Americans defend `Eid stamp

Cairo, NU Online
American Muslims and non-Muslims are reacting angrily to an e-mail by Tennessee Mayor Johnny Piper protesting the issuance of stamps commemorating two Muslim feasts.

"(The e-mail represents) appalling ignorance of what Islam is, and who Muslims are,” Ahmed Joudah, president of the Islamic Center of Clarksville, Tennessee,  told the Leaf-Chronicle on Saturday, September 5.<>

“I laughed when I read it, but at the same time, I felt sorry that we still have people around us that think that way.”

In an e-mail circulated nationwide, Piper urged "patriotic Americans" to protest a U.S. Postal Service stamp marking `Eid Al-Fitr and `Eid Al-Adha.

“I was surprised at a stamp being developed, and would have thought others would be, too,” he said.

The stamp features the phrase ‘Eid mubarak,’ (or blessed feast) in Islamic calligraphy.

It was first issued in 2001, and was reissued in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Piper said the Americans should not commemorate the holidays of those who attacked them, calling for a national boycott of the stamp.

Joudah, the Muslim leader, said it is unfair to blame all Muslims for the actions of a radical fringe.

Similarly, he said it would be unfair to resent all Clarksville non-Muslims for the acts of vandalism by a few against their local mosque.

“I cannot deny and I cannot be unfair to my neighbor,” Joudah said.

Stereotyping

Many Americans warned that the mayor’s mail risks stereotyping the whole Muslim community.

"Boycotting the stamp is an action based on stereotypes,” said Bert Randall, philosophy professor of Austin Peay State University.

“Rather, we should celebrate its use as a part of what makes America great.”

Councilman David Allen echoed a similar view.

“I hate it, because it puts our city in a bad light,” he said.

“It’s good to be patriotic, but it’s bad to stereotype.”

Randall, the philosophy professor, said that he was surprised by the mayor’s remarks.

“I am puzzled by the e-mail," he said.

"Last year about this time, Mayor Piper and I were the only two members of the Clarksville community, out of dozens who were invited, to share in the celebration `Eid Al-Fitr, a Muslim feast celebrating the end of Ramadan.

The American professor called on all politicians and community leaders to avoid actions that could harm society cohesion.

“(Community leaders should promote) respect for all of God’s children and to work to unify rather than separate the wonderful diversities that make America different than other nations.

"We have a special responsibility to carefully and judiciously choose our words."

Randall stressed that all Muslims should not be judged by the acts of a very small group.

“Further, as a student of Islam, I am appalled by perversions of the Qur'an used by terrorists to justify violence in the name of God.

"Stereotypes are always based on lack of knowledge and fear.” (dar)