...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad

Hope ‘n’ change, “interfaith”-style: Gullible dhimmis take heed. The real aim of “interfaith” outreach is revealed in this Islam Online article (my bolds):

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the spirit of Ramadan and the need for change, the Islamic Society of North American (ISNA) kicked off its annual convention with a joint "2008 interfaith build" in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity and several Jewish and Christian organizations.

"We collaborated this effort with Habitat for Humanity because we believe that housing can be a means for elevating poverty," Mohamed Elsanousi, ISNA Director of Communications and Community Outreach, told IslamOnline.net.

He added that the efforts falls in line with the spirit of this year convention's theme, "Ramadan – A Time for Change."

"We always encourage people that Ramadan is an opportunity to change, but if we can continue to keep up with the spirit of Ramadan for the betterment of the society then that’s wonderful."

ISNA invited Habitat’s CEO Jonathan T.M. Reckford to come and address its convention, which kicked off on Friday, August 29, and run through September 1.

"They (ISNA) were going to focus on poverty and of course housing goes along with that," Danielle Turnage, the Special Events Manager for Habitat for Humanity, told IOL.

"We are advocates for making sure that everyone has simple basic shelter and so it was a natural fit for us to be involved."

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization building simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need.

Among those present for the interfaith event was Reverend. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, which represents some 45 million members from 100,000 local congregations.

He was accompanied a group of about twenty VIPs representing the three monotheistic religions on this interfaith build project.

Representatives from most of the national Muslim organizations also took part in this humanitarian project.

Timely, Fitting

Tamima and her seventeen-year-old daughter, Sarah, traveled all the way from New Jersey to attend the ISNA conference.

They believe this year's theme was "very fitting" and "gives us a little perspective on how to start our month."

"I think again it is very time appropriate since Ramadan is about to start and with the whole election coming up and the whole change thing," notes Tamima, who has Pakistani backgrounds.

Pamela Wilcoxson, a recent convert who attended last year's ISNA convention in Chicago, is accompanying her friend Barbara Pouros, who is attending ISNA for the first time.

Both are excited about the conference and its theme.

Nelly, who currently lives in the United Arab Emirates with her husband, feels the theme reminds her of the Democratic National Convention because of the emphasis on change.

Robert Engel, a convert to Islam, believes the theme indicating a need for change in the spirit of Ramadan fits well with ISNA’s efforts to reach out to followers of other faiths and work towards a common goal of ending poverty.

"Since I used to be a Christian, I like the interfaith work that they offer."

You gotta hand it to these guys. Piggy-backing on Habitat for Humanity, a cause that’s right up there with motherhood and the environment, is a brilliant way to rope in the guileless dhimmis—and maybe even persuade a few of them to opt for “change”.

Posted by: scaramouche at 11:10 | link | comments (1)

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