November 16, 2012

Last Sunday afternoon with more than 150 people gathered, four prominent Muslim speakers came together to address taboo topics at MPAC's "Let's Be Honest: Getting Beyond the Taboos of Our Community."

Moderated by Dr. Laila Al-Marayati, the conversation featured USC Islamic Thought and Culture professor Dr. Sherman Jackson, marriage and family counselor Munira Ezzeldine, Sheikh Said Seddouk, imam of the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley, and MPAC’s Director of Policy and Programming Edina Lekovic.

"This is part of a larger conversation MPAC is committed to having with the community in hopes breaking the silence between generations, cultures and genders," said Lekovic, before the conversation started. "MPAC is committed to hosting regular 'Let’s Be Honest' community forums around the country in order to promote and facilitate open dialogue about the complex issues facing American Muslims in their daily lives."

This past summer, MPAC held the first “Let’s Be Honest” forum at the ADAMS Center in Falls Church, VA which was attended by a packed house of more than 600 community members and webcast live.

With audience-supplied questions, Dr. Jackson reminding everyone that Islam has an answer for everything. Topic ranged from dating to interfaith marriages to homosexuality. 

SEE: Full video of the event below

"People think that if treating someone with respect it means you are condoning the act," said Dr. Jackson about homosexuality, the subject that was talked about the most. "As Muslims we sometimes put homosexuality above being a kuffar. We need to get our values straight!"

The major consensus among the speakers was that our community has no room for dehumanization and that we need to have more compassion for one another and our differences.