It's been a long time since I've blogged here. I thank Always on Watch for keeping the Northern Virginiastan blog current.
I've embarked on a graduate program in addition to my regular 9-to-5 job, so I have little time to blog. I'm using this opportunity to wish our friends and supporters a Happy, Peaceful, and Prosperous New Year 2007! Be glad that we're not counting years from the Hijrah!
Improve Your Life in 2007
The cover story on U.S. News and World Report's December 25, 2006 issue is "50 Ways to Improve Your Life in 2007." Under "Community," one of the things that you can do is to "Learn About Islam" (!) Recommended sources include Karen Armstrong, the ex-nun who'd had us all donning sackcloth and ashes to atone for our prejudice against Islam (and in case you don't recognize it, I'm being sarcastic). It's a bit surprising, given Editor-in-Chief Mort Zukerman's strong stance against Islamic terrorism.
Here are my suggestions to learn about Islam and teach others:
- Donate books on Islam to libraries - we have sample titles listed in our library, at right. I am particularly partial to Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch as a trustworthy source. Donate to school and church libraries as well as public libraries.
- Give books on Islam to family and friends. If you've brought up Islam and terrorism in conversation, this is an appropriate way to follow up. Etiquette, however, suggests that it wouldn't be appropriate to present these books as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, or other such festive occasions.
- Send books on Islam to public officials and decision makers. I believe that it was Pedestrian Infidel who noted that $60 to put books into the hands of your U.S. Senators and representative is a small, but worthwhile, investment.
- Many elected officials have staff that track media for briefings. Identify blogs with a high number of visitors such as Little Green Footballs or Michelle Malkin. Don't hesitate to recommend Northern Virginiastan to our representatives in Virginia and Maryland so that they can get a pulse on what their constituents are thinking. And I'm still looking forward to the day that the WaPo notes Northern Virginiastan :-)
- I oppose banning books (or defacing property), but I support truth-in-labeling. Always on Watch has noted books supplied by CAIR's "Library Project" to the Fairfax County Public Library system - prepare information about CAIR's links to terrorism to insert into these books. Identify sources of information other than CAIR.
- Provide links to anti-Islamic sites in your E-mail signature.
- Give books on Islam to your minister or rabbi. Mainline Protestant denominations, in particular, have been notorious in their support of Muslim causes.
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