Cultural Events
Islam in America: DVC Featuring David Hunsicker (10/10/2007)
To commemorate the holy month of Ramadan, U.S. Embassy Tashkent held a digital video conference (DVC) with Mr. David Hunsicker, a Religion, State and Society Specialist with USAID in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Embassy held the event on the brink of Eid Al Fitr (the Festival of Fast-Breaking), a holiday that annually marks the end of the month of fasting and launches a three-day celebration.
Deputy Chief of Mission Brad Hanson made opening remarks at the DVC, highlighting the growing number of Muslims in the US and informing the audience that the Founding Fathers of America enshrined freedom of religion in the U.S. in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Mr. Hunsicker, speaking in Uzbek, then explained how Ramadan is perceived in the U.S. The Uzbek guests were impressed to learn that observance of this event is spreading across the U.S. , and that sometimes even non-Muslims refrain from eating during the day and break their fast in the evening with Muslims in public places, such as universities, mosques, or offices. Mr. Hunsicker also told the guests about other recent events in the U.S. related to Ramadan. He said that on October 4, President George W. Bush hosted the 7th annual Iftar Dinner in the White House. Additionally, the U.S. House of Representatives, by a striking vote of 376-0, adopted a resolution recognizing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and expressing the "deepest respect to Muslims in the United States and throughout the world."
He also mentioned Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim to be elected to the U.S. Congress last year. After his presentation, Mr. Hunsicker responded to numerous questions from the audience, which included a number of local journalists. When asked if American society has turned against the Muslim world since the events of 9/11, he replied that Americans understand that the terrorists and marginalized religious fanatics do not represent the majority of Muslims, who are peaceful and rational. He also mentioned several personal stories of how people supported the establishment and preservation of Muslim sanctuaries, including the opening of a mosque in Seattle that was initially obstructed.
A local journalist also asked Mr. Hunsicker what he thought of last year’s scandal over the Danish political cartoons that portrayed the prophet Mohammed with a bomb in his turban. Mr. Hunsicker replied that the principles of democracy grant everyone the right to freedom of expression, but stressed that with these rights come responsibilities, among which is respect for the feelings of other people. Another guest asked how American Muslims perceive the ongoing military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The audience listened intently as Mr. Hunsicker responded that the Muslim population in America is divided just like the rest of the country – one part supports the military operations (especially those who fled these countries because of the oppression they experienced there), whereas the other doesn’t. Mr. Hunsicker emphasized that the wars are in progress and that ending them abruptly would derail all the progress that the coalition forces have made in these countries in eradicating terrorist groups and establishing democratic societies.