Announcements
MASS-MAILED DVD ON 'RADICAL ISLAM' UPSETS IOWA MUSLIMS - by the Des Moines Register on Sunday 9/14/2008
The mass mailing of a controversial DVD 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West' has sparked major concerns among Iowa Muslims who say it maligns their faith and fuels hysteria ahead of the fast-approaching US presidential vote.
The hour-long video began turning up in mailboxes last week as a direct mailing, and also as an advertising insert in dozens of newspapers, including The Des Moines Register, The Miami Herald, the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel and other major newspapers across the country.
Promoted by Clarion Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to 'educating the public about national security threats,' it features scenes of young children reciting jihadi slogans, interspersed with footage of Nazi youths.
We are utterly disappointed that many newspapers cross the country and specially the Des Moines register would be part of disseminating such propaganda and we resent being made a target of ‘hate for political gain’ through this DVD, during the presidential election campaign. 28 million copies were distributed in select cities in swing states, signifying that it was a political ploy to create hatred and fear about Islam and Muslim, making them a false national security threat among the general public.
The contents of this misrepresentation of Islam and Muslims could create a backlash and endanger the safety and well-being of the Muslims and their institutions in this country. This is un-American.
We, the Muslim-Americans consider ourselves an integral part of this country, care for its safety, security and prosperity and, have pledged to defend it from external and internal hostile elements. Many Muslim-Americans serve in the US Military with pride and honor. We are law-abiding and tax-paying citizens with strong family values, we teach our children peaceful coexistence with friends, neighbors and co-workers, inculcating the sense of patriotism and fairness. The core teaching of Islam preaches respect of humanity and preservation of life. We abhor all forms of discrimination against fellow human beings. We have vehemently denounced and continue to denounce any form of terrorism, killing and maiming of innocent civilians, damage and destruction of property, especially in the name of religion. This also is a core tenet of Islam, amply evident from the written and verbal statements from American Muslim organizations and religious decrees (Fatwah) from American Muslim leaders.
Muslims in America comprise a significant segment of the medical, scientific, engineering, academic and, business communities, contributing significantly to the prosperity of the United States . We hope our fellow Americans will utilize their virtues of fair mindedness, honesty and tolerance, to reject such political ploys as employed through this endeavor. We ask them to reject this message of hatred, divisiveness and fear-mongering that is targeted to divert national attention away from the real issues that are important for the well-being of our country and its citizens.
For any Questions
Please contact the Islamic Center of Des Moines Executive Board @
515 255 0212
Or email us at icdm.support@gmail.com
Pump it up address
Story nights will be every Friday directly after Magrib prayer starting from 10/10/2008
Eid Party at pump it up on Sunday 10/05/2008 at 06:00pm
4069 121st St.
Urbandale, IA 50323
(515) 270-5017
Story Night
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
When you visit this site you can enter your address and a map will pop up with your house as a small icon of a house. There will be red, blue and green dots surrounding your entire neighborhood. When you click on these dots a picture of a criminal will appear with his or her home address and the description of the crime he or she has committed.
The best thing is that you can show your children these pictures and see how close these people live to your home or school.
This site was developed by John Walsh from Americas Most Wanted.
This is a good tool we can use to help us keep our kids safe.
Thank You
Great Thanks and appreciations to the sisters' committee for a successful "Lunch and go" and "Story Time" Efforts. May Allah reward them the best reward for their work on this.
02/28/2008 Announcement
The board would like to share with all of you
1. 02/28/2008 We have deployed our new version of ICDM website www.goicdm.org, please try to navigate through it. We will be using it as our new communication tool. You will also see great sections for the Families and Kids. As always all your feedback are welcomed
2. Please stop by the center and review the 2007 financial statement posted on the Center’s Board
3. Summer Camp, we sent you an email on 2/9/08 to see the interest that our community might have for a summer camp for the kids and we also mentioned that it is important to get all the interested parents signed up by no later that 03/15/08. We need to know by that date to see if we have enough participants. As of today 02/28/2008 we have 9 kids who are interested in attending the camp, we have to get back to the teachers who will be teaching our kids in the camp and to the West Des Moines district for using Indian Hills School for the Camp.
02/24/2008 Quran Classes
Kids Quran Classes. Monday and Wednesday after Magrib Prayers, for more info please Contact ICDM office.
01/30/2008 :: Committees Volunteers
Your Brothers of the ICDM board are asking you to spare few hours of your time to be a committee member for one of these committees:
1. Cultural/ Religious committee
This is one of the most important committees. It will have responsibilities:
- Arranges for Friday Khutbah back up if the Imam is not available. And for Translation when needed.
- Arrange with the Imam the Weekly short talks.
- Contacts Scholars to lecture
- Manage the visits to the center
- Lead the Dawa efforts
- Janaza
2. Financial Committee
- Arrange for Fundraising
- Arrange for special Activities
3. Youth Committee
4. Sister Committee
5. Public Relation Committee
These are the 5 committees that WE should have to manage our center in a better way. As you can see I listed some activity examples for some of these committees. However the final list of activities and responsibilities will be decided by the committee members and approved by the board. When this is finalized We will post.
We need your help
It should not take more that 4hrs a month of your time in many occasions. But it will be time will spent.
Please send me your name and what committee you are interested in as we need at lease 3-5 people for each committee.
All public communication and activities MUST have board prior approval
ICDM Board
Email: icdm.support@gmail.com