co-operation of the State Party shall be sought. After such proceedings have been completed with regard to an inquiry made in accordance with paragraph 2, the Committee may, after consultations with the State Party concerned, decide to include a summary account of the results of the proceedings in its annual report made in accordance with article 24.

Article 21

1. A State Party to this Convention may at any time declare under this article that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications to the effect that a State Party claims that another State Party is not fulfilling its obligations under this Convention. Such communications may be received and considered according to the procedures laid down in this article only if submitted by a State Party which has made a declaration recognizing in regard to itself the competence of the Committee. No communication shall be dealt with by the Committee under this article if it concerns a State Party which has not made such a declaration. Communications received under this article shall be dealt with in accordance with the following procedure:

(a) If a State Party considers that another State Party is not giving effect to the provisions of this Convention, it may, by written communication, bring the matter to the attention of that State Party. Within three months after the receipt of the communication the receiving State shall afford the State which sent the communication an explanation or any other statement in writing clarifying the matter, which should include, to the extent possible and pertinent, reference to domestic procedures and remedies taken, pending or available in the matter;

(b) If the matter is not adjusted to the satisfaction of both States Parties concerned within six months after the receipt by the receiving State of the initial communication, either State shall have the right to refer the matter to the Committee, by notice given to the Committee and to the other State;

(c) The Committee shall deal with a matter referred to it under this article only after it has ascertained that all domestic remedies have been invoked and exhausted in the matter, in conformity with the generally recognized principles of international law. This shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged or is unlikely to bring effective relief to the person who is the victim of the violation of this Convention;

(d) The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under this article;

(e) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (c), the Committee shall make available its good offices to the States Parties concerned with a view to a friendly solution of the matter on the basis of respect for the obligations provided for in this Convention. For this purpose, the Committee may, when appropriate, set up an ad hoc conciliation commission;

(f) In any matter referred to it under this article, the Committee may call upon the States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), to supply any relevant information;

(g) The States Parties concerned, referred to in subparagraph (b), shall have the right to be represented when the matter is being considered by the Committee and to make submissions orally and/or in writing;

(h) The Committee shall, within twelve months after the date of receipt of notice under subparagraph (b), submit a report:

(i) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached;

(ii) If a solution within the terms of subparagraph (e) is not reached, the Committee shall confine its report to a brief statement of the facts; the written submissions and record of the oral submissions made by the States Parties concerned shall be attached to the report.

In every matter, the report shall be communicated to the States Parties concerned,

2. The provisions of this article shall come into force when five States Parties to this Convention have made declarations under paragraph I of this article. Such declarations shall be deposited by the States Parties with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration may be withdrawn at any time by notification to the Seeretary-General. Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the consideration of any matter which is the subject of a communication already transmitted under this article; no further communication by any State Party shall be received under this article after the notification of withdrawal of the declaration has been received by the Secretary-General, unless the State Party concerned has made a new declaration.

Article 22

1. A State Party to this Convention may at any time declare under this article that it recognizes the competence of the Committee to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals subject to its jurisdiction who claim to be victims of a violation by a State Party of the provisions of the Convention. No communication shall be received by the Committee if it concerns a State Party which has not made such a declaration.

2. The Committee shall consider inadmissible any communication under this article which is anonymous or which it considers to be an abuse of the right of submission of such communications or to be incompatible with the provisions of this Convention.

3. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, the Committee shall bring any communications submitted to it under this article to the attention of the State Party to this Convention which has made a declaration under paragraph 1 and is alleged to be violating any provisions of the Convention. Within six months, the receiving State shall submit to the Committee written explanations or statements clarifying the matter and the remedy, if any, that may have been taken by that State.

4. The Committee shall consider communications received under this article in the light of all information made available to it by or on behalf of the individual and by the State Party concerned.

5. The Committee shall not consider any communications from an individual under this article unless it has ascertained that:

(a) The same matter has not been, and is not being, examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement;

(b) The individual has exhausted all available domestic remedies; this shall not be the rule where the application of the remedies is unreasonably prolonged or is unlikely to bring effective relief to the person who is the victim of the violation of this Convention.

6. The Committee shall hold closed meetings when examining communications under this article.

7. The Committee shall forward its views to the State Party concerned and to the individual.

8. The provisions of this article shall come into force when five States Parties to this Convention have made declarations under paragraph 1 of this article. Such declarations shall be deposited by the States Parties with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit copies thereof to the other States Parties. A declaration may be withdrawn at any time by notification to the Secretary-General. Such a withdrawal shall not prejudice the consideration of any matter which is the subject of a communication already transmitted under this article; no further communication by or on behalf of an individual shall be received under this article after the notification of withdrawal of the declaration has been received by the Secretary-General, unless the State Party has made a new declaration.

Article 23

The members of the Committee and of the ad hoc conciliation commissions which may be appointed under article 21, paragraph 1(e), shall be entitled to the facilities, privileges and immunities of experts on mission for the United Nations as laid down in the relevant sections of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

Article 24

The Committee shall submit an annual report on its activities under this Convention to the States Parties and to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

PART III

Article 25

1. This Convention is open for signature by all States.

2. This Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 26

This Convention is open to accession by all States. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Seeretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 27

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit with the Seeretary-General of the United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession.

2. For each State ratifying this Convention or acceding to it after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of its own instrument of ratification or accession.

Article 28

1. Each State may, at the time of signature or ratification of this Convention or accession thereto, declare that it does not recognize the competence of the Committee provided for in article 20.

2. Any State Party having made a reservation in accordance with paragraph I of this article may, at any time, withdraw this reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 29

1. Any State Party to this Convention may propose an amendment and file it with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Secretary-General shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties with a request that they notify him whether they favour a conference of States Parties for the purpose of considering and voting upon the proposal. In the event that within four months from the date of such communication at least one-third of the States Parties favours such a conference, the Secretary-General shall convene the conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Any amendment adopted by a majority of the States Parties present and voting at the conference shall be submitted by the Secretary-General to all the States Parties for acceptance.

2. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force when two-thirds of the State Parties to this Convention have notified the Secretary-General of the United Nations that they have accepted it in accordance with their respective constitutional processes.

3. When amendments enter into force, they shall be binding on those States Parties which have accepted them, other States Parties still being bound by the provisions of this Convention and any earlier amendments which they have accepted.

Article 30

1. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention which cannot be settled through negotiation shall, at the request of one of them, be submitted to arbitration. If within six months from the date of the request for arbitration the Paities are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in conformity with the Statute of the Court.

2. Each State may, at the time of signature or ratification of this Convention or accession thereto, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 1 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 1 of this article with respect to any State Party having made such a reservation.

3. Any State Party having made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article may at any time withdraw this reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Article 31

1. A State Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Denunciation becomes effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General.

2. Such a denunciation shall not have the effect of releasing the State Party from its obligations under this Convention in regard to any omission which occurs prior to the date at which the denunciation becomes effective, nor shall denunciation prejudice in any way the continued consideration of any matter which is already under consideration by the Committee prior to the date at which the denunciation becomes effective.

3. Following the date at which the denunciation of a State Party becomes effective, the Committee shall not commence consideration of any new matter regarding that State.

Article 32

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall inform all States Members of the United Nations and all States which have signed this Convention or acceded to it of the following:

(a) Signatures, ratifications and accessions under articles 25 and 26;

(b) The date of entry into force of this Convention under article 27 and the date of the entry into force of any amendments under article 29;

(c) Denunciations under article 31.

Article 33

1. This Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit certified copies of this Convention to all States.

1 Text from Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents of May 23, 1988.

2 The Secretary’s letter of submittal to the President of May 10, 1988, and the U.S. summary and analysis of the convention are printed in Senate Treaty Doe. 100-20.

Statement of the Defense and Support Committee for Abdel Jabber Hamdan to the Muslim community:

After spending twenty six months and four days in detention without being charged with a crime, Abdel Jabber Hamdan has been finally released. Mr. Hamdan is a Qur`anic scholar and devout Muslim who has six American-born children.

We all should be proud of the Hamdan family who stood their ground with unimaginable patience, unity, and in an organized manner in fending off the unjust accusations against their sole supporter.

The government continues to pursue the legal proceedings so heavy for this family which endured his long detention. Mr. Hamdan must prevail to set another precedent against the injustice in the land of the free.

Your financial support is greatly appreciated. We urge you immediately to support this family in their predicament by direct deposit into the Hamdan’s checking account.

For more details please visit www.freehamdan.com.

By Jason Szep

Thu Sep 28, 10:43 AM ET–BOSTON (Reuters) – Private tutors are a luxury many American families cannot afford, costing anywhere between $25 to $100 an hour. But California mother Denise Robison found one online for $2.50 an hour — in India.

“It’s made the biggest difference. My daughter is literally at the top of every single one of her classes and she has never done that before,” said Robison, a single mother from Modesto.

Her 13-year-old daughter, Taylor, is one of 1,100 Americans enrolled in Bangalore-based TutorVista, which launched U.S. services last November with a staff of 150 “e-tutors” mostly in India with a fee of $100 a month for unlimited hours.

Taylor took two-hour sessions each day for five days a week in math and English — a cost that tallies to $2.50 an hour, a fraction of the $40 an hour charged by U.S.-based online tutors such as market leader Tutor.com that draw on North American teachers, or the usual $100 an hour for face-to-face sessions.

“I like to tell people I did private tutoring every day for the cost of a fast-food meal or a Starbucks’ coffee,” Robison said. “We did our own form of summer school all summer.”

The outsourcing trend that fueled a boom in Asian call centers staffed by educated, low-paid workers manning phones around the clock for U.S. banks and other industries is moving fast into an area at the heart of U.S. culture: education.

It comes at a difficult time for the U.S. education system: only two-thirds of teenagers graduate from high school, a proportion that slides to 50 percent for black Americans and Hispanics, according to government statistics.

China and India, meanwhile, are producing the world’s largest number of science and engineering graduates — at least five times as many as in the United States, where the number has fallen since the early 1980s.

Parents using schools like Taylor’s say they are doing whatever they can to give children an edge that can lead to better marks, better colleges and a better future, even if it comes with an Indian accent about 9,000 miles away.

Slang & American Accents

“We’ve changed the paradigm of tutoring,” said Krishnan Ganesh, founder and chairman of TutorVista, which offers subjects ranging from grammar to geometry for children as young as 6 years old to adults in college.

“It’s not that the U.S. education system is not good. It’s just that it’s impossible to give personalized education at an affordable cost unless you use technology, unless you use the Internet and unless you can use lower-cost job centers like India,” he said over a crackly Internet-phone line from Bangalore. “We can deliver that.”

Many of the tutors have masters degrees in their subjects, said Ganesh. On average, they have taught for 10 years. Each undergoes 60 hours of training, including lessons on how to speak in a U.S. accent and how to decipher American slang.

They are schooled on U.S. history and state curricula, and work in mini-call centers or from their homes across India. One operates out of Hong Kong, teaching the Chinese language.

As with other Indian e-tutoring firms such as Growing Stars Inc., students log on to TutorVista’s Web site and are assigned lessons by tutors who communicate using voice-over-Internet technology and an instant messaging window. They share a simulated whiteboard on their computers.

Denise Robison said Taylor had trouble understanding her tutor’s accent at first. “Now that she is used to it, it doesn’t bother her at all,” she said.

TutorVista launched a British service in August and Ganesh said he plans to expand into China in December to tap demand for English lessons from China’s booming middle class. In 2007, he plans to launch Spanish-language lessons and build on Chinese and French lessons already offered.

A New Delhi tutoring company, Educomp Solutions Ltd., estimates the U.S. tutoring market at $8 billion and growing. Online companies, both from the United States and India, are looking to tap millions of dollars available to firms under the U.S. No Child Left Behind Act for remedial tutoring.

Teachers unions hope to stop that from happening.

“Tutoring providers must keep in frequent touch with not only parents but classroom teachers and we believe there is greater difficulty in an offshore tutor doing that,” said Nancy Van Meter, a director at the American Federation of Teachers.

But No Child Left Behind, a signature Bush administration policy, encourages competition among tutoring agencies and leaves the door open for offshore tutors, said Diane Stark Rentner of the Center on Education Policy in Washington.

“The big test is whether the kids are actually learning. Until you answer that, I don’t know if you can pass judgment on whether this is a good or bad way to go,” she said.

8-41

ISGH to Raise $250,000 for Al-Shifa Clinic

Through the Federal Grant of the City of Houston (COH), the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) will be receiving matching funds of $500,000 to construct a health clinic.

COH will pitch in $500,000, while the Muslim Community will put $500,000. This goal of $500,000 by the Muslim community has to be achieved within the next six months.

All the affluent people blessed by Allah (swt) are being encouraged to send their contributions for the future of Muslims to: ISGH – 3110 Eastside Drive – Houston – Texas 77098 – Phone: 713-524-6615.

ISGH, whose main center is located at 3110 Eastside Drive, has chosen their Southwest Center located at Synott for the first Al-Shifa Clinic Building. At the same location is one of the branches of Darul-Arqum Islamic School. In order to create more awareness about the funding needs and project details of these two programs, ISGH arranged a Fundraiser at their main center. It was attended by some notable people, including Hakeem Olaguwan, the former NBA player from the Houston Rockets. The Vice-President of ISGH, Hashim Badat and various Directors of several ISGH Zones were also in attendance.

The slogans of the evening was: “Donate A Brick…Build A Clinic: …And whoever saved a human life should be regarded as though he had saved all mankind” (Surat # 5 Verse 32) and “Donate A Brick … Build A School:…And Whatever Good You Send Before Your Soul, You Will Certainly Find It With Allah” (Surat # 73 Verse 20).

The coordinators of the program, like Noyan Agha, Dr. Yusuf Shere and Abdul Wahid Munshi said the Muslims of Houston have a dream of a middle school today and an institution of higher learning tomorrow; a clinic today and a teaching hospital tomorrow.

Although ISGH at present does many welfare projects, there is still more need of making ISGH a Full-Fledged Houston Community Welfare Based Organization. Although we may have some Basketball courts in the vicinity of our mosques, we can aim for a Gangster Prevention Center Tomorrow.

We may be providing welfare services to battered and abused, women, so why not aspire to have Muslim institutions dealing with these issues. Today we rely on the donation box, what we need for tomorrow is a welfare trust.

Shaikh Zoubir Bouchikhi, in an inspiring presentation, said those communities are at loss who do not help themselves and who do not create institutions which can provide services to all the humanity around them.

He cited the example of the Jewish community in Nazi Germany, which did not get involved with other people around them; while the Jewish Communities of USA and England were different. As such, German Jews had to suffer the holocaust. Muslims in North America need to learn from that past and start to think beyond merely mosques.

Yes, mosques are important: But with Allah’s (swt) Grace, Muslims have many of them and now is the time to raise funds and construct learning and welfare institutions: Without them our survival is very difficult: Allah (swt) helps those who first help themselves.

Although the gathering was not very large, more than $130,000 was raised, and over the next six months ISGH will be collecting more towards the $500,000 target.

All people are being encouraged to contribute with a big heart for the endurance of Muslims at: ISGH – 3110 Eastside Drive – Houston – Texas 77098 – Phone: 713-524-6615.

Houston Police Make Changes to Immigration Policy

Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt and Mayor Bill White have announced changes in how the police department will deal with illegal immigrants, but some people say it’s not enough.

Under the changes announced by Hurtt and White, the immigration status of a person will be determined once the someone is under arrest, and if their status can’t be verified, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been granted full access to HPD’s jail facilities. Traffic violators whose identification can’t be verified may be fingerprinted.

Officers will still be allowed to use discretion “concerning how to handle things like minor traffic violations,” said White. “Some people are warned. Some people are cited. Some people, based on the circumstances, are arrested.”

The changes are being met with criticism from both sides.

“We’re going to monitor how it affects everybody,” said Rick Dovalina, Houston president of the League of United Latin American Citizens of Houston. The group will watch to see if “there is racial profiling … that type of thing … how much strain it’s put on police, because, obviously, when they take people in, it’s time off the street.”

Those wanting tougher immigration policies in Houston said the changes are not enough.

“They don’t change the fact that police in the field are still prohibited from inquiring about the immigration status when a person breaks the law and has no I.D.,” said Houston City Councilwoman and congressional candidate Shelly Sekula-Gibbs.

The changes are expected in the next two weeks. All this happened after last week’s murder of HPD Veteran Rodney Johnson. Prosecutors accuse Juan Leonardo Quintero, an illegal immigrant, with Johnson’s shooting death. Quintero has been charged with capital murder and is being held without bail at the Harris County Jail.

Gas Prices’ Sharp Decline

America uses about 40% of the world’s petrol produced each day. Texas gas prices went down for the 8th straight week this week. The price of gas has dropped 63 cents per gallon in the past month, AAA Texas reported. The average price for regular, self-serve gasoline is $2.21 per gallon, down 12 cents from last week. The lowest average price is in Corpus Christi, at $2.05 per gallon, according to AAA Texas. The highest price in the weekly survey is in El Paso, where gasoline averages $2.14 per gallon.

“The large drop in the price of crude oil, from a high of $78 a barrel earlier this year to $62 this week, is the main factor behind the falling price of gasoline,’’ said AAA Texas spokeswoman Rose Rougeau. The prospects for oil prices to move lower for a sustained period are uncertain, she said.

It is expected that the falling gas prices will ease money worries for some voters in the upcoming November 2006 Mid-Term Elections. Republican Party Sources have refuted the attacks by Democratic Party that President Bush is favoring his own party by artificially bringing the gas prices down through his connections in the Oil Industry.

Meanwhile, US light crude had lost $1.26 to $59.77 a barrel (briefly it even went below $59), 20% less than the record highs of the summer. Analysts say the decline is partly down to forecasts in the US of a mild winter and slower economic growth, both of which will help reduce consumption.

The national average price for gasoline tumbled 12 cents this week, to settle at $2.34 per gallon. U.S. retail gas prices dropped nearly 24 cents a gallon in the past two weeks, the third consecutive decline since a mid-August peak, according to a recent survey. The national average for self-serve regular was about $2.42 down from about $2.65 two weeks earlier, according to the Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations across the country. Mid-grade prices averaged $2.53 a gallon, while premium cost $2.64. Gas prices peaked Aug. 11 at $3.02 and have dropped about 60 cents since that time.

Outside of Texas, the lowest average price in the survey was notched in Des Moines, Iowa at $2.07 a gallon for regular. The highest was Honolulu, at $3.03.

Among California cities surveyed, the highest average price for regular was $2.76 a gallon in Los Angeles. The lowest was in Bakersfield, at $2.62 a gallon. The average for self-serve regular in California was about $2.72, down from $2.92, or 20 cents, from two weeks earlier, the survey found.

8-41

By Bob Wood

Wow! These are exciting times in the stock market, aren’t they? I’m sure you’ve heard by now that the Dow Jones Industrial Average is near or at a new, all-time high, matching its level from the bull market peak in early 2000. And that’s a great thing, isn’t it? Well, it surely would be, if investors were actually benefiting, but leave it to a bear to show why they have not!

I can hear the objections now. “The Dow is at or near a new high, and this is really meaningful stuff. The index closing above its previous bull-market highs could signal that a durable bull market is underway. So load up on stocks!”

Not so fast, kids. I see a little glitch on the road to the big Dow party. Taking a closer look shows a glaring problem–or two. Let’s start with the most obvious, and, for anyone preferring an interactive exercise, follow along, using the excellent chart program at www.bigcharts.com . I suggest using the chart options on the left side of the page with a “custom” time setting, starting with early 2000.

From there, enter into the quote box symbols for all Dow 30 stocks. (That list is available on the Yahoo “Finance” page by clicking on “Dow” and then the “Components” link.) As you enter the symbols, you will see some strong performers over that time period – Altria (MO), Exxon Mobil, Caterpillar and United Technologies. But as you go through the entire list, you’ll also find some rather big losers. In fact, as I do this exercise on the last trading day of September 2006, I see that only 10 of the Dow 30 stocks are higher now than they were in early January 2000. If I did the math right, that means that 20 stocks are lower today than they were in the year 2000! But, please, feel free to check my figures for yourself.

Here’s another problem. For each of those listed stocks, real investor money, maybe some of yours, was invested in them. I am sure that at least a few of you held shares in Microsoft, Intel, Merck, Pfizer or Home Depot, right? And as each stock on the Dow 30 list rose or fell, investors made money–or lost.

But let’s look at the Dow as a basket, since using the method for calculating the value of that basket of stocks yields a misleading result. When the Dow hits a new high, can we assume that investors in that basket of stocks have regained all the dollar value they owned at the start of the investment period we’re examining?

Remember, the Dow is not a market-weighted index like the S&P 500, but rather a price-weighted index. That means that higher priced shares have a greater effect on the value of the Dow index, regardless of their market cap. So Boeing, with a market capitalization of about $63 billion, has a bigger effect on the index than Microsoft, with its much greater $275 billion value. “So what?” you ask.

Actually, this calculation makes a really big difference! Here’s how: in the past six years, Boeing’s market cap has increased about $35 billion, so its move higher has had a greater effect on the Dow index than Microsoft, which lost about $300 billion during the same time. Do you see what I mean? Investors have lost more money in Microsoft shares than they made in Boeing shares. But, according to the Dow formula, the gain seems to have compensated for the loss.

When doing this exercise for each stock in the Dow 30 index, I see that the 10 winners added about $510 billion in investor gains. But this gain was offset by losses in the larger companies of almost $1.3 trillion! And when I add the original market cap for the 10 winners and 20 losers, I get–in approximate figures with no assurance of complete accuracy–a total market capitalization for all 30 stocks of about $4.7 trillion.

But the total value of these companies is now just under $4 trillion, meaning that (Are you checking my math?) investors have lost nearly $750 billion, which has yet to be gained back. Of course, this number is somewhat skewed by the payment of dividends or, in Microsoft’s case, very large payments to shareholders.

Of course, I am also excluding the many hundreds of millions of dollars in profits and pay packages taken by brokers, advisors and mutual and hedge fund managers, who bought and sold those shares over the same time frame and deducted those costs from investors’ bottom lines.

So you may say that the Dow dividends and industry compensation gains cancel each other out. And with the understanding that I don’t have access to accurate numbers, feel free to doubt my assumptions. But assuming that I am at least close to right, the Dow 30 list appears to be about 15% lower in value now than at its previous peak.

And here’s the real kicker, and many of you will know exactly where I’m aiming. In the time that our present leader has occupied the White House, the value of the dollar has dropped by about 40%! So an investor with a million dollars invested in the basket of Dow 30 stocks, as figured by the index, has lost 40% in real terms, after inflation, in the purchasing power of the dollar! When we also include the effects of actual market capitalization losses, investors are now down nearly 50% in real terms!

So how good do you feel now about the Dow’s hitting a new high? To me, this manipulation of numbers is just another flagrant example of the master marketers “hyping” the stock market. Even as I write this column, with my TV somehow tuned to CNBC — with the sound on, I hear bull market huckster Jim Glassman again touting the veracity of his previous claim that the Dow is heading to the 36,000 level!

His book with that same title chimed this claim to investors long before the bear market rally put his prediction on hold. But he now stands by his previous call and assures us that simply resuming previous stock market returns of about 10% per year, on average, will see the Dow hit that magic mark in about 14 years.

Er…hold on a minute. Using that historical average is great for hypothetical purposes, but when I calculate the value of the Dow in 1900 at 66 and today’s value at about 11,700, I get an average annual compound return closer to 5%, excluding dividends, now paying just over 2%.

And as I write, the P/E for the Dow’s basket of 30 stocks is quoted as selling at 22 times earnings, and this high amount has always signaled a market top in the past. Never has there been, and, I am sure, never will there be a lasting rally that begins with stocks selling at such premium prices.

But stocks and mutual funds must always be sold, so, whether facts support valuations and prices or not, the hype and promotion must go on. Hey, brokers and fund managers have to eat, too, right?

But hype is hype, and it is often very far from reasonable rationale for buying stocks at steep prices. But trust the promoters to keep you very well informed with whatever data supports their never-ending call for investors to buy stocks.

Sure, the Dow is close to a new closing high. But so what? Investors still have not reached their previous peak, which occurred more than six years ago, and the value of their holdings in the Dow 30 are much lower now than they were in early 2000, regardless of what that index shows.

But the show must go on, and on it goes! The Dow will rise — and may even reach that 36,000 level. But the timing is much in doubt. Give it another 30 years, and it could happen. But in the meantime, look for better values and true investing opportunities –wherever they are. For now, they are not in the Dow!

Have a great week,
Bob

Bob Wood ChFC, CLU Yusuf Kadiwala. Registered Investment Advisors, KMA, Inc., bwood44@tampabay.rr.com.

8-41

By Dr. Aslam Abdullah

Now you may say that one should not use Congressman Foley’s case to describe the Republican party as one that gives protection to pedophiles and alcoholics.

But perhaps we should question the integrity of the Republicans on this case–apparently Foleys’s case has been in the knowledge of some of the most powerful Republican leaders for quite some time; had it not been for a media report exposing his emails, Foley would still be enjoying the privileges and protection of high office and access to the inner sanctum of the Republican party. After all, the same Republican leaders who are describing this as an isolated case were shouting from the top of their lungs that Islam is a religion of terror and violence because of the actions of 19 of its adherents on 9/11.

If we look at the record of the Republican party, we find that a great majority of its leaders adopted a very hostile attitude towards Islam and Muslims in America. They uttered slanders against Islam and Muslims.

But now they want a pass. How do we know that other Republican leaders in the House or legislative assemblies are not involved in the repugnant behavior displayed by Foley? How do we know that other Republican congressmen are not misusing their influence, power and prestige to seduce the American boys and girls working as pages or on their staffs?

As citizens, we must voice outrage at the debauchery that was displayed by Congressman Foley and demand that other congressmen make their records clear.

We don’t want to be represented by individuals who are least concerned about the values they try to talk about before elections. The Republican leadership presents itself as one that upholds moral values. This stand motivated many Muslims to support its candidates even though on social justice issues, they often feel attracted to the Democratic party.

The Foley case has shaken the moral foundation of the party. What is even more repugnant is the way the Republican leadership is responding to the issue.

For almost one year, they did not do anything. They allowed Foley to campaign for his seat again. They helped him raise funds. They, bizarrely, allowed him to lead the congressional committee on sexual safety of children.

How could they have shown more disregard for the people they serve? What degree of blame lies with his fellow Republicans for looking the other way?

We the voters have every right to be outraged and to demand a full inquiry not only on Foley’s case but also on the response of Republican leadership. This leadership has failed us at every turn.

How can we expect fairness and justice on any national and foreign issue from a leadership that looks the other way as their fellows disgrace themselves with young men, quenching their sexual thirst at the trough paid for by taxpayer money? How can we expect this leadership to respect the human dignity of fellow Americans and citizens of the world when the honor of even US children is not safe with it? How can we believe that Foley is not the only alcoholic or pedophile or sexual predator or adulterer enjoying his lifestyle at taxpayer expense?

As voters we are angry and our anger must be reflected at the polls in the coming election. We don’t want the country to be led by a bunch of sex offenders, by pedophiles, alcoholics, drug addicts, or those who are involved in financial fraud.

8-41

By Imam Abdullah El-Amin

“Go forth, (whether equipped) lightly or heavily, and strive and struggle, with your goods and your persons, in the cause of ALLAH. That is best for you, if ye but knew.” 9:41

There was a great man in African-American history named Booker T. Washington, who founded the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama (where my youngest son is now in his third year of Veterinarian Medical School). Anyway, Dr. Washington coined the phrase “Drop your buckets where you are.” This phrase drew a lot of criticism from many segments of the African-American people because they felt Washington was encouraging the ex-slaves to accept their inferior status.

But the phrase also had a very positive point to it as well. This was a means of encouragement for the ex-slaves to utilize what they had at the moment to sustain and enhance themselves both materially and spiritually. You see, the great majority of the ex-slaves had nothing or at best, very little. Still, Booker T. Washington told them this is not an excuse. God did bless them with something–so use that to build up to more.

Similarly, some people think it is difficult to practice this religion or propagate because they feel they don’t have much to contribute. As a result they hold back from expressing themselves as Muslims because of fear of not measuring up. And they have a lot to give as strong, good, morally conscious human beings. There are many college professors that get informal counseling and comfort from guys that sweep the floor at night. It is not your worldly status that counts–it’s the amount of taqwa (God-consciousness) that you posses that determines your worth as a human being.

We should “go forth” with the special tools ALLAH has blessed us with–having the sole intention of pleasing Him If you are a brain surgeon, rocket scientist, or college professor, you are just a human being with a special skill to help society. In the Grand Scheme of things you are expected to be proficient in that skill so that we all benefit.

If you empty the garbage, or mop the floor you are also expected to be proficient. This is especially true in a hospital where your job may be the most important job there. If those small microbes are allowed to grow and flourish, more people in the hospital would die rather than be helped. Neverthe-less, some people who do these jobs feel inferior and don’t see themselves or their jobs as important.

I use these little examples to remind us that whatever skill we posses, we should use it consciously, in the cause of ALLAH–make your contribution to the peaceful evolution of His creation. Imagine how you would feel sweeping a street in the state of ihsan. You would see yourself as special because you know ALLAH is observing…and He is pleased.

So drop your bucket where you stand. Be mindful and appreciative of your special gifts and thank the Giver of those by utilizing them in His cause. And He says in Qur’an, “If you are grateful, I will give you more.” 14:7

As Salaam Alaikum
(Al Hajj) Abdullah Bey El-Amin

8-41