Chicagoland Muslims launch annual turkey drive to help needy for Thanksgiving

We are excited once again to announce the start of the TURKEY DRIVE! Once again, Chicago's Muslims are taking up the challenge to provide Thanksgiving turkeys to needy neighbors here in Chicago - neighbors who would otherwise have to do without. Last year, you helped feed SIX HUNDRED FAMILIES, both at Emmett Till Academy in Jackson Park and families near IMAN in Marquette Park. With your help, In Sha Allah, we will once again fill this need!

As we did last year, we are again joining forces with the Sabeel Food Pantry, run by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA). Sabeel has provided food for anyone in need for years on Chicago's North Side, and with the help of AMAL volunteers to coordinate and distribute the turkeys will extend their services this Thanksgiving. Sabeel is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization in the state of Illinois; this means that once again, your contributions will be 100% tax deductible, and all who donate to Sabeel will receive a receipt for tax purposes. (For more info, check Sabeel's website at www.sabeelpantry. org)

We are now accepting donations for the drive. Please send your tax-deductible check written out to "Sabeel Food Pantry" with "Turkey Drive" written in the memo section to:

Sabeel Food Pantry
c/o IFANCA
777 Busse Highway
Park Ridge, IL 60065

Donations can also be given online via PayPal. To donate via PayPal, please go to www.sabeelpantry. org and click on "Donate".

The Annual Turkey Drive is a symbol of the true nature of our faith at a time when it is sorely needed. Please help us to continue it and make it grow!

Jazak Allahu Khairan,

Jihad Shoshara, MD
__._,_.___

Revisiting the Orland Park Mosque Controversy

About four years ago on June 21, 2008, residents of Orland Park crammed the Orland Park Civic Center when the Village Board convened a meeting to discuss a proposal to build an Islamic house of worship, a Mosque, in Orland Park. This was one of several meetings that had been held to allow public input that ranged from anger to understanding.


It was one of the most ugly scenes I had ever witnessed. Residents who "testified" against the Mosque plan said that if they build it, Osama Bin Laden would come to Orland Park and murder Americans there.


The Mosque was built. No one has been murdered. But the anger is still alive.


Here is a video news documentary that I produced, in two parts, that examines the controversy from all sides and documents testimony delivered at the public meeting that day.


Part I: "Eyes of the Beholder: The Orland Park Mosque Controversy"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-450509063223866911


Part II: "Eyes of the Beholder: The Orland Park Mosque Controversy"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5880089403176906085

Ray Hanania
www.TheMediaOasis.com