10-30-2004, 07:24 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
..: Muslim American Society :..
October 28, 2004 PRESS RELEASE
MAS FREEDOM FAITH AND ELECTION 2004 AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
The Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation held a press conference today
at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, focusing on religious
community involvement in the upcoming elections.
Participants included Dr. Weldon Gaddy, Executive Director of the Interfaith
Alliance; Rabbi Jack Moline, Vice President of the Board of Directors of the
Interfaith Alliance; Brenda Girton Mitchell, representing the National
Council of Churches; and Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of the Muslim
American Society Freedom Foundation.
"The presence of religion in the 2004 campaign cycle is without precedent.
Religion has been not only a recurring subject on the campaign trail; it has
been a major campaign strategy," stated Dr. Weldon Gaddy.
Brenda Girton Mitchell spoke of the National Council of Churches' commitment
to justice in political discourse, the need for candidates to focus on
economic equity issues and "giving the good news through good work."
"The division of this country into red and blue is no more desirable than
the division of this country into black and white," stated Rabbi Jack
Moline. "And if we have in common any sacred obligation as citizens of this
great nation, it is to vote.
"More important, we have a sacred obligation as citizens of faith to vote
wisely and not reactively. It is not the case that Democrats or Republicans
have a monopoly on truth. The wealthiest nation in the history of humanity
has been governed by various combinations of both, and we still haven't
managed to eliminate poverty any better than nations who never had a
Franklin Roosevelt or Ronald Reagan.
"To ignore the nuances in people and their principles is to abandon the
opportunity to enfranchise people across the lines of differing opinions,"
asserted Moline. "It closes off conversation and promotes the notion that
every conflict is an ultimate conflict, that the only two options are
complete victory and utter defeat. And of course, utter defeat is to be
avoided at all costs - even the cost of half the population.
"But a victory won at the expense of half the population is defeat for all."
Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of the Muslim American Society Freedom
Foundation, talked of the role of MAS Freedom: "As a non-profit
organization, we are non-partisan, but not non-principle.
"I'm truly glad to see the Muslim community galvanized by such important
issues as civil rights, due process, voter registration and preparing to
vote in record numbers, especially in the battleground states.
"I sense a truly local grassroots political movement taking place in the
Muslim community whose significance many even in our national leadership
have not fully comprehended. I'm encouraged by the level of political
maturity and sophistication I see emerging at the grassroots level.
"Regardless of who wins this Tuesday, the Muslim community seems to be
preparing to take its rightful place in the American civic process."
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The Freedom Foundation is the public affairs arm of the Muslim American
Society (MAS), a national grassroots religious, social, and educational
organization. MAS is America's largest grassroots Muslim organization with
over 50 chapters nationwide. Learn more at www.masnet.org.
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MAS Freedom Foundation
1050 17th Street NW #600
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 496-1288
Fax: (202) 463-0686
URL: http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp
Email: freedom@masnet.org