| Freedom’s Profiles in Courage |
This page is dedicated to the "Spirit of American Excellence ". This is not something exceptional,
it is something within the heart of all who believe in the principles of individual freedom
established by our founding fathers in 1776. Those who will be profiled are truly grassroots’
soldiers who have shown courage in the battle for human rights. We hope in time to present the
stories of many local activists, as well as other heroes who have shown themselves to have
gentle but strong, reflective characters, and who you have maybe never heard of at all, but who
have not limited their actions to intellectual conversations or dreamlike aspirations. From their
tireless contributions you will see that courage is revealed not only in battle, but in daily life as
well. They are men and women, boys and girls of every race, size, and walk of life- everyday
people, people just like you, who found within their heart the capacity to achieve beyond their
limits and do the extraordinary. In the process they have inspired others to strive for dreams and
goals that are extraordinary and have taught us that we are limited only by what we are willing to
believe in.
At MAS Freedom Foundation we believe that God has given every man the potential to make a
positive difference, and freewill to follow his or her conscience and help the world community
evolve.
Public service is one of the noblest callings. We need only to heed the call! North Carolina
Freedom Foundation of North Carolina wishes to recognize the work of three of our colleagues
and alliance members for their contributions to the promotion of human right, fair play and
decency.
Freedom’s Profile in heroism acknowledgment seeks to make Americans aware of the diligent
and brave acts of their advocates, and to encourage all people to choose principles over
memberships– to do what is honorable, rather than what is convenient.
it is something within the heart of all who believe in the principles of individual freedom
established by our founding fathers in 1776. Those who will be profiled are truly grassroots’
soldiers who have shown courage in the battle for human rights. We hope in time to present the
stories of many local activists, as well as other heroes who have shown themselves to have
gentle but strong, reflective characters, and who you have maybe never heard of at all, but who
have not limited their actions to intellectual conversations or dreamlike aspirations. From their
tireless contributions you will see that courage is revealed not only in battle, but in daily life as
well. They are men and women, boys and girls of every race, size, and walk of life- everyday
people, people just like you, who found within their heart the capacity to achieve beyond their
limits and do the extraordinary. In the process they have inspired others to strive for dreams and
goals that are extraordinary and have taught us that we are limited only by what we are willing to
believe in.
At MAS Freedom Foundation we believe that God has given every man the potential to make a
positive difference, and freewill to follow his or her conscience and help the world community
evolve.
Public service is one of the noblest callings. We need only to heed the call! North Carolina
Freedom Foundation of North Carolina wishes to recognize the work of three of our colleagues
and alliance members for their contributions to the promotion of human right, fair play and
decency.
Freedom’s Profile in heroism acknowledgment seeks to make Americans aware of the diligent
and brave acts of their advocates, and to encourage all people to choose principles over
memberships– to do what is honorable, rather than what is convenient.
“The Muslim faith doesn't just encourage eco-friendly
behavior, but it requires its adherents to be good stewards of
the environment” according to Imad Damaj.
behavior, but it requires its adherents to be good stewards of
the environment” according to Imad Damaj.
"It's almost a commandment from God at all levels. The word 'earth' is mentioned in the Quran 485
times. You can consider the Quran as a 'green' book, if you want to look at it this way. It describes
man and woman as people who 'walk on the earth in humility.' There are a lot of interpretations of
that, but one is that you need to protect the earth you walk on. Preservation is more than a good policy
recommendation; it's a matter of faith. And that's why we join with our brothers and sisters from other
faiths as well as government and industry to work together to help the earth. It's going to require the
efforts of all of us."
To help local ecology, three years ago Imad organized a group to plant 100 trees in a riparian area of
Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County. Ever since, they have cared for the trees on a regular
basis. They also do an annual cleanup of the James River. "I can't describe the amount of junk we
take from the river. We take out things like bicycles, microwaves and tires. It's our fourth year of doing
it," he has said.
Imad is the first one to tell you about the impact on residents of a city clouded by fumes that pour from
chemical plants. He will also point out that toxic waste and litter is not only the responsibility of
companies but ordinary residents can do simple things as well, like recycle.
Americans are just beginning to realize the long range effects of toxic waste. The problem varies in
different pats of the country but it is always worst in the areas inhabited by the poor. For decades
chemical plants have found a safe haven for releasing toxic waste into the sewer systems and the
pattern of concentrating minority communities in easily flooded areas is typical in the United States.
While physicians are not sure loss of hair or skin rashes are caused by raw sewage, warning have
been issued that exposure to raw sewage can cause cholera or hepatitis. The sewage that flows
from broken pipes has also found its way into the homes of the poor. Soil samples tested in poor
areas across America have turned up alarming quantities of mercury and lead. Children in these
communities have been poisoned. Although children seldom die of poisoning by lead, physicians
and health authorities note, its effects tend to be understated and menacing. By the time the poison
becomes evident, it is too late to undue the damage to the brain.
Dr. M. Imad Damaj is a professor in Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Medical
College of Virginia.
times. You can consider the Quran as a 'green' book, if you want to look at it this way. It describes
man and woman as people who 'walk on the earth in humility.' There are a lot of interpretations of
that, but one is that you need to protect the earth you walk on. Preservation is more than a good policy
recommendation; it's a matter of faith. And that's why we join with our brothers and sisters from other
faiths as well as government and industry to work together to help the earth. It's going to require the
efforts of all of us."
To help local ecology, three years ago Imad organized a group to plant 100 trees in a riparian area of
Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County. Ever since, they have cared for the trees on a regular
basis. They also do an annual cleanup of the James River. "I can't describe the amount of junk we
take from the river. We take out things like bicycles, microwaves and tires. It's our fourth year of doing
it," he has said.
Imad is the first one to tell you about the impact on residents of a city clouded by fumes that pour from
chemical plants. He will also point out that toxic waste and litter is not only the responsibility of
companies but ordinary residents can do simple things as well, like recycle.
Americans are just beginning to realize the long range effects of toxic waste. The problem varies in
different pats of the country but it is always worst in the areas inhabited by the poor. For decades
chemical plants have found a safe haven for releasing toxic waste into the sewer systems and the
pattern of concentrating minority communities in easily flooded areas is typical in the United States.
While physicians are not sure loss of hair or skin rashes are caused by raw sewage, warning have
been issued that exposure to raw sewage can cause cholera or hepatitis. The sewage that flows
from broken pipes has also found its way into the homes of the poor. Soil samples tested in poor
areas across America have turned up alarming quantities of mercury and lead. Children in these
communities have been poisoned. Although children seldom die of poisoning by lead, physicians
and health authorities note, its effects tend to be understated and menacing. By the time the poison
becomes evident, it is too late to undue the damage to the brain.
Dr. M. Imad Damaj is a professor in Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Medical
College of Virginia.
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| IMAD DAMAJ |
| Barbara Zelter |
She has ability to turn sorrows into smiles, apathy into passion,
cynicism into trust, and she crosses over religious lines when doing
so. Many times, its purely good luck to find someone outside your
inner religious circle that will protest with you in the cold and battle
alongside but Barbara Zelter has done so too many times to count.
Partly because activism is a pervasive part of her life and isn’t
limited to work schedules or mandated by calendars. When she
gives a speech her words are spoken softly but the meaning is
intense.
Barbara has done statewide multi-issue organizing for 15 years
now, refusing to accept the too convenient idea of injustice as an
accidental outcome- “this is how things are.” She makes it all too
clear that these injustices are the result of the choices people
make to benefit themselves at the expense of others.
Barbara has been with the North Carolina Council of Churches for a
very long time but now she is anticipating news things and different
places.
She has spoken of Central America, willing to leave the United
States in order to show her loyalty to those that are suffering in ways
unknown to us here. The Brazilian educator Paulo Friere spoke of
people like her who are willing to “break the ties, step away from all
of the benefits our birth affords us, to see the world in a new way
and take our vision not from books about the poor but from the poor
themselves.
” May her path, in whichever direction it goes, lead her to accomplish
more of her unselfish goals. She will, however, be missed here and
the people that she has helped will know what it is like , in human
terms, to be without the one you have relied on for such a very long
time.
cynicism into trust, and she crosses over religious lines when doing
so. Many times, its purely good luck to find someone outside your
inner religious circle that will protest with you in the cold and battle
alongside but Barbara Zelter has done so too many times to count.
Partly because activism is a pervasive part of her life and isn’t
limited to work schedules or mandated by calendars. When she
gives a speech her words are spoken softly but the meaning is
intense.
Barbara has done statewide multi-issue organizing for 15 years
now, refusing to accept the too convenient idea of injustice as an
accidental outcome- “this is how things are.” She makes it all too
clear that these injustices are the result of the choices people
make to benefit themselves at the expense of others.
Barbara has been with the North Carolina Council of Churches for a
very long time but now she is anticipating news things and different
places.
She has spoken of Central America, willing to leave the United
States in order to show her loyalty to those that are suffering in ways
unknown to us here. The Brazilian educator Paulo Friere spoke of
people like her who are willing to “break the ties, step away from all
of the benefits our birth affords us, to see the world in a new way
and take our vision not from books about the poor but from the poor
themselves.
” May her path, in whichever direction it goes, lead her to accomplish
more of her unselfish goals. She will, however, be missed here and
the people that she has helped will know what it is like , in human
terms, to be without the one you have relied on for such a very long
time.
Larry Shaw is a visionary and he is a Muslim. He refuses to let pessimists and opponents
compromise his personal beliefs or inhibit his commitment to the community he serves and the
political actions he sees as a personal mandate.
He sees Muslim political action not only as a possibility but a mandate. His actions and political
performance have shown the Muslim community that it must first shed all of its allusions about
being in a nation where their own silence creates a nature of opposition. Any minority movement
must establish a plan and then have continuity.
His biggest challenge to the Muslim community and all of his constituents is that as we as a nation
struggle for democratic survival, we must struggle for a coalition with the masses in this country and
that no group can allow itself to be marginalized. His leadership has inspired programs for
community advancement and an all out struggle for alliance building.
What makes Larry Shaw different? The answer is simply this; He has a clear sense of what is
happening not only in the state of North Carolina, but this country- more than some of the traditional
politicians. He has the courage of his convictions but also of his religious beliefs. Within his holistic
view he is equally respected among politic peers with no intention of being a political artifact.
compromise his personal beliefs or inhibit his commitment to the community he serves and the
political actions he sees as a personal mandate.
He sees Muslim political action not only as a possibility but a mandate. His actions and political
performance have shown the Muslim community that it must first shed all of its allusions about
being in a nation where their own silence creates a nature of opposition. Any minority movement
must establish a plan and then have continuity.
His biggest challenge to the Muslim community and all of his constituents is that as we as a nation
struggle for democratic survival, we must struggle for a coalition with the masses in this country and
that no group can allow itself to be marginalized. His leadership has inspired programs for
community advancement and an all out struggle for alliance building.
What makes Larry Shaw different? The answer is simply this; He has a clear sense of what is
happening not only in the state of North Carolina, but this country- more than some of the traditional
politicians. He has the courage of his convictions but also of his religious beliefs. Within his holistic
view he is equally respected among politic peers with no intention of being a political artifact.
Carolina): “There was some thought that they could divide the community, use it as a wedge issue against other faith groups and communities. But by that time, I'd established myself.” |
