On the Islamic perspective

by Amy Gassen

news editor

Dr. Khalid Blankinship, chair and associate professor of religious studies at Temple University, lectured to faculty, staff and students in the Grace Hall Board Room on Monday, Sept. 24. A practicing Muslim since 1973, Blankinship frequently delivers lectures at Mosques on Friday's.

His lecture, entitled "Islam, politics and violence; real and imaged connections," focused on the relationship of Islam nations to the U.S. and on the history of the Islamic culture. His talk strived for the many students, staff and faculty present to realize that all Islamic people are not anti-American. His quest is to pacify the animosity held toward Muslim peoples after the terrorist attacks occurred on American soil that were orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, an Islamic.

"Islam basically is a religion," Blankinship said. "A religion has nothing to do with actions of violence, including this one.

"(In Islam) there is a spiritual belief of one God and submission to God's will in order to bask in the afterlife." Blankinship compared the basic concept of the religion to that of Christianity.

"Within Islam there is a concept of just war," Blankinship said. "That concept has been the discussion of scholars (of Islam) among the ages on what it means."

Blankinship explained that there are two concepts of "just war" in Islam. The peoples are expected to fight in war "if their country is attacked" or "if Muslim leaders call arms." had felt so open to talk about. Birnbaum still goes on the road but not so much lately. Still a dedicated father, he is staying close to home because his daughter just started school.

"It is a sin for those to run away from the battlefield," Blankinship said.

After giving the basis of the Islamic religion, Blankinship talked about why people from that background would attack the U.S. "Someone has taken the Islamic law in a direction that is far from context," Blankinship said. "People are seeking an excuse for something they want to do out of the law." According to Blankinship, the majority of Islamic peoples are against the attack on the U.S.

Blankinship also touched on why the Islam nation targeted the U.S. "The outrageous American siege of Iraq (culminated in) 1.5 million excess deaths," Blankinship said. According to Blankinship, the deaths were primarily women, children, and unarmed men.

Additionally, Blankinship informed that the U.S. primarily organized and orchestrated the Afghanistan revolt against the Soviet Union in 1989. ''The United States had a great deal in creating the same people they are trying to now track down and kill;' Blankinship said.

A questions and answer period was given towards the end. One member of the audience asked for solutions to the problems that the world is now facing. ''People need to adopt a more favorable attitude towards Muslims that are amiable."

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