UMTV Web Brief 8/19/02 –

Muslims In America – Intro:

Welcome to UMTV’s web brief, I’m Reed Galin.

Whether in Indonesia, Afghanistan or Texas - wherever a Muslim is, he or she is supposed to recite the same words, in the same language, with the same movements for each of five daily prayers. It is the fastest spreading faith in the world. We’ve learned a lot more about Islam in the months since the terrorist attacks, but American Muslims still feel their religion is often misunderstood.

Muslims In America – Story:

AZIZ JUNEJO IS A BUSY SEATTLE BUSINESSMAN, A HUSBAND AND FATHER. BUT ABOVE ALL, A MUSLIM.

FIVE TIMES A DAY, EVERYTHING STOPS FOR PRAYER…AT THE OFFICE, AT THE MOSQUE, WHEN STARTING THE CAR.

Aziz Junejo: "It doesn't matter who the Muslim is anywhere in the world…he or she always has to say first of all praising God and asking God for protection."

THE PRAYER OF PROTECTION MEANS MORE SINCE 9/11. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER TERRORIST ATTACKS ON AMERICA, BUT BECAUSE OF AMERICAN ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS.

HANIFA’S HEADSCARF, OR HIJAB, SHOWS SHE'S PROUD TO BE A MUSLIM, YET IT COULD MAKE HER A TARGET.

Hanifa: "In the initial stages, I'd wear a hat over my scarf or just wear a hat that covered my hair."

HANIFA AND AZIZ SAW VIOLENCE AT THEIR OWN MOSQUE. A MAN DOUSED CARS AND FIRED AT MUSLIMS AS THEY CAME OUT FROM PRAYERS.

Aziz: "We decided that we would not press charges against him. And that he would have an understanding that Islam is a religion that preaches, teaches kindness, tolerance, understanding. We're being showcased right now. What is Islam? Who are Muslims?"

THE STARES HANIFA HAS BECOME USED TO ARE NOW FOLLOWED BY HANDSHAKES.
WHEN AZIZ SPEAKS ABOUT HIS RELIGION, PEOPLE ARE LISTENING MORE NOW.

Aziz: "We have an interfaith dialogue, that has never been done in such a momentum as now.”

BOTH OF THEM WANT SOME GOOD TO RISE FROM THE RUBBLE. THEY FEEL GRATEFUL TO BE AMERICANS, PROUD TO BE MUSLIM, AND HOPE FOR A BALANCE WITHIN BOTH.

Aziz: “ We have a tremendous responsibility. God willing we are up to that responsibility."

Commentary: What Is Justice? – Intro:

We all feel that this country has changed forever since 9/11. The long-term effects on our children are not yet obvious. It is the young people of America who have the most to lose or gain by how we define justice.

Commentary: What Is Justice? – Story:

President Bush: "The people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."

"I believe to seek justice, we must apprehend any and everyone who is associated with the terrorists."

"I think a lot of America thinks seeking justice is war, and I think we need to be the bigger person and find an alternative."

"To satisfy our need for revenge, I don't think families over there should have to go through the same pain that our families are going through."

"I think our job as Christians is to turn the other cheek, and the best way to kill your enemy is to kill them with kindness."

"The Bible says to seek justice and resist evil."

"I think revenge is you are getting back with a vengeance in your heart and you want them to die, and justice is having them pay for what they did."

September Born – Intro:

Life has gone on. New life – across the country, thousands of babies came into the world on September 11th, even as their parents feared for what was happening beyond the delivery room and what it might mean to their newborns. For a Nashville couple, a daughter’s birth overcame the darkness of that day.

September Born – Story:

Stephanie, Mother: “Even on the worst days, there’s always going to be a glimpse of hope…and she was our glimpse of hope that day.”

CASEY TIANA STEPHENS WAS BORN THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 11TH. SHE ENTERED THE WORLD, AS THE WORLD WAS FALLING APART.

Casey, Father: “And I looked up, I’m thinking there was a television show going on.”

FOURTEEN HOURS INTO LABOR WITH NOTHING TO DO BUT WATCH TV AND WAIT.

Stephanie: “We were all like, what is going on, what’s happening?”

IT WAS A PROFOUNDLY BITTERSWEET MOMENT, WATCHING THE BIRTH OF THEIR CHILD AS SO MANY OTHERS DIED.

Casey: “And when she came out it was like…”

Stephanie: “We were all still watching the television…”

Casey: “It was like a nightmare, basically.”

Stephanie: “Every prayer that I prayed that day, He answered.”

NOTHING BRINGS MORE HOPE TO THE WORLD THAN THE BIRTH OF A CHILD.

Stephanie: “She was what made me realize that I had something to be so thankful for.”

FOR THIS YOUNG COUPLE, FAMILY NOW MEANS EVERYTHING

Casey: “Cherish your family. You never know when something else like that is going to happen.”

THERE ARE TERRORS IN TODAY’S WORLD, BUT THE FUTURE SEEMS BRIGHT, AS REFLECTED IN THE EYES OF THEIR DAUGHTER.

Stephanie: “She has the look in her eyes that she can do anything. And I know that she can.”

Casey: “And God has given this world something beautiful. I think that’s the good part of September 11th.”

September Born – Tag:

For the Stephens, September 11th will always be a day of celebration mixed with sadness and loss. They say their child, like every child born on that fateful day, brings with her the promise of new life for the nation and the world.

Tease Next Week:

On the next UMTV web brief …
A United Methodist chaplain helps build a “chain of dignity” at the Pentagon crash site.

Pentagon Chaplain: “We wanted to make sure that the families could sense that there was respect in the handling of the remains of their loved ones.”

Thanks for watching. Make it a good week.