[wvns] MUSLIM GROUP SALUTES VETERANS
MISSOURI MUSLIM GROUP SALUTES VETERANS
By Aisha Sultan
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
5/28/07
JEFFERSON BARRACKS As soon as Clark Smith wheeled himself on his
gurney to the veteran appreciation barbecue in the hospital courtyard,
he knew these volunteers were different.
Dozens of groups and hundreds of volunteers throughout the year host
events to honor veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center
buildings at Jefferson Barracks. But this was the first time Smith, a
Vietnam vet paralyzed from the chest down, had seen girls wearing
hijab serving grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken.
"Usually, I run around without a shirt on, but when I saw this group,
I decided to wear one," Smith said. "Show a little respect."
That sentiment went both ways. The 20 or so volunteers with the newly
formed American Muslim Coalition decided to make their first official
group event a salute to the veterans.
"The veterans and soldiers, I feel for them. They are doing their
job," said Ilijas Gusmirovic, 23, a second-year medical student from
St. Louis. While he opposes the war in Iraq, he blames the politicians
not the soldiers. He said he came to the barbecue to thank those who
have served their country.
A recent survey of Muslim Americans by the Pew Research Center found the
majority to be similar to other Americans largely assimilated,
middle class and moderate in their views, but more likely to have a
negative view of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan than the rest of
Americans.
Dr. Zia Moiz Ahmad, one of the organizers of Sunday's event at the VA
hospital, said Muslims can oppose the war and still support the
soldiers who carry out the orders.
*********************************************************************
WORLD VIEW NEWS SERVICE
To subscribe to this group, send an email to:
wvns-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
NEWS ARCHIVE IS OPEN TO PUBLIC VIEW
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/wvns/
Need some good karma? Appreciate the service?
Please consider donating to WVNS today.
Email ummyakoub@yahoo.com for instructions.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
wvns-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wvns/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wvns/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:wvns-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:wvns-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
wvns-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
No comments:
Post a Comment