Letters to the Editor

Muslim Center Will Be Great Source of Learning

Dear Editor, 

I am an observant Muslim and have lived in Morgan Hill since 1996. I can firmly attest that the Cordoba Center is a much needed institution in the South Bay area. I have attended the public school system in Morgan Hill from elementary to high school (Paradise Valley, Britton Middle School, and Live Oak High School). It was quite a struggle to balance my religion and life activities because there were no local Islamic institutions to assist me in learning my faith. While some of my friends will go to attend weekend prayers and schools at local institutions or take weekend trips with faith-based groups, I was stuck with no advancement.

It was not until I started to attend De Anza College in Cupertino and visit Islamic Institutions in that area such as South Bay Islamic Institution and the Blossom Valley Muslim Community Center, to name a few, that I was able to increase my understanding of my faith.

As I am concluding my undergraduate studies at the UC-Berkeley. It finally dawned on me the importance of having local resources such as scholars, libraries, institutions, etc. Without such blessings the local community will get stuck in a cycle of no advancement.

The Cordoba Center will greatly benefit the local Muslim and non-Muslim community. First it will benefit the Muslims by providing a source to learn. Second, it will provide a clear and correct message of what Islam is really about to the Muslims and non-Muslims. Unfortunately the media fails to represent Islam, and many other subjects concerning Muslims correctly. To advance a community to greater heights of excellence, ignorance must be removed and replaced with respect.

To give a glimpse of what Islam is really about, the following is one of my favorite quotes from the Prophet Muhammad.

“The most virtuous behavior is to engage those who sever relations, to give to those who withhold from you, and to forgive those who wrong you.”

Amine Hambaba, Morgan Hill

Iraqi Oil Over Human Life

Dear Editor,  

President Bush has stated that he seeks guidance from a Higher Power. This power seems to value the privatization of Iraqi oil over human life. Is it possible that the higher power is Jesus, who told his disciples that hypocrisy is one of the greatest sins?

Frank Crosby, Morgan Hill

Thanks for Saving Schools’ Phone Service

Dear Editor, 

On Aug. 23, the fiber optic cables utilized by the Morgan Hill Unified School District for network and telephone communications were damaged. This resulted in a loss of phone and network service at most of our school sites.

On behalf of the MHUSD I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Charter Communications and the City of Morgan Hill for their quick and professional response in mitigating the damage sustained to the cabling. Barry Egan and George Rezendes of Charter Communications and Tony Eulo and Glen Ridder of the City of Morgan Hill quickly arranged for repair crews as well as monitored the progress of the restoration of service throughout the entire day. The district truly appreciates the cooperation and teamwork extended by the staffs of these two entities.

Arlene Machado, Director of Educational Technology and Information Systems

Morgan Hill Unified School District