In Glenview, work starts on Ismaili Muslim center

[A Virani]

pros and cons.........I have read all the comments but one major point no one has bothered to point out. To all of you with Islam phobia please understand that to 99% of the Muslim world Ismaillis are not even considered to be real Muslims. As a matter of fact they do not even study/follow the Koran! In many parts of the old world they have been persecuted for their liberal ideas and lifestyles.
They are led by a Westerner, the Aga Khan, who is born, raised, educated and resides in the West.
Some comments have tried to pacify the naysayer by suggesting that an Ismailli JamatKhana is different from a Mosque, only a matter of semantics as it makes no difference to the surrounding community.
To all the naysayers, you are wasting your energies by suspecting this group of fanaticism.
In the old Muslim world many are paranoid of the West and America because someone has been feeding them rotten LIES and if in America we become paranoid of Muslims or near Muslims is it because we too are being fed rotten LIES....where does it all end. Think!

[Brett]

The Aga Khan was educated at Harvard where he received a degree in Islamic Studies. He was born in Switzlerland and currently resides in France. That is all the western influence he has. The Aga Khan embraces and attempts to illuminate the pluralism in Islam-pluralism of muslims is spoken quiete often in the Qu'ran-as well as the equality of all people. Through the leadership of the Aga Khan, organizations like the Aga Development Network have been able to build numerous schools and nondenomational community centers in improverished regions in South Asia, East Africa, and the Middle East. The ismailis have risen to becomes prominent members of any society they reside(there are many ismaili senators in Canada)and have no history of violence or opression. The ismailies are an example of the pluralism that the Qu'ran speaks of, as well and incredible group of people that survived perscution and threats to their legitmacy. There have no been no connections to Ismailis any sort of terrorism that has occured in the world, instead Ismailis have led several efforts to improve and unite the world, and in particular to celebrate the diversity God has blessed us with. The Aga Khan has developed strong ties with the several govenors and presidents of nations accross the globe through peaceful communication. All of this information can accessed through AKDN.org or theismaili.org . Please review this sites before making judgements about the Aga Khan and the Ismailis.

[Steve]

Chicago Eddie wrote:

<quoted text>
Obviously, since you are not from Chicago, this is Glenview (land of nanny-raised children and both parents working ambitious 80-hour weeks to build their mini-Mansions). I am suprised they had a chance to respond to the isssue. They must have cut out their token time that they usually spend with their accessories ,..er...I mean children.

Not quite. You won't find the McMansions on the Maine Township side of town. It's average joes living there.

[jimbo]

glenview il, born and raised here,, i also don,t want this thing built. take it to the mountains of whyoming , but not in here in glenview, actually go back where you came from...

[Seymore]

Johnathon wrote:

<quoted text>
Wow I cannot believe how dumb you are! You really believe doesnt frame people, to categorize one common enemey, in order to get more of an audience. Do you even keep up with world events, did you remeber when Israeli Jews killed 103432 muslims in Lebanon for 2 prisoners. Are you watching the iraq war where a president is spending three trillion dollars and killing god knows how many muslim for a oil, and thats even working with oil prices going up. Man you must be a hick or a retard for sayying dumb stuff like that. Please go work your farm and don't make an attacking oppinion without research, and the news, esp fox news, is not a valid resource.

You are obviously an anti-semitic liar. A douche bag, also. Worse yet, liberal scum.

[Former Glenview gal]

I left Glenview about 20 years ago. My parents moved out about 7 years ago. They also expressed concern that the call to prayer would be broadcast at 5 AM. The property used to be a maintainance yard and offices for the Gas Company. It was zoned commercial and still should be suitable for a religious institution.

But a previous poster does bring up a good point. Where is the outrage from American Muslims for terrorist activites that are perpetrated by Muslim extremists? It seems to me that if the Muslim community of the US believes in our freedoms, then they should be OUTSPOKEN against these heinous acts. But Muslims seem to be reluctant to criticize other Muslims. That's the part I don't get.

[Rubi]

Just a few thoughts...

No matter how much the Muslim community condemns the terrorists diguisting and perverted view/interpretation of Islam, it doesn't seem to appease anyone. I'm just saying.

And simply because you state the facts about the Israeli/Palestinian war does not make you anti-Semitic. It makes you a fact stater.

I'm not sure when religion became political, but stop.

Ismailis are not liberals. We're progressive. We believe in the importance of adapting Islam to the changing environment (of course, never at the expense of our values. Note the word values, not practices) Burqahs and "foot baths" need not apply.

Ismailis do not have a call to prayer. They pray three times a day. No speakerphone included.

[Hold please]

Andy wrote:

What a DU Mb ASS.. did you know that Ismailis are mostly from from the Indian subcontinent. There is not one ismaili that I know that dresses like an Arab. As a matter of fact where ever ismailis move they create value and in fact your property prices will go up rather then down. As far as inviting KKK or militants you should not worried about it. They are not particularly fond of any militant groups like the KKK or Osama. Ismailis are Shias and all the militants and terrorists you speak about are Sunnis. Also 95% of muslims do no not live in the middle east. Indonesia and India and Pakistan has 80% of all of worlds muslim population. Less then 1 % muslims are radicals. Its like calling every Christian a terrorist because a few irish protestians went and bombed some mall in London killing other Christians. Grow up and you cant stop whats constant "CHANGE".
<quoted text>

I think you completely missed the point. I believe that what was being expressed is that you simply don't want to live next to a church, since they assume some unfair considerations due to their being a religious organization. At least that's what I got out of it.

[Hold please]

Johnathon wrote:

<quoted text>
Wow I cannot believe how dumb you are! You really believe doesnt frame people, to categorize one common enemey, in order to get more of an audience.

I'm not even sure what you're trying to say here other than to call someone rude names.

Johnathon wrote:

<quoted text>Do you even keep up with world events, did you remeber when Israeli Jews killed 103432 muslims in Lebanon for 2 prisoners.

While I can honestly say I don't remember that, it seems to me that what you're describing is a response to a direct threat.

Johnathon wrote:

<quoted text>Are you watching the iraq war where a president is spending three trillion dollars and killing god knows how many muslim for a oil, and thats even working with oil prices going up.

Whether or not you agree with the war, to try to say that the US is simply killing Muslims for oil is incediary and ignorant. The war is with Iraq. I'm sure I could have found a few Iraqi soldiers who weren't Muslim. And even if I couldn't, the US did not go to war with the Muslim world. If you even think about bringing up the Taliban or the insurgents, the fact still remains that those people (as people love to remind me) are a small sect of a larger group.

Johnathon wrote:

<quoted text>Man you must be a hick or a retard for sayying dumb stuff like that. Please go work your farm and don't make an attacking oppinion without research, and the news, esp fox news, is not a valid resource.

Because this strengthens your argument and doesn't make you look like a bigoted, narrow-minded, insensitive jerk. And what do you suggest we use as research if we cannot use the news? Where do you get your facts (which, interestingly enough, are noticably absent).

The fact is you missed the point of the whole post. Where are these Islamic leaders who tell us we should not judge the whole of Islam by a few splinter groups? Where is the large shout from the Islamic community, condemning these same groups? I have the same problem with the Catholic Church when it comes to molestation. Speak out against them! Rally the honorable members to rise up and say, "No, we are not following your backwards ways of thinking and we condemn all you stand for!" Make changes to show that you truly are progressive thinkers. Ban Sharia (I apologize if I didn't spell that right) Law and promote a more reasonable and progressive (and dare I say Secular) way of living.

And I'm sorry, but until these things happen, it's all just lip service.

[Hold please]

Rubi wrote:

Just a few thoughts...
No matter how much the Muslim community condemns the terrorists diguisting and perverted view/interpretation of Islam, it doesn't seem to appease anyone. I'm just saying.
And simply because you state the facts about the Israeli/Palestinian war does not make you anti-Semitic. It makes you a fact stater.
I'm not sure when religion became political, but stop.
Ismailis are not liberals. We're progressive. We believe in the importance of adapting Islam to the changing environment (of course, never at the expense of our values. Note the word values, not practices) Burqahs and "foot baths" need not apply.
Ismailis do not have a call to prayer. They pray three times a day. No speakerphone included.

I have never heard a Muslim leader CONDEMN the acts of the splinter groups. I have heard Imams say things like, "Do not judge us based on their actions," or "These are the acts of a few of our more radical members," but that's far from condemning. I want the Muslim community as a whole to stand up and say, "You have brought shame upon the whole of Islam and have manipulated the teachings of Allah to suit your own ends and means. We do not acknowledge you as part of the Muslim faith, nor do we honor your beliefs or actions. When the judgment comes (forgive me if I get a bit to Catholic here) you will be judged and you will be damned to Hell."
If they have, please, send me references. But if not, this is what needs to be done. Because, to me, not doing it is just the same as accepting the behavior.
Understand, I'm not just calling out Islam here. I've been waiting for the Pope to do it to molesters for years.

[Seymore]

Oh, let's all just go for a corned beef sandwich and some gefilte fish and call it a day.