Responses to the Muslim stamp

DEAR MR. BARRETT,

PLEASE TELL ME HOW A "HATE-PROMOTING" E-MAIL ABOUT THE U.S. STAMP CELEBRATING THE RELIGION OF ISLAM IS NEWSWORTHY, ESPECIALLY TO THE PEOPLE OF THE RED LAKE NATION?

IT DISTORTS THE FACTS. THE TERRORISTS, WHO BELONGED TO THE EXTREMIST FACTIONS OF THE ISLAM RELIGION, DID THE KILLING. THE RELIGION OF ISLAM DID NOT.

I WOULD EXPECT TO FIND THIS TYPE OF ARTICLE IN A WEBSITE OR NEWSLETTER FROM THE KKK, A WHITE SUPREMIST GROUP OR ANY ONE OF THE HUNDREDS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE HATE AND BIGOTRY TOWARDS ANY NON-CHRISTIAN MINORITIES. (OH, BY THE WAY, THAT WOULD INCLUDE US, THE MEMBERS OF THE RED LAKE NATION.)

I RECEIVED THIS SAME E-MAIL LAST YEAR FROM SUCH A PERSON WHO I HAPPEN TO WORKED WITH ON MY JOB. IT SICKENED ME TO READ IT AND I CERTAINLY DID NOT FORWARD IT TO ANYONE.

DID YOU RESEARCH THE BACKGROUND OF THE STAMP? DID YOU INVESTIGATE THE REASONS THAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PRODUCED SUCH A STAMP? I FEEL THAT YOU DID NOT. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENTS OF THE WEBSITE AND YOU MUST BE EVER VIGILANT OF WHAT ARTICLES YOU ALLOW TO BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE. THE WEBSITE IS A REFLECTION OF NOT ONLY YOU, BUT OUR ENTIRE TRIBE.

PLEASE REREAD THE E-MAIL AGAIN AND THEN PLEASE, PLEASE PULL IT FROM THE RED LAKE NET NEWS WEBSITE. OUR PEOPLE HAVE LONG BEEN MISTREATED BY THE PEOPLE WHO PUT OUT THESE TYPES OF E-MAIL AND ARTICLES AS WELL. PLEASE, DON'T LET THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU AND THE RED LAKE NET NEWS HAVE DONE BE TAINTED BY SUCH BIGOTRY AND HATE. OUR PEOPLE, AND ALL MINORITIES BASED ON RACE, COLOR OR CREED, HAVE BEEN TOO LONG SUBJECTED TO SUCH TREATMENT. WE MUST NOT FEED INTO THE SAME SUCH BIGOTRY TOWARDS OTHER HUMAN BEINGS.

SINCERELY,

THEO ANN TATUM

(TEDDY)

Hi, Mr. Tatum,

Thanks for the insight into the stamp issue. I actually wasn't going to do anything with it originally, but since it came from a Red Lake lady, it was determined an opinion--which she had the right to express.

Personally, I didn't take it as "hate-promoting" at first--you've sort of pointed me in that direction--but more of an opinion relating to the issue of religion and the government and the separation of church and state.

True, the facts are not plain and simple, nor did I do any type of research into the topic itself. I merely published the opinion of another.

I must also apologize if this opinion appears to promote hate and bigotry in any way, as that was never the intent from the Red Lake member who sent it, nor would it ever be the intent of RLNN.COM.

I also thank you for reminding me that I am responsible for the information published on rlnn.com, and although I am a great believer in freedom of the press and the rights of others to voice their opinions, there are certain limitations in what I feel is an opinion or otherwise.

I will most certainly take a hard look at it and consider discarding it, yet I think people would like to read your response to it as well.

Respectfully,

Michael Barrett

RLNN

MR.BARRETT,

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT REPLY. AS I SAID BEFORE IN MY PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE, I RECEIVED THIS EXACT SAME E-MAIL FROM A FORMER CO-WORKER HERE IN MISSOURI LAST YEAR BEFORE THE STAMP WAS OFFICIALLY ISSUED BY THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.

I TOO, AM ANGRY AND OUTRAGED WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMAN LIFE FROM 9-11 AND THE KILLING OF OUR TROOPS AND CIVILIANS BY THE TERRORISTS. I UNDERSTAND THE ANGUISH AND FRUSTRATION OF THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE MEMBERS IN THE ARMED FORCES AND ARE SERVING IN THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND I UNDERSTAND THE THE ANGER OF GRIEF THAT COMES WHEN ONE LOSES A LOVED ONE. MY OWN FAMILY EXPERIENCED THE SAME ANXIETY AND FEAR EVERY NIGHT WITH WALTER CRONKITE ON THE NEWS WHEN MY OLDER BROTHERS SERVED IN VIETNAM. WE WERE LUCKY, THEY BOTH CAME HOME PHYSICALLY WHOLE. BUT THE TOLL OF WHAT THEY SAW AND DID IN NAM, HAS DEVASTATED THEM BOTH MENTALLY FOR ALL THESE YEARS.

BUT BIGOTRY IS BIGOTRY AND TERRORISM IS STILL TERRORISM. TIMOTHY MCVEIGH AND TERRY NICHOLS BOTH WERE SUPPOSEDLY CHRISTIANS. THEN THEY BOMBED THE FEDERAL BUILDING IN OKLAHOMA AND KILLED INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS TO AVENGE THE CHRISTIAN SECT AT WACO, TEXAS. RELIGION ISN'T THE CAUSE OF TERRORISM, IT'S THE MEN WHO DISTORT IT TO PROMOTE THEIR PERSONAL AGENDA. THE CONTENT OF THAT E-MAIL PERPETUATES THE BIGOTRY AND HATRED IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SUCH EVIL.

THANKS FOR LISTENING FROM A LONG DISTANCE TRIBAL MEMBER. YOUR NEWSPAPER AND WEBSITE HAS KEPT ME AND MY FAMILY UP TO DATE ON THE HAPPENINGS ON THE RESERVATION. I ALWAYS LOOK FOR MY AUNTIE, RUTH FEVIG AND MY COUSIN, RICHARD GRAVES IN THE PICTURES THAT ARE POSTED ON THE WEB. I REALLY ENJOY ALL THE PICTURES OF THE SCHOOL KIDS AND THEIR "DOINGS". THE BEAR STORY IS STILL MY FAVORITE. I TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO IN KEEPING US INFORMED. I DON'T FEEL SO FAR FROM MY FAMILY AND FAMILY. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU AGAIN.

THEO ANN TATUM

(Another response was received from an American Indian from Leech Lake.)

I would like to comment on the Opinion of the New USPS Stamp.

First of all, EID does not have nothing to do with Christmas. EID is the holiday that Muslims observe at the end of their month of fasting. This holiday for Muslims is observed through the Lunar calendar and does not fall on one fixed date. It has nothing to do with Christmas whatsoever.

I have attached some information regarding this holiday. I wish people would inform themselves on topics that they know nothing about before they speak. This is why there is so much prejudice and discrimination today. I know I don't like to be categorized because I'm Indian.

Eid ul-Fitr occurs after the end of the month of Ramadhan. Eid is celebrated after the sighting of the new crescent moon.

Ramadhan, the Month of Fasting. is a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Muslims think of it as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives. There are as many meanings of Ramadan as there are Muslims.

The third "pillar" or religious obligation of Islam (submission in English), fasting has many special benefits. Among these, the most important is that it is a means of learning self-control. Due to the lack of preoccupation with the satisfaction of bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to God.

Ramadan is also a time of intensive worship, reading of the Qur'an, giving charity, purifying one's behavior, and doing good deeds. For Muslims (Submitters), Ramadan is not merely a holiday, but an opportunity to gain by giving up, to prosper by going without and to grow stronger by enduring weakness.

As a secondary goal, fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing sympathy for the less fortunate, and learning to thankfulness and appreciation for all of God's bounties. Fasting is also beneficial to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits or overindulgence.

Kaz