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| Afghanistan |
| Afghan leaders observe Islam and other religions in US |
| 2003-02-22 |
| Six distinguished Afghan citizens — editors, government officials, and religious leaders — spent January 21 to February 7 traveling across the United States talking to American Muslims and interfaith-understanding groups. Under the auspices of the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' International Visitor Programme, the six went from Washington, D.C., to New York City to Salt Lake City, Utah, to Portland, Oregon, and Cincinnati, Ohio. The purpose of the program, called "Islam in America," was to enable the visitors, among whom were the editor of the Kabul daily Hewad and the deputy governor of Nangarhar, to talk to American adherents to Islam about the richness and diversity of Muslim culture in the United States, says Washington File. Wonder if they met with CAIR... The programme was also designed to highlight that tolerance is a primary value in American attitudes toward religion and ethnic minorities. Among the highlights of their visit were an opportunity to meet Secretary of State Colin Powell and talk at length with Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Patricia Harrison. Make 'em feel important... In Washington, D.C. at Georgetown University, the oldest Roman Catholic college in the United States, participants met with Imam Yahyi Hendi, the university's Muslim chaplain. They also went to the US House of Representatives offices to talk to Jameel Aalim Johnson, an American Muslim and the chief of staff of New York Congressman Gregory Meeks. After visiting Washington, the group traveled west. In Salt Lake City, Utah, the center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon faith), they talked to representatives of the Episcopal and Roman Catholic dioceses as well as the United Religion Initiative, an interfaith organization with centers in 47 countries. They also received a warm welcome from the Utah State Legislature. In Oregon, the delegation spoke to Imam Mohammad Majieb, director of the Muslim Community Center of Portland. At their final destination, Cincinnati, Ohio, they met with the head of the Cincinnati Islamic Center to learn about African-American Muslims. They also took part in a forum at the Brueggeman Center for Interreligious Dialogue at Xavier University, a Jesuit institution. These activities drew the attention of both radio stations and newspapers in Cincinnati. "See? You, too, could have a tolerant society that respects all religions..." "Piss off, infidels. We don't want to." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #3 Note there were no visits with Jews. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-02-23 10:20:58 |
| #2 Here's hoping they really learned something. We'll know when they get back... |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-02-22 17:38:58 |
| #1 Real Afghanis are a rational bunch if not under "the influence". By that I mean the Pakistanis and Sauds. |
| Posted by: RW 2003-02-22 11:52:14 |