Closing the week 45 – Featuring Faith in Occupy
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Featuring faith in occupy
A spark lit in Tunisia ignites the world – CBS News
And so Tunisia erupted and overthrew its government, and Egypt caught fire, as did Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, and Libya, where the nonviolent protests elsewhere turned into a civil war the rebels have almost won after several bloody months. Who could have imagined a Middle East without Ben Ali of Tunisia, without Mubarak, without Gaddafi? And yet here we are, in the unimaginable world. Again. And almost everywhere.
Japan was literally shaken loose from its plans and arrangements by the March 11th earthquake and tsunami, and that country has undergone profound soul-searching about values and priorities. China is turbulent, and no one knows how much longer the discontent of the repressed middle class and the hungry poor there will remain containable. India: who knows? The Saudi government is so frightened it even gave women a few new rights. Syrians wouldn’t go home even when their army began to shoot them down. Crowds of up to a million Italians have been protesting austerity measures in recent months. The Greeks, well, if you’ve been following events, you know about the Greeks. Have I forgotten Israel? Huge demonstrations against the economic status quo there lasted all summer and into this fall.
Occupy Wall Street Meets Tahrir Square – NYTimes.com
At the risk of being obvious, let us list the ways that Occupy Wall Street is not like Tahrir Square: no protesters have been killed, there have been no demands for the president to step down and no crowds swelling above six figures. The protesters are in far less danger, and seem to pose far less danger to the powerful, than in Egypt.
But it’s worth pausing for a moment on this point: Here in Lower Manhattan, and around the country, protesters have embraced a movement springing from the Arab world as a model of freedom, democracy and nonviolence.
“Are you ready for a Tahrir moment?” an initial call to action demanded. Now, newcomers to Zuccotti Park are given leaflets explicitly connecting the movements: “We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring occupation tactics to achieve our ends and we encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants.”
Interfaith groups embrace Occupy Wall Street – Charleston Spirituality | Examiner.com
All over the country, including here in Charleston and surrounding cities, the Occupy Wall Street movement has spread to shocking proportions; and, whether protestors are religious or not, to rally requires a leap of faith.
An Open Letter to Occupy : Indybay
What these groups have in common is a connection to practice: of prayer, of meditation, of centering, to embody their values. Values that translate beyond personal interest into collective concern. Thus, we propose explicitly reaching out to communities of faith, spirit and transformation to broaden and deepen support for Occupy. This will succeed in creating space for the many families, church groups, synagogues, mosques and temples that are committed to justice, while showing that the Occupy movement extends its invitation to those that are most often not invited.
Christians, Jews and Muslims at “Occupy Wall Street” | Everyday Citizen
As the “Occupy Wall Street” protests have continued in the last couple of weeks, more religious people from many different religions have begun to join and make their presence felt. This is important, as religious people have made important contributions to past movements for social change, such as the civil rights movement, the woman’s suffrage movement, the abolition movement, and the labor movement. The three Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, have especially have a historic concern for the plight of the poor and the marginalized that fits well with the concerns of the “Occupy Wall Street” protesters. Religious figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rabbi Joshua Heschel, Malcolm X, Bayard Rustin, James Farmer, William Sloane Coffin, Pauli Murray, and others have all fought for similar economic justice issues that the “Occupy Wall Street” protests are fighting for today.
Diverse Faith Involvement in Occupy Wall Street
From New Haven, Connecticut to San Francisco, California, clergy and people of faith are standing in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street protesters. Despite the occasional story trumpeting the Occupy Movement as a “largely secular” undertaking, there is a far-reaching consensus from both the mainstream and religious media that the faith community is a dynamic partner in the Occupy movement.
Below is a media roundup detailing faith’s fitting (and growing) role in the Occupy Movement:
The Associated Press: Religion claims its place in Occupy Wall Street
No shoes are allowed in the “Sacred Space” tent here, but you can bring just about any faith or spiritual tradition.
A day’s schedule finds people balancing their chakras, a “compassion meditation” and a discussion of a biblical passage in Luke. Inside, a Buddha statue sits near a picture of Jesus, while a hand-lettered sign in the corner points toward Mecca.
The tent is one way protesters here and in other cities have taken pains to include a spiritual component in their occupations. Still, Occupy Wall Street is not a religious movement, and signs of spiritually aren’t evident at all protest sites.
GOD OCCUPIES WALL STREET – YouTube
GOD OCCUPIES WALL STREET
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5oTWOe06V0]
Occupy Wall Street: Faith on The Street – YouTube
Occupy Wall Street: Faith on The Street
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz8sGaZLsXg]
Faith Communities and Occupy Wall Street – YouTube
Faith Communities and Occupy Wall Street
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_V40sjNKUE]
Video: Religion at Occupy Wall Street | Watch Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly Online | PBS Video
Watch Religion at Occupy Wall Street on PBS. See more from RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY.
Christian
At Occupy Protests, Bearing Witness Without Preaching — Beliefs by Mark Oppenheimer – NYTimes.com
There are Christians, too, eager to be seen as Christians. They face a special challenge. They want to make the church visible, so they wear clerical collars or other religious garb, like the albs, or white robes, that lay Christians may also wear.
But they know that many,
Clergy providing spiritual support for Occupy Chicago masses – chicagotribune.com
Standing among the pickets and chanting crowds of Occupy Chicago, Lutheran pastor Tom Gaulke doesn’t hoist a sign denouncing greed or pleading for money to buy a congressman.
Gaulke simply dons his vestments. He believes his robe and stole say it all.
10 Things Christians Should Know & Do about the “Occupy” Protests | Faith Forward
After weeks with a notable lack of media coverage about it, American Christians are learning about an amazing phenomenon that is taking place on Wall Street in New York that has birthed a movement that’s spreading across the land. Hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens are showing up en mass to parks and city squares to protest corporate fraud and exploitation and to express their outrage. But what should Christians make of all of this? We like “lists of 10” so I’d like to offer the following action items for us to consider:
Communion Service @ Occupy Boston – YouTube
Communion Service @ Occupy Boston
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbCu8r1bpVM]
Jews
Occupy Wall Street Jews… JPost – Jewish World – Jewish Features
Jews in the Occupy Wall Street movement are finding Jewish inspiration for their protests, and setting their sights on rethinking Jewish institutions.
Young U.S. Jews aim ‘occupy’ movement at Birthright Israel – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
As the various “occupy” movements spread across the United States, headed by the massive Occupy Wall Street events, a group of young Jewish Americans is taking the notion of the “99%” against the ruling “1%” to debunk what they see as the hypocritical U.S. Jewish leadership.
In a mission statement titled “Occupy the Occupiers: A Jewish Call to Action,” the Young, Jewish, and Proud (YJP), described as the youth wing of the left-leaning Jewish Voice for Peace movement, called out to young Jews to “stand up to the 1% in our own community, the powerful institutions that support Israel’s corporate-backed military control of the Palestinian people and act as the gatekeepers for our community.”
Group hoists Jewish tent at Occupy Oakland | j. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California
Amid the many tents already dotting Frank Ogawa Plaza, a Jewish tent went up this week in support of the Occupy Oakland movement.
A group calling itself the Occupy Oakland Jewish Contingent placed a canopy in the plaza Nov. 2 to guarantee a Jewish presence in the ongoing protest.
“Jews have been a part of [Occupy Oakland] from the beginning,” said Daniella Salzman, one of the organizers of the group. “We are open to all people who identify as Jewish, whether affiliated with a synagogue or whatever their level of observance. We are setting up a tent for an open and visible Jewish space to invite [Jews] to join in dialogue.”
Jewish liberals defend Occupy Wall Street from anti-Semitism claims | JTA – Jewish & Israel News
A group of liberal Jewish activists, former politicians and union leaders released a statement denouncing opponents of Occupy Wall Street for accusing the movement of anti-Semitism.
“We are publicly engaged American Jews who support both Israel and the ideas behind Occupy Wall Street, and who also strongly oppose right-wing attempts to smear that movement with false charges of anti-Semitism,” the statement said.
Amy B. Dean: What’s a Jew to Do?
Today, in economic and social conditions reminiscent of the 1930s, Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is generating considerable excitement and some nervousness among American Jews. On the one hand, its critique of economic inequality and of a political system that excludes most voices from civic discourse resonates with the community’s liberal majority. On the other hand, Jews have often been scapegoated during economic crises, accused of being puppet masters behind the scenes.
So, what’s a Jew to do?
We can take a lesson from the 1930s, and advance an aggressive reform agenda that addresses the critique of structural inequality put forward by Occupy Wall Street.
Vein of anti-Semitism within Occupy demonstrations have Jewish leaders concerned | abc7chicago.com
As Occupy Wall Street nears the six-week mark, a vein of anti-Semitism flowing through the movement has reached Chicago. Jewish leaders say they are concerned.
This is the ugly underbelly of Occupy Wall Street: Recycled anti-Jewish prejudices from small but vocal segments of the movement whose hatred on the picket lines is being magnified on the Internet.
Now, anti-Semitic sign bearers and speakers who have latched onto the Occupy demonstrations have Jewish leaders in Chicago concerned.
Occupy Wall Street: Does anyone care about the anti-Semitism? – Right Turn – The Washington Post
In the millions of pixels devoted to the radical Occupy Wall Streeters, virtually nothing has been said about its anti-Semitic elements. The conservative Emergency Committee for Israel is out with an eye-popping ad:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIlRQCPJcew]
Jewish Groups Rally in Sukkah at Occupy Los Angeles – YouTube
Jewish Groups Rally in Sukkah at Occupy Los Angeles
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aMJCBqSb3o]
OCCUPY WALL STREET -ZUCCOTTI PARK ON SUCCOS IN NYC – YouTube
OCCUPY WALL STREET -ZUCCOTTI PARK ON SUCCOS IN NYC
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATjkY0At96c]
Muslim
Occupy Movements: Where are the Muslims? | Al-Talib News Magazine
We were surprised to find the protest packed. The crowd was very diverse and various different kinds of signs could be seen, from “I am 17—what is my future going to cost me?” to “I am an Afghan child, please stop dropping bombs on me.”
But, some people were missing… Where were my Muslim brothers and sisters at?
Dr. David Liepert: Should Muslims Occupy Wall Street Too?
The growing Occupy Wall Street movement has gained attention as a popular expression of general discontent with the inequities evident in modern western finance. However, it has been criticized for lacking focus and presenting no coherent alternative.
Could more Muslim participation be of further help?
Because without question the movement was inspired by the non-violent, world changing protests of Egypt’s heroic citizens in Tahrir Square.
‘Occupy Wall Street’ Wins Muslim Support – Americas – News – OnIslam.net
NEW YORK – Joining the ranks of fellow Americans in protesting economic inequality, US Muslim groups have thrown their weight behind the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protest movement against social injustice in the United States.
Video: Muslim Groups Back Occupy Wall Street Protesters (CAIR) – YouTube
Muslim Groups Back Occupy Wall Street Protesters (CAIR)
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o1QBhuMKTs]
Jummah prayer at Occupy Wall Street – YouTube
Jummah prayer at Occupy Wall Street
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbMbtJc1n9A]
Photos of Occupy Boston — After one month
A group of supporters left Occupy Boston and walked in the early morning rain to US District Court where Tarek Mehanna, of Sudbury, accused of supporting Al-Qaeda, was starting trial (this photo is from the previous day). Jacob Dinklage, 22, said via the Boston Anarchists Against Militarism (BAAM) announcement list, “The FBI and the Massachusetts US Attorney are accusing Dr. Mehanna of ‘material support for terrorism’ and related charges. His real offense in the eyes of the US government was his courage as a Muslim and a man of conscience: his opposition to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; his vocal support for other Muslims falsely imprisoned by the US government and; his refusal to work as an informant for the FBI in the Muslim community. For these stands he now faces the possibility of life in prison.” Occupy Boston participants had previously shown support for Mehanna in an October 9 rally which drew national criticism from the Far Right.
Misc.
Triggering Global Debates – Qantara.de
In Germany, Islamic theology is being introduced as a university course – a much debated issue in academic terms, but also politically. In this interview, Mathias Rohe, Germany’s most renowned academic expert on Sharia law, talks about what this means for the development of Islam in Germany and, potentially, on a global level
Is the U.S. ready for Muslims on reality TV? | The Stream – Al Jazeera English
On November 13, the U.S. network TLC is scheduled to premiere the first reality television show exclusively featuring a Muslim-American community. The eight-part series, “All-American Muslim,” was filmed in Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest population of Arab-Americans in the U.S. While about a third of Dearborn residents are of Arab descent, Arab-Americans are less than one per cent of the total U.S. population.
The programme follows five different Arab-American Muslim families and will portray the community “struggling to balance faith and nationality in a post 9/11 world” while challenging stereotypes about Muslims in the U.S.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2-CJV5sErE]
NYPD Surveillance Angers Muslims (VIDEO)
After an undercover NYPD officer infiltrated their group at Brooklyn College, Muslim students there are learning to protect themselves. And dozens of similar “know your rights” seminars are being held across New York City following an AP report that revealed the police department’s widespread surveillance of the Muslim population.
Pickled Politics » Wusses from Muslims Against Crusades back out of protest
So… Muslims Against Crusades have been banned as of midnight. For people not aware of the context, this isn’t new. Anjem Choudhary’s two previous reincarnations of the same sect – Al-Muhajiroun and Islam4UK – were also banned in the past.
For young Muslims, Hajj pilgrimage reawakens Islamic values – CNN.com
For this year’s Hajj, iReporters from around the world documented their journeys, describing their experiences as they complete this Islamic sacrament. Thanks to the power of social media and platforms like CNN’s iReport, they’ve been able to share their faith with the world, giving Muslims and non-Muslims alike a glimpse of the significance of this powerful and transformative event.
The 2011 Hajj also holds special significance for Muslims in the wake of the Arab Spring this year. Though the pilgrimage has traditionally been thought of as an undertaking for middle-aged or senior Muslims, increasing numbers of young pilgrims have been making the trip to Mecca in the past decade.
Despite the impact that Muslims have had on election campaigns and their roles in various political institutions, research on this topic remains scant. Indeed, much of the existing work was couched within the broader areas of the participation of ethnic minorities or the impact of race on electoral politics. The conference hopes to address this lacuna and thereby highlight current research that deals with Muslims and political participation in Britain, whether at local, regional or national levels. It seeks to pay particular attention to how this participation has changed over recent years and identify new trends for the future, although historical reflections are also welcome.
Dutch
Straat-Dawah.NL – 23 oktober 2011 – Amsterdam « Islam4Europe
De broeders van Straat-Dawah.NL zijn dawah gaan verrichten in de hoofdstad van Nederland, Amsterdam
Bekijk de videobeelden en krijg een impressie van hoe de dag eruit zag op zondag 23 oktober 2011
Bankieren moslims verstandiger? « Nieuwsblog nrc.next
Of heeft islamitisch bankieren ook voordelen in onzekere financiële tijden?
Aan de rand van het door de Occupy-beweging bezette Beursplein in Amsterdam stonden vorige week zaterdag drie Arabische jongens rond een krakkemikkig tafeltje. Ze vielen op zijn zachtst gezegd een beetje uit de toon. Onder de bezetters op het plein is de kledingcode capuchons, kistjes en dreads. Deze jongens droegen lange Arabische gewaden, zonnebrillen, arafatsjaals en borstelige baarden. Navraag leerde dat ze zich inzetten voor de verspreiding van de sharia, het islamitisch recht, in Nederland.
Wat heeft de sharia te maken met de Occupy-beweging?
Apocalyptisch wereldbeeld van Breivik en Wilders heeft niets met Islam te maken | Sargasso
Moslims zijn vanouds niet anti-joods en anti-homo. De westerse agressie tegen hen mist elke grond, zegt Frits van Veen, journalist, gespecialiseerd in Noord-Afrika en het Midden-Oosten.
Gelijkwaardigheid van man en vrouw in de islam : Nieuwemoskee
Het gegeven dat moslimvrouwen zich tot kort geleden niet of nauwelijks bezighielden met koranexegese (tafsir) is waarschijnlijk een belangrijke oorzaak van het aanhoudende beeld dat in de islam de vrouw ondergeschikt is aan de man. De afgelopen decennia hebben verschillende vrouwelijke moslimintellectuelen aangetoond dat meer aandacht voor vrouwelijke aspecten in de openbaringsteksten en ruimte voor de stem van vrouwen bij de interpretatie daarvan, belangrijk zijn om recht te doen aan de feitelijke koranische boodschap van rechtvaardigheid en gelijkwaardigheid. Culturele aspecten hebben overigens waarschijnlijk nog meer invloed op het halsstarrige beeld van de ondergeschikte moslimvrouw. Vooralsnog blijken namelijk vooral cultuurgebonden opvattingen en praktijken behoorlijk resistent te zijn tegen de zich snel verspreidende nieuwe religieuze inzichten.