The other day, as I was thinking how easy it was for an 18 year old to call me a racist, and then for the monopoly book retailer in Canada, without adequate investigation, call me a "racist" in the press, I remembered something interesting.

I have already written in this blog about my contacts in the Muslim community, and how I think it ill serves the Muslim community for us to empower the most radical segments, which in turn causes a backlash against ordinary Muslims.

The Islamic Society of North America is considered by many to be on the radical side of the spectrum of Muslim thought and ideology in North America.   I, like many, have concerns about the funding of the organization, some of its apparent links to terrorist organizations, etc.

I am not an expert on this.   I do agree that there are important questions that have to be asked, and I am not naive.

Notwithstanding the questions about this specific organization, I want to show my readers that I put aside the politics,when it comes to spreading good will and offering my hand in friendship to Muslims who I know.   What you are going to read will show how inappropriate it was for a Corporate PR person to call me a racist without knowing anything about me, and then to get my books banned.

Here is some correspondence between myself and the President of the ISNA upon her election in 2006.    Again, I point out if this can happen to me, it can happen to anybody.  When you read this, you will understand how bizarre and how terrible this whole situation is for me, given my documented attempts to reach out to Muslims, which is a lot more than many of the liberals preaching "tolerance" ever do.

From: Howard Rotberg [mailto:Howard@Brantcord.com]
Sent: Tue 8/29/2006 8:09 PM
To: Ingrid Mattson
Subject: Congratulations

For about 15 years I practiced law at 35 Roy Street, next to your mom’s house, and I used to talk to her all the time.  (Also Hal)  I now spend most of time in (name of city edited out), having taken early retirement from law to concentrate on the development of affordable rental housing for the working poor.   I work one week a month in Ontario doing housing there.  (My wife is (edited out)).

I just wanted to send my best wishes to you on being selected as President of your organization, and may you be successful in helping to achieve the highest ideals of Islam within the larger North American community, and in helping to create a pluralistic society that also upholds freedom and justice for all.   I hope your mother is still alive and well, and if so, give her and Hal my regards.

 

Best,

Howard Rotberg

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Dear Howard:

 

Thank you for your thoughtful note.  I know that my mother will be delighted that you contacted me.  She is doing well, thank God, having celebrated her 75 birthday this summer.  She has told me in the past about your work with affordable housing, and will be happy to hear that you continue to work in this area.  If you have a webpage with information on your work or other information, I would be interested in seeing it.  There are some Canadian Muslim organizations that manage housing co-ops, and perhaps they can learn something from your experiences to expand their services more to the poor.

 

Ingrid

 

 

Ingrid Mattson, PhD

Professor of Islamic Studies

Director of Islamic Chaplaincy

Hartford Seminary

http://macdonald.hartsem.edu/mattson.htm

860-509-9531

 

President

The Islamic Society of North America

www.isna.net

317-839-8157

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