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Daily Trojan – April 12, 2006
Students at odds over cartoons
The Muslim Student Union dispels misinformation about Islam at its event
By Kaelyn Forde Eckenrode
The University of Southern California Objectivist Club and the Muslim Student Union hosted separate events Tuesday to discuss different sides of the debate about free speech and the Muhammad cartoons printed in a Dutch newspaper. The MSU hosted its event in response to the event held by the Objectivist Club.
The Muslim Student Union countered the USC Objectivist Club's unveiling the now infamous cartoons of the prophet Muhammad by hosting a panel speaker event in Taper Hall Tuesday night titled "Islam and the Cartoons: The Responsibilities of Free Speech."
In addition to countering the "Unveiling the Cartoons: A Discussion of Free Speech and World Response" event, MSU also sought to "proactively educate the community about Islam and who Muhammad is," said Hussam Ayloush, Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who spoke at the MSU event.
The event discussed the social, political and religious implications of the cartoons.
The Objectivist Club's unveiling, said MSU president Zainah Alfi, was "without positive effect on the community."
The MSU event emphasized the importance of "evolved free speech - which is responsible free speech," said Sireen Sawaf, the Hate Crimes Prevention Coordinator for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, who also spoke at the event.
"We just wanted to have an open forum, and not be anti-anybody," Alfi said. "We welcomed questions and comments from the audience, and want to get as many perspectives as possible on this issue."
MSU emphasized that it was not protesting the Objectivist Club's right to hold its event, but rather protesting the misinformation about Muslims that the event promoted. . .
Ayloush said it was part of the Islamic faith to peacefully correct injustice and educate others.
"We as Muslims believe that we should counter hatred with tolerance, and ignorance with education," he said. "And that's what we are doing here tonight."
http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/2006/04/12/News/Students.At.Odds.Over.Cartoons-1845587.shtml
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