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The things on this page are patriotic, and not. If you are offended, please keep an open mind. No person, no race, no religion, no country, and no government knows the perfect way to live. No one. We all try, and most of us co-exist pretty well. I have taken Sociology this year in school, as well as World and American History. I come from a patriotic background, my Grandpa Wiseman in WWII, and my father, Tom Wiseman, in Vietnam. I am proud, and feel lucky to be born to the family, and the country and religion that I have been blessed with. However, I do wish to look at the educated reason for why this entire "situation" in the middle east is occuring.
In the Muslim community, it is much different than the very observed Christianity in the United States, the truth is, there are more people that practice Islam than any other relgion in the world. The Muslim community is very predominant through much of the world, and they are very strict with their relgious views. The picture illustrates an example from one interpretation of this religion. People can not get together and dance with "same sex/gender" parties in most places, no "get togethers" of any kind are permitted. Much different than here in the U.S.
There are no easy answers to what happened, or why, but there is a history of smaller things that just go to show that we as the U.S. are not perfect. Some of these things can be traced back to before WWI. For example, in Jeruselem, the Israeli's and the Pakistani's were both promised the "Holy Land" in exchange for them helping England in the war effort, each group would be given the soul and only ownership of the land so important to their religion. The war was won, and both groups headed to the Holy Land to claim their land for their people. Lo and behold, BOTH groups were lied to, as Britain often did, and this led to the emmense fighting that is still occuring today.
There are five "Basic" beliefs in the religion of Islam. One reason why there religion is so strict. Based from the Quran.....
1. Faith
There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad (he is His messenger). The declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la ilaha illa'Llah- 'there is no god except God'; ilaha(god) can refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God- wealth, power, and the like. Then comes illa'Llah: 'except God', the source of all Creation. The second part of the Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the messenger of God.' A message of guidance has come through a man like ourselves. (The Christians view this same person as "Jesus".)
2. Prayer
Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a day, and are direct link between the worshipper and God, praying to the direction of Mecca. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language.
Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life. Prayer time is not "forgotten", and the people are not too busy to take a moment out of there life to pray, they are devoted, and very serious about prayer.
Call to Prayer:
God is most great. God is most great.
God is most Great. God is most Great.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and
the Here after)! Come to success!
God is most great. God is most great
There is no god except God.
3. The Zakat
One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word "zakat" means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a portion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.
Each year Muslim calculates his or her own "zakat" individually, much like the Christian tithing. For most purposes this involves payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital.
A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet (PBUH) said: 'even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity.'
4. The Fast
Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start earlier.
Although the fast is most beneficial to the health it is regarded principally as a method of self-purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life.
5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)
The annual pilgrimage to Makkah- the Hajj- is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.
The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'ba seven times, and going seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar during her search for water. The pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafa and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the Last Judgement.
In previous centuries Hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today however, Saudi Arabia provides millions of people with water, modern transport, and the most up-to-date health facilities.
The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the main festivals of the Muslim Calendar.
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For more information on different questions for the Muslim religion, like "what do Muslims think of Jesus", and for answers about women, family, and other things go to the page http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~muslimst/islam6.html. Thank-you.
In the Musilm religion, Allah stands for Justice. In the act's of Gihad, there are certain things and rituals are VERY specific. These are interpreted from parts of the Quran.
For example, the men who hijacked the planes on Sept. 11th did certain rituals that morning before they left for the airports; shaving, washing themselves, and putting on cologne.
Their purpose was some that were very specific. 1.) and act of Shock 2.) To make the U.S.A. Vulnerable 3.) to Humilate our country and it's politicians.
One can not stop someone who is willing to die for what they believe. These acts on 9/11 were those of desperation-- to get revenge, to become martyrs, and to gain forgiveness by doing this deed and cleansing their souls of all the bad they've done in their lives-- to gain the forgiveness of Allah.
The middle east has almost a 95%-100% Islamic reigious population. Dozens of countries around the world. This does not include the 10 million or so people in the U.S. who are Muslim, or the additionsl 4 million a year that are born Musilm, or into Muslim homes.
What are we to do as Christians? We can love people of different relgions. Do not hate Muslims. We have to embrace our differences and learn from them, love them.
Lastly, terrorists are not freedom fighters-- they are not fighting for the freedom of their country, their people, or their religion. They are fighting to keep women in bondage, not allowed to do anything, they are fighting to get revenge for the wrongs they feel have been done against them against society, and they are fighting to redeem themselves in what they have interpretted as the idea of what "Allah" needs in order to forgive them.
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This picture is one that is all too recognizable... right after the two towers fell. New Yorkers, and the entire world, positive and negative, are shocked and astounded. The Statue of Liberty is on the left.
The debris fell, and people ran for safety from the building pieces, and for fresh air to breathe... panic insued.
As people fled across the Broklyn Bridge, people were scared and confused, no one knowing what was really going on-- the smoke was impossible to see through. And most of us who were not there, we watched and listened in horror as the horrible events were described.
As the reality of what happened was setting in, we realized that not only the World Trade Center was destroyed, the center of our nation's safety and intelligence was attacked. We again realize that we are not invulnerable to the opinions of others.
As in all great and horrible desasters, many things change, good and bad. It just so happened, it helped pull us together. Religiously and politically (kinda). It forced us to re-examine our purpose for living, why we are here, what we are doing, and helped us to see some of the bigger picture for a moment in time. Some people went to church, or opened up a Bible for the first time in years... some of us called up loved ones that haven't spoke to us in a while... some of us held our loved ones and were thankful they were still around to be held... and some of us started the life long mourning process for those of our loved ones who passed on . . .
I myself, felt the need to get educated about what happened. I knew this didn't just happen out of no where. As I have said on this page before, love and hate are both tought and passed on through the generations. Just like the children in Israel who were standing in the streets with guns, cheering and firing into the air, simply because of the "successful" terrorist act. They were not born thinking this way, it was passed down to them, as this hate was passed down by their parents before them. PLEASE, think twice about what your friends, family and children are learning from you. Actions can speak louder than words.
Two days after, on September 13th, the officers of the NYPD and NYFD were greeted with a heros welcome, as they not only gave their lives and time and hearts to their city doing their job, but also to the heart of the nation.
Here, we see part of the damage that occured at the Pentagon, the center of the security of our nation. One of the main symbols of the integrity and knowledge of the U.S.
This is a scene from the center of New York, people going about their days, not knowing what tomorrow was going to bring, let alone an hour from now. Debris is everywhere, and everyone is at a loss for words.
Osama Bin Ladin, when discovered he was the suspected root of this disaster, brought a terrible amount of negative attention to the Islamic community. Have you heard the name of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed? Maybe you don't get out much, but he is now being suspected of being the head master mind behind the Sept. 11th bombing... wiring money... advanced planning? Check out(http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/wanted020605.html). Let me just say, that he is rather the exception then the norm, of the incredible, and wonderous religion which is Islam. Just because someone is a certain religion does not mean they are predisposed to violence or terrorism. Hate, and lack of education, is something passed on from friend to friend, family to family, and parent to child. Please be careful when even telling jokes-- ones containing race, religion, and ethnicity can refect negativity, and children cane easily interpret that as hate. Please, teach acceptance, and educate your children and family in the ways of non-bias living. We can teach non-violence in the world. We can culture and grow peace. But we must try.
The world will forever be changed, and frankly, I am thankful it happened in a way. I am VERY sad, and just like everyone else, was horrified and devistated when I was listening to it live on the radio. I donated money, since I could not be there to help. I cared, and continue to care. However, the U.S.A. has been a country living as the "Titanic" country of the world for as long as most of us can remember. Untouchable. Unbeatable. And on that fateful day, we were not only touched, but scarred for life. After speaing to my friends from Egypt, Pakistan, Israel, and Thailand, I have come across one jewel of knowledge that has helped me come to grips with this:
This event was not directed toward the innocent people who died that day, it was not intended to hurt families, children, wives, husbands, and families-- it was intended to strike the government of which we happen to live under, the one that thinks that it is better, and superior to every other one in the world. This was directed toward the egotistical thoughts, notions, and overly opinionated and outspoked views of the higher powers that be in our government. The terrorists, as well as many, MANY other people in many countries do not have a problem with the people of this great nation, but rather the government of the people that it stives to protect.
Many people of many religions and many races and many countries died in the explosions, not only at the World Trade Towers, but at the Pentagon. There were people from India, Egypt, Africa, Mexico, Spain, Germany, U.S.A., France, Italy, and many other places. We, as in "United Stadians", are not the only victims. Just because it happened here does not make it any worse for the foreign families who lost loved ones on our soil. But we haven't thought much about that, have we. The media has chosen not to cover the stories of the people from Israel who died on U.S. soil, whose bodies were vaporized... nothing to send back to their familes; and what about the African families; or the translators who were innocently working, trying to educate others and make peace and foreign relations? These stories are some that our media has chosen not to cover. The next queston you should be asking, is why?
Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we don't have the right to feel violated and upset about what happened. We have that right, as does every human being in this world. It is human nature to mourn and feel upset. That is okay. However, it is not okay to just pretend like it didn't happened, and it is not alright to not educate yourself on what is going on in the world today. What can you do? You can subscribe to a newspaper (what is that) that reports activities and new from around the WORLD, not just your town. Watch the news on MSNBC, or check out these following websites (in case you couldn't imagine subscribing to something that comes via snail mail)..... :-)
Up-to-date World news:
Daily International News Magazine ONLINE:
Internet Editions of the Times:
Provides in-depth news coverage for the West Bank, Gaza and Israel, with extensive reporting on the peace process:
Latest news to affect the US and world:
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