Muslim Student aids 4 Jews in subway hate attack (a story that gives some hope)

[cali]

Student's aid in NYC subway attack leads to interfaith friendship

4:34 AM EST, December 12, 2007

NEW YORK - A possibly hate-motivated attack on four Jewish subway riders has resulted in a friendship that bridges religious groups: between the Jewish victims and the Muslim college student who came to their aid.

Victim Walter Adler is calling Hassan Askari a hero for intervening when Adler and three friends were assaulted on a train in lower Manhattan Friday night. They had wished their attackers "Happy Hanukkah."

The 20-year-old Askari tried to fight off the 10 attackers, giving Adler a chance to summon police by pulling an emergency brake.

Askari, a student at Berkeley College in Manhattan, says he just did what he thought was right.

Eight men and two women have pleaded not guilty to assault, menacing and other charges in the case. Prosecutors have said the charges could be upgraded to hate crimes.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--hanukkahattack-he1212dec12,0,3833384.story

I'd like to add that there doesn't seem much doubt that this was a hate crime. The group attacked was approached by a gang of 10 who wished them "Merry Christmas". When the Jewish group responded Happy Hanukkah, that's when they were attacked. Kudos to Askari for putting his neck on the line.

[Selatius]

1. Why would a gang come up to people and wish them "Merry Christmas"? They religious fundamentalists?

Honestly, unless this gang was a gang of religious fundamentalists, hardly anybody would bother getting into a fist fight over religion, certainly not the traditional street gang.

[cali]

2. From the stories I've read

they were just looking for a minority group to beat on. Maybe the Jewish kids were identifiably Jewish. In any case, one of the perpetrators was arrested last year for beating up on some African-Americans. I think the religion thing was just a pretext. And they sound like skinhead types.

[RC]

3. The perpetrators weren't real Christians.

Move along now, nothing to see here.

If they had been Jewish or Muslim attackers, then religion would matter.

Edited to add: :sarcasm:

[kdmorris]

5. What?

"If they had been Jewish or Muslim attackers, then religion would matter." Why is that?

Do you seriously think that there can't be radical Christians just like there are radical Muslims and radical Jews? Do you believe that abortion clinics blow themselves up? When that happens, why doesn't it matter that they did it in the name of Christianity?

I find it abhorrent that Christians will say "Those weren't real Christians", but when a Muslim says the same thing about bin Laden, no one listens to them.

[kenfrequed]

48. Too true

So many times that has been the 'fowl cry' of the Christians when their religion produces negative behavoirs or crazed radicals. "Well they aren't TRUE Christians"

To which I say: "Know them by their fruit."

[joshcryer]

9. Had they called themselves Christians it is unlikely any rational theologian...

...would attribute that sort of behavior to the words of Jesus.

[roguevalley]

46. a good man helps people in trouble against evil. the very definition

of what it means to be good. I applaud them all. Bless them all.

[noamnety]

4. I don't really like the subject line

"a story that gives some hope."

It makes it sound like this is something out of the ordinary, that a Muslim would come to the aid of a crime victim who isn't Muslim. By presenting this as something abnormal, it sort of reinforces stereotypes - I didn't even realize some people had that stereotype here, to be honest - that anyone would have assumed a random Muslim here would want to see a group of people attacked.

[cali]

6. no it doesn't. that's being PC beyond reason.

And it is abnormal that anyone intervenes in situations like this- Muslim, Christian, Jew, Agnostic, etc. Most people just don't step into a brawl. And It's a heartening story; even more so because we do hear so much about enmity between Jews and Muslims.

[chelaque liberal]

7. "we do hear so much about enmity between Jews and Muslims"

We also hear that all Muslims are terrorist.

[cali]

8. So what's your objection to this story which

contradicts that kind of bullshit?

[chelaque liberal]

14. I'm not objecting to the story-just the opposite.

I guess that wasn't clear.

I get furious by how ALL Muslims are perceived by much of this country. I have actually been told that all of the ME should be nuked and that killing Iraqi children is good because they won't be able to grow up to attack us.

[chelaque liberal]

15. This is why I don't post often.

Seems whenever I try to join in, to be part of the conversation, my words get misinterpreted. Maybe I'm not the most articulate person around, but why do you assume I am being adversarial?

[Zookeeper]

21. Some folks just wait for an opportunity to pounce....

sometimes it's because it doesn't occur to them that other people have already considered the view they are espousing, but have rejected it. Sometimes it's because they can't resist an opportunity to assert their moral or intellectual superiority. Some don't know how to communicate in a kind and rational way. And occasionally you will come across posters who just find the internet a convenient place to vent their hostility.

I don't think the problem is you.

[in_cog_ni_to]

42. Don't let it bother you, chelaque liberal. You have to learn to let the insults, jabs and snarks,

just roll off.

When I first joined DU, back in 2002, I use to leave hear in tears. I've learned over the years that some of the members just like to be mean...it's their shtick. Some like to correct mistakes and embarrass people, that's their shtick. Some people like to argue about EVERYTHING, that's their shtick. Just ignore them by moving on OR there is the "ignore" button if someone REALLY grates on the nerves. I just ignore the people I don't like or get along with. It takes a thick skin sometimes to post here, but DU is a great site to have political discussion with like-minded people IF you can get use to those who like to snark about everything.

Hell! Just last week I was called IGNORANT, UNINTELLIGENT....HAVE NO VOCABULARY......NO INTELLECT.....all in 2 posts from the same poster that I hardly know. He was put on my asshole list and I pay him NO ATTENTION. He's not worth the time. He's an ass. Start an asshole list.:)

[cgrindley]

10. Yes, but on the whole, Muslims and Jews, globally, don't get along

Jesus, fuck, it's not un PC of anyone to point out that Muslims and Jews aren't the best of buddies, you know.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. I find it funny, then,

that the Sufi Ruhaniat Society was founded by a Samuel L. Lewis, who was Jewish. Many of the senior teachers in that Order are Jewish, too. But then again, Sufis are the liberal Muslims, and tend to reach out to all people.

[cgrindley]

13. Yeah, they don't count

that's a mere handful. And besides, more mainstream Muslims routinely persecute Sufis.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

23. thanks very much for letting me know I don't count

Interesting that there are thousands of Sufis in Muslim nations. Yes, they are persecuted and are under attack by the fundamentalists. Glad to know you discount them because that really helps the brothers and sisters. :sarcasm:

[cgrindley]

25. There are "thousands" of Sufis... yes... there are over a billion other muslims

so, yes, Sufis and their opinions are statistically unimportant. They don't count when one is examining the base common opinions of a given religion. Sorry.

[Dorian Gray]

47. Huh?

They don't COUNT?

That's not very nice.

[GreenPartyVoter]

40. Didn't you know? It's "progressive believers are leftist marginalists" week here at DU

:sarcasm:

:pals:

[havocmom]

24. OK, I was doin sorta OK with your comments until 'they don't count'

Generalize much then disallow details which point out the problems with the generalizations?

Sufis are part of the Muslim culture, right? So they don't count because...? They don't fit a particular broad brush view of a particular ethnic group? :wtf:

Some Christians do more real good work than other Christians who do try to live by their Christ's preachings. Where is the line about which ones 'don't count'?

[cgrindley]

26. Sufis are a ridiculously tiny minority... they really don't represent mainstream

Muslim thought. They're anomalies. Saying that the Sufi experience is typical of the Muslim experience is like trying to convince people that Amish are entirely representative of Christianity--and there are probably MORE Amish than Sufis.

[havocmom]

27. But, they are people and they do count.

I know some Muslims who are members of sub-sects that are what you would call 'typical'. I have known them to be most tolerant and cooperative of people of other faiths, including Jewish friends.

When a broad brush doesn't apply, perhaps it would be constructive to put it down and stop trying to paint with it.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[havocmom]

33. I refuse to buy into your bigotry & generalizations, so I am talking crack?

My, that's quite the debate tactic you employ there. If I don't agree with foolish generalizations, forming opinions based on my own direct experience and close observations, I am talking crack?

That sort of feeble intimidation attempt is rather, ah, bush league.

I don't buy into the crap of pigeon-holing entire populations and disregarding any who won't fit the slot so I must be on drugs??? Some freepers have posted similar things about me on other sites. It is sad to see the tactic employed here. I expect more from fellow DUers.

[cgrindley]

37. Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, all have pretty much institutional anti-semitism

your personal experience isn't statistically relevant.

[havocmom]

38. America seems to be working on a good case or institutional anti-semitism aimed at Muslims too

Your statistic do not make the bigotry helpful

[havocmom]

51. OK, who alerted on the post suggesting I used drugs?

I really got a kick out of that one.
Damn, now it's gone.

Thanks though, whoever is watching for bogus personal attacks on slightly off-beat old women ;)

[noamnety]

17. The thing that struck me as funny

is that there were some years when I was living in the US as a Jewish (by heritage) atheist - and my entire circle of friends was Muslim. :)

I think it's great that a stranger intervened to help other strangers, I am not claiming otherwise there. I just think the subject line is kind of weird in the same way I thought it was kind of weird when Rush/O'Reilly (whichever one of those asshats it was) was telling the great story of hope about the time they ate in Harlem and the people there acted like civilized human beings.

[cali]

19. oh for fook's sake; yeah, this is exactly like BillO

voicing surprise that African-American's are actually "civilized". Not. This is simply a story about someone doing something admirable. It doesn't make any broad assumptions, and it contradicts some of the myths about Muslims that run rampant in this society.

[noamnety]

22. I got the sense that bill

was trying - in his unique way - to contradict some of the myths about black people (in his own mind, at least, that's the helpful thing he thought he was doing.)

[cali]

30. no. from everything I read, billo was genuinely surprised

he believed the myths.

[noamnety]

43. well, yes.

He was surprised that his experience contradicted what he "knew" was true. I agree with you there. But also he was trying to act as the great white enlightened anthropologist outsider, sharing his special new myth-shattering insight into how those "other" people live with the rest of the world.

Not sure if I'm getting my point across exactly or not. I am always somewhat uncomfortable when anyone from the dominant culture feels the need to share a good-news story about a member of a minority group in a way that makes it sound like the event is unusual, the turning over of a new leaf, that maybe there's hope for them after all, etc.

[cgrindley]

28. The crackhead part of the O'Reilly story

is that three days a week, I walk one block on 125th between Park and Lex and I've never seen anyone, white, hispanic, black, asian or any color act in any way other than disgustingly. The street is filthy, people are passed out in pools of urine, there are nodding junkies, there's a popeye's belching out grease fumes from behind 3 inches of bullet proof glass, there's foot clinic surrounded by people with oozing wounds smoking cigarettes, there's a grotesque smelling hotdog shack (really just stinks of old vomit), there is a collection of vendors (including one guy who appears to be openly selling anti-semitic hate literature). If a new piece of sidewalk is poured, it's ruined within minutes. People openly beg. People openly sell stolen goods--primarily menthol cigarettes. People don't even pretend to use trash cans and the sidewalk is strewn with litter and vomit. It's disgusting.

But it would be asinine to draw any conclusions about anything from six minutes per week along one block.

Conclusions cannot be drawn from statistically insignificant samples.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. this is a good thing

and Hassan Askari did the right thing.

[chelaque liberal]

16. The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies

This weekend I had the honor of attending a presentation given by visiting graduates of this institution.

http://www.arava.org/new/


The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is the premier environmental teaching and research program in the Middle East, preparing future Arab and Jewish leaders to cooperatively solve the
region's environmental challenges. Located in the heart of Israel's Arava desert, the Arava Institute is a unique oasis of environmental education, research, and international cooperation.

Students at the Arava Institute explore a range of environmental issues from a regional, interdisciplinary perspective while learning peace-building and leadership skills. The studies are international in scope, with a student body comprised of Jordanians, Palestinians, Israelis, North Americans as well as other nationalities.

The Arava Institute gives Jewish, Arab and other students a unique opportunity to study and live together for an extended period of time; building networks and understanding that will enable future cooperative work and activism in the Middle East and beyond. Here, the idea that nature knows no political borders is more than a belief. It is a fact, a curriculum, and a way of life.

The Institute is home to academic programs, research projects, public involvement, an active alumni network, and a 300-mile bike ride from Jerusalem to Eilat.

[LeftishBrit]

18. Askari is a hero - the attackers are scumbags, and should be locked up!

[porphyrian]

20. This is the kind of story Americans don't see enough of, and by design. -n/t

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

31. I saw Askari interviewed on my local NY news last night, and he was

just so beautiful, inward and outward. Tears welled up.

[havocmom]

35. There are truly holy people all over the world. We probably cross paths with them often

Having been fortunate enough to live in places where there was much ethnic and religious diversity, it has been my pleasure to realize there is humanity in all types of humans.

One hopes many others, reading about Askari, will find courage to release the good force of their own humanity, and take actions when they see hate and horrors.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

36. I had the good fortune to have lived in areas of great diversity my whole life.

Perhaps that's why it puzzles me when I see and hear of intolerance. I am also so happy that I have given my sons the same experience. My younger son is a HS senior and today is "senior cut" day. All of the seniors cut school. He went into Manhattan this morning with a group of his close friends. We are ethnically Jewish, his friend Maurice is black, his friend Marco's parents are from Puerto Rico and Peru. and his friend Chris is half Irish descent and his Mom was born in Greece . I think it's pretty cool.

[havocmom]

44. Bet your son & his companions had more fun than any of their classmates

Probably put the day to better use too.

Like me, you may remember some fantastic block parties from youth. :hi:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

50. I, too, was raised in an area of diversity

on a Midwestern university campus, where I met and mingled with people of all faiths from around the world. In my high school class there were Jews, Mormons, Catholics, Protestants, and an occasional Muslim (I graduated in 1968). When you get to know people as people, it's harder to be intolerant. I've found that the most intolerant places I've lived tended to be white Protestant areas with no diversity.

[progressoid]

32. Watch O'Reilly find a way to spin this for his war on the war on Christmas fatwa.

[The Straight Story]

34. He can't be a hero, he is religious

;)

[Marrah_G]

39. What a good kid

That does make me smile. Anyone, no matter what religion, who stands up against bullies is a great person in my book.

[GreenPartyVoter]

41. Mine too. :^)

[Dorian Gray]

45. I heard their names

in a news story this morning, and I wondered if they were Islamic. That is a positive spin on the story. (If there can be a positive spin to people being beaten up for their race or religion.)

[AuntPatsy]

49. This comes as no surprise to me, there are alot of good people out there, the trouble is

those good people rarely get the recognition from far too many outlets, and such stories do not leave one in fear and fear is what they want you to continue to feel.

[Buzz Clik]

52. Hm. The Warriors for Christmas Make a Pre-Emptive Strike.

"Merry Christmas, motherfucker! Now it's time for some pain."