The Islamic, Starkville and Mississippi State communities cametogether in a town meeting Friday, to discuss the tragedies in New York City
and Washington, D.C.
MSU President Malcolm Portera, Starkville Mayor Mack Rutledge,
Starkville Police Capt. David Lindley, and other leaders met with the Islamic
community to become one community.
Before the town meeting took place, a prayer meeting was held in the
prayer room at the center.
“We are all one people in this tragedy,” Portera, said. “And we express
our loss with you.”
Zahir U. Warsi, professor of aerospace engineering, first spoke about
his resolution on the tragedy and expressed his feelings on the tragedy.
“We are all saddened by this horrible and terrible act of terrorism,”
the resolution of the Islamic Center of Mississippi reads. “The horror is
unspeakable and like every American, we are paralyzed by the carnage.
“Like every American, we are outraged and we want justice,” Warsi’s
resolution said. “A few misguided persons took onto themselves and acted
which is deprolable in Islam. Islam does not condone violence or suicide
bombing. Islam is simply the worship and submission to the God of Abraham,
the same peace-loving God that Jews and Christians pray to.”
Warsi continued with his presentation and started to speak about the
tragedies and hardships that he has been through during this time of
grieving.
“I don’t remember in the past few years when so much energy was
taken out of me,” Warsi said. “America opened her arms to us (Muslim
people).”
After Warsi spoke, Rutledge took the floor.
“We can hardly imagine the loss that happened on Tuesday,” Rutledge
said. “The ripples of pain from New York City and Washington, D.C., have
made their way to the little town of Starkville.”
“I pray for the values to continue and that we extend the hand of
brotherhood and it be taken in love,” he said.
Although Rutledge spoke very briefly on the situation, he made an
impression on everyone in the room. Some listenters were wiping their eyes
from tears, but most were smiling.
Portera spoke about the university’s response to the Islamic
community in the past as well as in the present. He told the crowd he
believed the Islamic community was a “vital” part of the MSU community and
campus.
“The mounds of rubble are located in America, but the mounds extend
into every part of the world,” Portera said.
“I express my regret on your loss and your tragedy,” he said. “We also want
to apologize for the acts of vandalism that took place this week.”
On Tuesday, two suspected teen-agers drove by the Islam Center of
Mississippi and threw eggs and tomatoes at the center. There is an
investigation on who committed this act of vandalism.
“We want to build a stronger community at MSU, Starkville, Oktibbeha
County, and Mississippi,” he said.
“The world is vast, large, and complex,” Portera said. “But we all need
to build a better self for the complex world.”
Portera continued his speech by talking about what each part of the
community needed to do to complete this task. He also went on to say how
students need to be educated in today’s world.
“Our students must be exposed to different cultures, to be educated,”
he said.
“The international community is vital to the success here at Mississippi
State,” Portera said. “We are called to action.”
Portera ended his speech and the crowd at the center all rose to their
feet clapping. Dr. Seth Oppenheimer, professor of math and statistics came
to the podium and delivered a soft, easy speech to the audience.
Dr. Oppenheimer suggested that the communities rise up should all rise
up together as one.
“We must speak up for the Muslim community in the U.S.” Oppenheimer
said.
Oppenheimer concluded his speech by reciting a poem that he wrote
before coming to the meeting. In the poem he spoke of how we as a country
need to bond together and forget our differences both physically and
spiritually.
The floor was then left open to the crowd for anyone to speak their
mind and thoughts.
“It is very approiate to have this meeting today,” Doug Harring, a
retired bank executive said. “One thing that I love about the Islamic
community is the love for the family and children that is expressed by the
father.”
“It is a very critical time for relationships and communication,” Harring
said. “We need to stay aware of how this is going to bring us together.”
“I remember when I was in Syria for twelve months after the Gulf
War,” he said. “I can remember that not one egg or tomato was thrown at
me or my family, please let me tell you that the vandals are not an indication
of all of our feelings.”
The protection of the Islamic community has been in doubt since
Tuesday because of possible connections with Osama bin Laden. Many people
in the community have expressed their feelings about the Islamic community
including the recent vandalism at the center.
Starkville Police Capt. David Lindley spoke by telling the community
that everything will be under full control and any incident would be resolved.
“We are in a continuing cycle of possible events after the attacks in
New York City and Washington, D.C.,” Capt. Lindley said.
“We are working on finding who did this act of vandalism,” he said. “If
you need us, call us, and we will be there.”
This was the first meeting for all the city officials to meet inside the
Islamic Center in recorded history. Mayor Rutledge did state that this was
the first time he had “ever came” to the Islam Center.
“It was an act of unity and our expression of how the Islam community
mean so much to MSU and Starkville,” Rutledge said.
After the meeting was over, the Islamic community provided lunch for
the community. Traditional Islamic was served and many were excited about
trying the new food.
Masoud Rais-Rohani, a member of the Islamic Center, lead the meeting
by introducing each of the speakers and giving his input as well. Rohani
expressed his sadness in the tragedy, but also expressed his thoughts about
the meeting.
“The true character of the community can really be judged in moments
of tragedy as he have witnessed the past three days,” Rohani said. “We feel
today that we are truly excepted member of the Starkville community.”
“We are all here to show moral support in a small town as Starkville,”
Rohani said. “I express my regret on your loss and your tragedy,” he said.
“We also want to apologize for the acts of vandalism that took place this
week.”
On Tuesday, two suspected teen-agers drove by the Islam Center of
Mississippi and threw eggs and tomatoes at the center. There is an
investigation on who committed this act of vandalism.
“We want to build a stronger community at MSU, Starkville, Oktibbeha
County, and Mississippi,” he said.
“The world is vast, large, and complex,” Portera said. “But we all need
to build a better self for the complex world.”
Portera continued his speech by talking about what each part of the
community needed to do to complete this task. He also went on to say how
students need to be educated in today’s world.
“Our students must be exposed to different cultures, to be educated,”
he said.
“The international community is vital to the success here at Mississippi
State,” Portera said. “We are called to action.”
The floor was then left open to the crowd for anyone to speak their
mind and thoughts.
“It is a very critical time for relationships and communication,” Doug
Herring, a retired bank executive, said. “We need to stay aware of how this
is going to bring us together.”
The protection of the Islamic community has been in doubt since
Tuesday because of possible connections with Osama bin Laden. Many people
in the community have expressed their feelings about the Islamic community
including the recent vandalism at the center.
Starkville Police Capt. David Lindley spoke by telling the community
that everything will be under full control and any incident would be resolved.
“We are working on finding who did this act of vandalism,” he said. “If you need us, call us, and we will be there.”
This was the first meeting for all the city officials to meet inside the
Islamic Center in recorded history. Mayor Rutledge did state that this was
the first time he had ever come to the Islamic Center.