&uotAbout two years ago, I walked into a large bookstore, which shall remain unnamed, that had a wide variety of Islamic books in Arabic and English. The owner had gone through some trouble to make displays of book collections around various topics. One such collection had a book at the top that caught my eye, mainly because it had the out-of-place visage of Adolph Hitler on the cover. A closer look revealed that it was an Arabic translation of "Mein Kampf". I confronted the owner and asked why such a book was on display. An embarassed look followed, then silence.

Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated case. A few of us went through various online Islamic booksellers looking for similar books that had questionable content (racism, violence, etc.). While most bookstores passed our little test with flying colors, one did not. This store not only carried one such offending book, but it ws listed in their ;Top Five" list. (The good thing is that, when confronted by us, they removed it from their catalog immediately.)

Now we hear news from Australia that some irresponsible booksellers were selling books with racist views and one promoted terrorism - complete with an endorsement by Osama bin Laden on the cover. And a small Islamic bookstore in Leeds where two of the London bombers were known to have met has been found selling jihadi videotapes. Especially in the wake of the recent attacks in London, these kinds of materials in Muslim-owned bookstores is more than just irresponsible - it perpetuates the views and violence we all claim to oppose and leaves us open to accusations of intolerance once the media finds us red-handed with these books in our hands.

So why are books like these offered for sale? Some, like the bookstore in Leeds, really want to promote violent jihad. Most, however, I found to be simply ignorant of the items they are carrying. While the typical American bookstore is staffed with people steeped in the literary arts, I found that most Muslim bookstores are run by businesspeople rather than bibliophiles. Unfortunately, they tend to place orders for a variety of books from distributors without being selective, and stock their shelves with whatever shows up. This can result in offensive books being put on display by otherwise well-intentioned people. The good news is that having a community with bad businesspeople, however unfortunate, is preferable to having a community with people who support terrorism. The bad news is that there's still a lot of trash to clean up.

Our community has two choices - we can let organizations like Freedom House rummage through our bookstores and mosques, holding up the most incriminating material they can find as evidence of "Muslim hatred", or we can be informed consumers that police our own institutions and insure that racist or violent material doesn't pollute our community.

books dont kill people, people kill people.

the article seem to press for a Ahmadiah understand where msulim should reject Jihad. there needs to be a distinction between Jihad and terrorism what happend on 9-11 and in London is clearly terrorism.

yes it has root causes but that doesnt justify killing innocent people.

There are muslim trying to defend themselves around the world weather be it non muslim occupation or agression (pali chech, iraq kashmir) or muslim on muslim agression (sudan, western sahara) and thats not terrorism because everyone has the right of self defense.

gambina, from the Wikipedia:

>>During his term as the State Department's first director of the Policy Planning Staff in the late 1940s

You're about 60 years late on quoting him...

>>and the structure and function: http://www.islamic-state.org/

So, are you finally admitting to be Hezbi? That would go far in explaining the things you write here.

>You're about 60 years late on quoting him...

gee your keen intellect really amazes me here, does all history for you pro-regressives just take place in the present? Is history simply all a series of unfortunate accidents (as in your case) or is there some type of a timeline or overall framework to it?

>So, are you finally admitting to be Hezbi? >That would go far in explaining the things >you write here.

Again, if u were even semi-literate, or understood how rational arguments are constructed, i.e. placing things in context, citing sources, elaborating facts, etc.
i've posted links from leftists, communists, right wing republicans, anarchists, catholic relief workers, and 2 ikhwan sites and i claim loyalty to none. However after posting a link to one site I am now being accused of being a hizbi (which i am not)..when did posting a link to a site, make someone a supporter/member of that site? Please explain, if so, then all of the major research periodicals in every university in the world must be revised and rewritten to match your unique genius!! Stop the presses, looks like Jesus really is resurrected and walks among us!!!

>>Is history simply all a series of unfortunate accidents (as in your case) or is there some type of a timeline or overall framework to it?

It is certainly possible to make false connections. OVerall frameworks can be constructed by thoughtful people just as well as they can by people with tinfoil hats...

>> link to one site I am now being accused of being a hizbi (which i am not)

OK, ok dude, so you're not then. It was just a question. I suppose I'll have to construct a new "framework" on the workings of the mind of gambina.

I think the major issue here is freedom of expression and censorship. What is considered valid censorship in Islam or for Muslims? Mein Kampf is translated into Arabic .. so what. The fact that the literature is available is not necessarily the problem. Maybe the major problem is how Muslims relate to the material and mostly (in my opinion) what material Muslims have available to learn from. ItĖs an Islamic heritage of learning from other societies no matter how seemingly distasteful the material to elevate ourselves and the societies alongside whom we develop. Something I think that lends to the idea that Islam is a social force for all societies.

Eg HitlersĖ main kampf had blood purity as its central theme and had horrific consequences in the world. It is alluded to from the western perspectives (mostly) that Muslims are in fact trying to perpetuate Arab dominance over the world. Something which we know to be false; but why do they perpetuate the idea? For us - blood purity fascination can also be found in Muslim communities. Muslims in Spain were severely limited by blood ties and Arab tribal bonds. DoesnĖt a portion of Shia/Sunni disagreement stem from Persian and Arab disagreement over theology and blood ties?

Many Muslim authors are nominated for prestigious awards for their fictional portrayals of Muslims in all environments that should interest muslims. My university library is full of many modern and older Muslim fictional and non-fictional writings (thanks to a small but dedicated Islamic studies faculty), but IĖd be hard pressed to find many of these books in my local Islamic bookstore because of what seems to me a subtle *religious-class preoccupation with controlling what is deemed suitably Muslim information (*which shouldnĖt exist but does).

Also, Muslims in western countries have opportunities to publish authors and works that totalitarian regimes donĖt or are hard pressed to back because of their anti-establishment views.

publicdebate,

>>Amanullah: You cannot deal with the sickness without understanding the reasons for that sickness... your article only addresses the sympthoms - nothing else. <<

I think his point was not to deprioritize the reasons for the sickness, but to say that - in spite of those reasons, or even because of them - Muslims still should seek to live up to their highest principles.

No, his is not the only argument to be made, but it's always a good one.

I don't like to dignify garbage (either human or otherwise) but if some stupid fools wish to personalize an issue more than willing to oblige

>It is certainly possible to make false >connections. OVerall frameworks can be >constructed by thoughtful people just as >well >as they can by people with tinfoil >hats...

If someone is making "false" connections as u claim, than point it out with *evidence* either from *sources* or better Quran and Sunnah (something you've never done) otherwise, please don't showcase your ignorance and do everyone a favor and just stay silent...or put in a more crude way where someone of your G.E.D. intellect could understand
EITHER PUT UP OR SHUTUP.

Its called freedom of speech.
There are passages in the Quran which can be misinterpreted by those with diseased hearts to kill. Are you going to call on (Islamic) bookstores to ban the Quran?

See, gambina you have constructed a reality which, when based on the Third-Party outlook of you, is inevitably constructed on a limited set of data. You see patterns in history that I don't believe represent the actual truth of the events or the trends under discussion here. People can see patterns in clouds and Mary on a grilled cheese, but it doesn't mean *it actually is* Mary. And, no one can disprove that it doesn't look like Mary on a grilled cheese; I mean ,would a person yell at someone who sees Mary in a grilled cheese and force her NOT to beleive what she thinks she sees? You cite evidence to support your beleifs, or tell me honestly, did you read various sources and then come up with an explanation that neatly connects the dots... that is, only the dots you percieve now? The brain is always trying to find patterns and explanations even when they are not there, such as in clouds or grilled cheese.

My objection is mostly to your shrillness in two things: expressing your dot-connections as the truth and hostile dialogue with people, such as making unfounded assumptions about danithew and the *explanation* for his experiences in Palestine, only to be told that he has far more experience in Palestine than I do and probably more than you unless you're actually Palestinian. Are you? ASking me to abuse the Quran by quoting it to support my personal opinion is a common refuge when Muslims are uncomfortably confronted. Typical.

publicdebate: I've spent 20 years criticizing American foreign policy. I've argued with pro-war hawks on ABC's Nightline, written editorials for major newspapers, addressed anti-Iraq war marches of thousands of people, lobbied Capitol Hill to oppose lopsided pro-Israel legislation, railed against the Patriot Act on CNN, and much more.

I will not be lectured on this topic by the likes of you.

It's true that since 9/11, I have become more self-critical of the Muslim community. I do it because I don't see many others effectively doing it, and because I think it is necessary. You can judge my intentions by my service to the Muslim community and to its institutions since I was a teenager. Many national Muslim leaders in the US know me, and even though they may not agree w/some of my opinions, they do not question my dedication to the betterment of our community.

Self-criticism and criticism of US foreign policy are mutually exclusive. One does not preclude the other. I am decidedly left of center and stand with all those who feel that US foreign policy has helped create the conditions that we see in the Muslim world today. If you don't see me writing about it as much as you'd like, it's only because so many others do it better.

>The brain is always trying to find patterns and >explanations even when they are not there, >such as in clouds or grilled cheese.

In your case it's never been used, an entirely understandable phenomenon, given that generally the U.S. armed forces need idiots who don't ask to many questions and who, exaclty like you, have a cartoon version understanding of reality, helps them to function and serve a purpose (i.e. canon fodder).

Can you please answer for me as well as the general forum:

1. Are u really a Muslim?
2. Does Quran and Sunnah hold any relevance to you? If not, then why call yourself a label which u are not?
Does the word "hypocrite" or "munafiq" hold any meaning for u or do you need us to define it for you, given your clear lack of any education (both secular/Islamic)?
3. On that note, did u even graduate high school? How many attempts did it take you?
4. I actually do respect the non-Muslims on here a bit more now, when having had to read through your b.s. (at least they understand the basics of logic and history and can make a coherent point advancing the discussion.
5. Lastly, can you please explain what your purpose is on this forum? Given that your current state of blissful ignorance allows you to be all knowing and all wise...why waste time with us mortals who need to use logic, make coherent argument, or cite sources to make points when, due to your special gift of ignorance, you don't need to do any of this?

There are passages in the Quran which can be misinterpreted by those with diseased hearts to kill. Are you going to call on (Islamic) bookstores to ban the Quran?

We can't control the misinterpretations that go on in people's minds. But if people write whole books on those misinterpretations, I don't think that our bookstores should be polluted with them.

We're talking about books that are racist and condone terrorism. I've seen these books myself. If you love freedom of speech so much, do you want to see Irshad Manji in our bookstores?

So, gambina, you have to resort to an underhanded "Are you Muslim" rant. I think what you really mean is "You don't agree with me, and everything I say is from the Quran, therefore, you disagree with the Quran!" Again, a false connection-of-the-dots.

>Does the word "hypocrite" or "munafiq" hold any meaning for u or do you need us to define it for you, given your clear lack of any education (both secular/Islamic)?

Why hide behind questions. Yet another tactic of insecure people who are uncomfortable confronted...

>"You don't agree with me, and everything I >say is from the Quran, therefore, you disagree >with the Quran!" Again, a false >connection-of-the-dots.

This individual is not here for any type of discussion, (he/she/it has been challenged to produce evidence from any sources yet produces none and answers a question with another question) only on here as a troll to trigger a flame war, something i have no desire to get into. Is this forum moderated in any way, and if so. could the moderators please step in here?

regards,
g

Gambino, you have been perhaps the most confrontational writer on this thread. It seems odd that you would be the one to call someone else a troll and call for a moderator.

Asalamu Aliakum,
I can pick up a copy Mein Kampf from Barnes and Noble so I dont know what the problem is. The writer stated this was the case at ONE Islamic bookstores out of all the others he checked out.
You'd think he would have something better to do with his time than make a mountain out of a mole hill. Good comments Gambino btw.

Monotheist,

Barnes & Noble is not a Muslim bookstore. He's saying it's an issue of the higher standard that this should imply.

If i walked into Deseret Christian Books and saw Michele Malkin's "In Defense of Internment: the Case for Racial Profiling in the War on Terror" there, i'd feel ill, ask the manager what place the book had in that store, and no doubt crank out an article very much like the one above. Barnes & Noble? That's the public square. Nothing i can say about it; freedom of speech rules.

>>Barnes & Noble is not a Muslim bookstore. He's saying it's an issue of the higher standard that this should imply.<<

Agreed, yet he found only ONE out dozens of Islamic bookstores to be selling Mein Kampf. Its one hell of an extrapolation to construe this as the standard for Muslim book stores, and post an alarmist article.

>>If i walked into Deseret Christian Books and saw Michele Malkin's "In Defense of Internment: the Case for Racial Profiling in the War on Terror" there, i'd feel ill, ask the manager what place the book had in that store, and no doubt crank out an article very much like the one above.<<

Thats very admirable of you, but why not grant Christian and Muslim book stores the right to sell what they please. Why isnt freedom of speech applicable to them ?
I would also add that Malkin, born to immigrants herself is a thrid rate hypocrite, and nothing less than a colored mascot of the asisine right, in the tradition of Coulter and co.

You ever wonder why Islamic bookstores don't carry any books other than Islam? Most of the books I find in them are usually some propaganda material and deal with issues that have little to do with what is important. As a north american I find most of the books in Islamic Bookstores irrelevant.

The Islamic bookstore is in a deplorable state, much like the state of Muslims.

I mean what do you find in an Islamic Bookstore? Quran cassettes, tasbees, books from kazi publication, books from Salafi presses, etc.

I think the Islamic bookstore needs to revolutionize and get with the times!

Knowledge is knowledge and all knowledge is relevant for Muslims, not just "Islamic" knowledge.

Peace,

Personally, I'd just like to see a lot more Islamic books translated into English. There are huge volumes of commentaries (Fatah al-Bari for example) that aren't translated into English yet. I'm grateful for the translations of Qur'an, Bukhari and Muslim that I've been able to purchase.