American Muslim Voice
proudly presents this year’s peace convention “Awakening the American Spirit: Turning the Tide of Hate into Love.” Can love drive out hate? Please join us to learn about Rais’ courageous story of compassion, love at forgiveness. AMV will bring together Muslim scholars, featured speakers, panelists, award recipients and a diverse crowd of people in order to highlight the importance of community and peace building in America. Conversation with Muslim Scholars Do the following topics frequently seen in headlines concern you? Sharia Law, violence, oppression of Muslim women, Jihad and Islam being labeled as a cult instead of a religion. We are creating a safe space to explore your questions and concerns so that you can hear directly from diverse and esteemed Muslim scholars and activists. Learn the truth about Islam from people who live it every day. Speakers: Imam Zaid Shakir, Ameena Jandali, Imam Tahir Anwar, Dr. Mohammad Nadeem and Imam Abdul Azeez. Rabea Chaudhry will serve as moderator and Rev. Bruce Bramlett, of Silicon Valley Inter-religious Council will deliver closing remarks. Civil Rights Panelists: Zahra Billoo, Patty Diaz, Asaad Traina, one of the Irvine 11 students and their attorneys Jacqueline Goodman and Dan Mayfield. Guests will learn about the lives of Muslims during the past decade, marked by detentions, deportations, suspicion, sting operations and the erosion of civil liberties. Zainab Jeewanjee will be the moderator for this panel and closing remarks will be delivered by Rev. Michael Yoshii of Buena Vista United Methodist Church, Alameda, CA. The second session will highlight Rais Bhuiyan, who, inspired by his faith, let love drive out hate. He forgave and tried to spare the life of the man who shot him and left him for dead. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.” The other two featured speakers are Imam Zaid Shakir, co-founder of Zaytuna College and amongst the most respected and influential Islamic scholars in the West, and Rev. Ellen Grace O’Brian, Spiritual Director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in San Jose. She also serves as Vice-Chair of the Parliament of the World's Religions. The master of ceremony will be Anser Hasan, a reporter from the CBS5 morning show. MORE: Tickets to the event are $35.00 advance purchase and $45.00 at the door. Seniors and students will pay only $25.00 in advance and $35.00 at the door. Dinner is included. The event is being held at Chandni Restaurant, 5748 Mowry School Road in Newark. The convention is on Sunday, December 11th, 2011. American Muslim Voice Foundation deeply believes in fostering friendships among all Americans by bridging the cultural and religious gap. Every day we promote new relationships and nurture the old one’s because our country’s safety, security and peace depends on our getting to know each other. We will continue our quest to build an inclusive and beloved world, where all of us will feel safe and at home.
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