Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Damned if you do, damned if you don't


FBI ends up offending Muslims at outreach workshop

Emily Heffter
Seattle Times

FBI agents participating in an outreach workshop Saturday hoped to improve their relationship with Seattle's Muslim, Arab, East African and Sikh communities, but ended up offending some participants.

About 20 community leaders attended the workshop at North Seattle Community College, which featured presentations by the FBI, Seattle police and the U.S. Attorney's Office. The event was aimed at improving communication and building trust between law enforcement and communities that feel targeted and profiled by authorities A Seattle Police Department presentation on the rights of citizens when approached by an officer was well-received.

But the event grew confrontational during the FBI's presentation, which community members complained was too focused on Islamic terrorist groups. Then, the agents showed a PowerPoint slide about state-sponsored terrorism that included a photograph of a man many in the audience believed was a Shia Islamic leader based on his clothes. Several people in the audience asked whether it was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a political and religious leader who led the 1979 Iranian Revolution and died in 1989.

The photo was small, and the two FBI agents giving the presentation said they didn't know who it was. That offended members of the audience even more, and one of them compared it to calling the pope a terrorist or serving pork to Muslims.

Afterward, event organizer Amin Odeh said he'd have to do "damage control" to try to explain to the community what happened.

"I was ready to walk out, but this is exactly why we need to do things like this," he said. "Maybe in their eyes they're small things, but to the community they're huge things."

Turnout to the event was small. Distrust of law enforcement is so fierce that some Muslims refused to attend, said Jeff Siddiqui, a Pakistani-American and Lynnwood real-estate agent who is a member of American Muslims of Puget Sound.

"Most Muslims are not coming because they feel that the door is closed to them, so why would they come to a PR class?" he said.

While the Muslim community's relationship with city government has improved under Mayor Mike McGinn, Siddiqui said those in the Muslim community do not enjoy the same relationship with Police Chief John Diaz.

A Police Department detective at the meeting weighed in on the FBI's presentation, explaining that whoever was in the photograph, "The community is tired of seeing their images represented" in presentations about terrorism.

The FBI presentation was led by Seattle agents Brenda Wilson and Daniel Guerrero. They wouldn't comment to the media afterward, but during a question-and-answer session they told community leaders they welcomed their feedback.

Guerrero said the reason the FBI came to the meeting was to hear from community members. He acknowledged the FBI is "an agency of people" and is therefore imperfect.

"First of all, the FBI does not profile," he said. "We don't target because of religion. We don't target because of race. We don't care about that. We care about protecting America."

Many attendees said they have had bad experiences with the FBI, so the agent's denial that profiling ever occurs undermined the rest of the conversation.

"When you say you don't profile — and our reality is you do — you negate everything else you say," Siddiqui told them.

Emily Heffter: 206-464-8246 or eheffter@seattletimes.com

Comment: Let's talk like intelligent adults. No one can offend another unless that person permits it. For many people, especially social groups and political groups using the "O" tactic has resonated for them and it has been successful. Therefore, using the expression "I'm offended" or you.that offends me" is a ploy, a tactic and in fact it is part of a social arsenal of war tactics. You see, we are at war with others' values, ideologies-you can ignore this or you can finally gather courage and support what you value. Next time someone offers the "OFF" tactice, reply, "I am disappointed you are choosing to be offended."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The following is only one example of many.
Since my retirement,I frequent Starbucks where I met a very nice
employee from Pakistan.
Now,I have had very friendly greetintgs and chats until one day
I heard him calling loud repeadetly
a drink he prepared "Americano".
As I approached him asking if he can make a "Pakistano".
He chose to be offended and I told him I was only joking.
This is in general the mentality
in the Middle East where people
get so offended to the point of no return,
After all what is Honor Killing ?
It is where a female brings shame on her family (losing virginity).
To kill a family member meants
that shame and hate is greater than
Love,
Forgiveness is not an option !!!

Anonymous said...

Here is another example where Muslim Leaders are using "Being offended" Card !!!

NEW YORK - Leaders of four prominent Muslim organizations said Sunday they are appalled by an American court jury's verdict convicting 10 of the Muslim students on both misdemeanour counts of disturbing a meeting and conspiring to disturb a meeting.
These Muslim students had repeatedly interupted speech at the UC in Irvive CA ,given
by Mr. Oren -Israeli ambassador to the UN. They kept shouting to him murderer,occupation to the point he could not talk !!
Here is what the Muslim Leaders Say:
"It's a sad day for democracy when nonviolent protestors are criminalized by their government and are found guilty for exercising a constitutional right," said Salam Al-Marayati, Muslim Public Affairs Council President.
Now, I say......
That was a very lean sentence for continuing to Interrupt Israeli Diplomat during his speech.

Yet Muslim leaders claim "freedom of speech" ?

There are RULES and should be obeyed during a speech !!!

The 10 should wait outside and shout as much as they want !!! instead of disturbing a speech.

These leaders are not civilized and showing poor example
to the rest of the FANATICS !!!

Anonymous said...

Here is another example where Muslim Leaders are using "Being offended" Card !!!

NEW YORK - Leaders of four prominent Muslim organizations said Sunday they are appalled by an American court jury's verdict convicting 10 of the Muslim students on both misdemeanour counts of disturbing a meeting and conspiring to disturb a meeting.
These Muslim students had repeatedly interupted speech at the UC in Irvive CA ,given
by Mr. Oren Israeli ambassador to the UN. They kept shouting to him murderer,occupation to the point he could not talk !!
Here is what the Muslim Leaders Said:
"It's a sad day for democracy when nonviolent protestors are criminalized by their government and are found guilty for exercising a constitutional right," said Salam Al-Marayati, Muslim Public Affairs Council President.
Now, I say......
That was a very lean sentence for continuing to Interrupt Israeli Diplomat during his speech.

Yet Muslim leaders claim "freedom of speech" ?

There are RULES and should be obeyed during a speech !!!

The 10 should wait outside and shout as much as they want !!! instead of disturbing a speech.

These leaders are not civilized and showing poor example
to the rest of the FANATICS !!!