06.05.06
Review of IV Chomsky Event
The conference was very good. I enjoyed my time there. The speakers were all good, each giving their own unique views and perspectives. A good amount of important issues were addressed at the event. However, I wish the speakers talked more about Shi’a, Sunni relations. When they were asked questions pertaining to it, they kinda brushed it off and played out like its not really a problem. During the individual workshops/discussions, which I moderated most of the participants wanted to know what the differences and issues were between Sunni-Shi’a Muslims.
Salma Yaqoob particularly impressed me. Her dedication and devotion is umatched. I talked to her and her husband afterwards. She is the first Muslim women (and she wears hijab) to be an elected official in England’s parliment. What really makes her unique is that she is Sunni, who wants to unite/associate/affiliate with Shi’a Muslims. It is easy for us, Shi’as, to want unity since we are in minority but its much difficult for the majority, the Sunnis, to want that.
Dr Noam Chomsky, of course was great and thought-provoking as always. Something I did not know was that 86% of Iraqis wanted US and foreign troops to withdraw according to a recent US poll.
There was a good diverse crowd. Majority of the volunteers were made up of Shi’as (from New Jersey) but the participants included many different people from many different backgrounds. There were a lot of Muslims and non-Muslims from NY, NJ, Canada, Michigan, Chicago and even as far as Australia (I had a conversation with him.. he had a thick aussie accent!).
Overall the program was great. I commend Independent Viewpoints on a job well done and I hope IV becomes even more succesful in the future, inshaAllah.
Sarah Said:
June 6, 2006 at 6:18 am
:o you didn’t mention me!!!
amel Said:
June 6, 2006 at 4:19 pm
although chomsky was great as always i had many concerns with IV, having followed it and its members since its inception. expecting chomsky to be the miracle that would unite a very comfortable upper-middle class muslim-american population, is misguided. we have plenty of organizations that try to intellectualize causes and don’t accomplish anything real or practical. IV was ill-prepared from the get-go and was so hung up over the chomsky-factor, that they neglected to even develop a platform or purpose. how does an org that does not even know what it stands for proceed to plan an event anyway? how do you gather a bunch of individuals and not know what you want other than getting chomsky? pretty website, pretty speakers, no direction. it’s a waste of potential and time to work with groups who have no clear aim, and worse, that target an intellectual and well-off class. what did IV accomplish in a real sense? i wish IV the best in the long run and really do hope they find direction… i hope it doesn’t turn into an org that focuses on a “look”…let’s get some high-profile speakers to come out and make us feel empowered once a year… let’s try to reign in as many oriental faces as possible… ain’t nothing wrong with that, but that should be second-hand to the real work…
Ali Said:
June 6, 2006 at 6:18 pm
During the discussions groups, someone asked what the focus of IV was. It was difficult for the IV people to answer. One of the answers was to utilize the messageboard and which ever topic gets the most hits will become their next event. err… what?
Anyway, the event was good. Chomsky was so so. I wanted to the moderator to ask him questions that others haven’t already asked. Like someone said to me, most of the things discussed hear I can go look up on the internet.
InshaAllah, the next event will be even better. It is their first event… so …
Wa Salaam,
Ali
Sarah Said:
June 6, 2006 at 6:23 pm
I agree with both of you guys. IV doesn’t seem to have a purpose. And this event was a waste of time and money to be honest. I didn’t hear anything that I haven’t heard before or that I can’t search online, like you guys have stated. IV needs a mission statement. True say. If they really want to make a huge difference, they should try to act as a lobby in Washington. It’ll take a long time and a lot of work, but at least that will be something worthwhile other than having talks that accomplish nothing at all anyway.