Imams urged to be lifesavers and fireys

Yeah, right!

In a report to be considered by imams at a meeting this weekend, Lebanese Muslim Association president Tom Zreika likens the unpopularity of Muslims to attitudes to communists, and urges spiritual leaders to improve the image of Islam in Australia. Mr Zreika says in the report, commissioned by the powerful LMA, that Australians have “had enough of us”.

The report goes on “It would be great to see a turbaned imam fighting fires alongside other bushfire service volunteers. Headlines for Mr Zreika. Imams don’t do community service of that kind. They stand in pulpits and exhort young men to be angry young men. The young men in question, those with sufficient education to send the thoughts of the Imams to the boundary, may well join our society one day if they haven’t already but the old men – I doubt it. Retire them and get some new blood up the front of the congegration. Have them talk of love and understanding, of freedom to follow the God of your choice, of the equality of women and how the Koran offers good advice but tranliteration leads to despair. Join mainstream Australia or go back to some Sharia bound country locked in the 12th century. It aint here. Tom Zreika is right when he says that Australians have “had enough of us” and I do believe he is headed in the right direction when he urges spiritual leaders to improve the image of Islam in Australia. From such a low base as exists today, any improvement would help.