[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 53 (Friday, May 5, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO MUSLIMS IN THE UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM COLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2006

  Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend an important 
community in Oklahoma's Fourth Congressional District. It is often said 
that the media in general does not run enough positive news, and I am 
afraid that this is especially, and unfortunately, the case for 
American Muslims. Many have associated the terrible events of September 
11, 2001, with the millions of law-abiding, good-hearted Muslims in the 
United States. I wish to set the record straight about those decent 
Americans who work to make their communities and our Nation a better 
place to live, work, and worship.
  A poll conducted in 2004 uncovered some troubling numbers, Mr. 
Speaker. Those consulted were asked to give the first thought that came 
to their minds upon hearing the word, ``Muslim.'' Two-thirds had a 
neutral reply: ``religion'' or ``mosque,'' to give two examples. A 
little less than a third, 32 percent, had negative replies: 
``violence,'' ``hatred,'' and, I am sorry to say, epithets unsuitable 
for polite company. Only two percent of respondents had comments 
considered positive.
  Numbers the following year, 2005, were more promising. Negative 
comments had fallen six percent to total 26 percent. Positive comments 
had tripled from two percent to six percent. Still, the sum of positive 
comments is far too low for such a vibrant community. Further, these 
numbers mean that the negative comments outnumber positive comments by 
a little more than four-to-one.
   Mr. Speaker, these numbers were as startling to me as they were to 
the many Muslims I know, respect, and represent. My home state of 
Oklahoma has a dynamic and growing Muslim community. Given public 
perceptions of the faith by Americans at large, much of their activity 
is directed at educating the public about themselves and their beliefs. 
Education about the Muslim community is clearly important as less than 
half of Americans claim to be ``very knowledgeable'' or ``somewhat 
knowledgeable'' of Islam.
  I am pleased to report that in my home state of Oklahoma, Muslim 
groups are among the first to respond in times of crisis. Oklahoma's 
Muslims gave generously to the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing, to 
earthquake victims in Turkey, and to those who suffered from the 
tsunamis along the Pacific Rim. They came to help when Hurricane 
Katrina struck, adopting and helping resettle displaced families. Three 
days after September 11, 2001, these men and women hosted a blood drive 
for victims in Washington and New York.
  Oklahoma's Muslims also do much within our state. They host a free 
medical clinic in my state and often pay bills and rent for the needy. 
They adopt highways and contribute to public libraries, reach out to 
students and to other faiths. They host T-ball teams and Scout troops. 
In short, they are valued members of our communities.
  Like all Americans, Oklahoma Muslims want good schools for their 
children, talk over the dinner table about how to pay the bills, and 
want to balance their work with their home life. The values and common 
interests that they share with their fellow Oklahomans far outweigh any 
differences in matters of faith. I urge my colleagues, and my fellow 
Americans, to get to know their Muslim neighbors next door. They help 
make America the vibrant, tolerant country it is. After all, whatever 
one's faith, in this land of liberty we are all Americans.

                          ____________________