Statement from Mayor Davis on Imam

Robb Davis speaking at Central Park in January 2017 after the Islamic Center Vandalism
By Robb DavisJuly 26, 201714 comments

When I received the news about the sermon I immediately reached out to leaders of both the Islamic Center and the Jewish community to understand the intent of the sermon and the harms that it has caused. I continue to be in touch with these leaders and understand that there are conversations taking place to address concerns raised. I support this dialogue.

I will not comment on the theological interpretations contained in the sermon nor the hermeneutical approach to the scriptures taken by the Imam because I do not understand them. I also recognize that, historically, debates about Israel and Palestine (the Middle East situation appearing to be the backdrop to this sermon) in this community have been extremely divisive and bitter. I am not prepared to enter into a debate about those issues.

I will say that over the past 6-8 months I have seen a great deal of fear and angst in both the Jewish and Muslim communities here. Acts of hate around the US and in Davis have stoked that fear. In such an environment it behooves all of us to consider the impact of our words and actions and ask whether they lead to greater mutual understanding or greater fear and division.

Whether they were meant to hurt or not (or taken out of context or not), I believe the Imam must recognize that his words have caused harms in this community. We must ask what can be done to make the harms right.


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14 comments

  1. Statement from Kate Mellon-Anibaba:

    Statement of Love supports maginalized comunities experiencing hate amplified by the Trump administration. The choice of words the DIC Imam used for part of his serman were Insensitive. This does not Represent the davis islamic comunity and the work that has been done to bring interfaith comunities closer and stronger together . The alt right thrive on storys like this and it is a tactic that will be used time and time again to create a wedge between us in the hope to break down the unity and love that exists here in Davis.

    It is my hope that together the Jewish comunity and the Islamic comunity can continue learning from each other, ban together and support each other as we build empathy moving forward.

    Davis we ALL have work to do

    1. Yes… and it goes farther than just the Jewish and Islamic folk… although that is a necessary focus right now…

      It does indeed cross all faith-based, or any spiritual folk, who believe we are more than a few $’s worth of chemicals… my way of saying that I agree with the substance of what Kate conveyed to David…

  2. I thank Robb for being a voice of reason, and true, honest humility in knowing what he does or does not know or fully understand.

    Good role model. Good ‘leadership’

    I hope he seriously considers taking another run for a CC seat… have heard the odds are currently against that (him choosing to to run)… if he does, it will be only the third time in my life that I’ll ask for a ‘lawn sign’… (statistically, for me, a once in 20 year occurrence)

      1. As you know I am not a Trump fan. However the obvious allusion to Trump I believe is irrelevant and designed to promote his own political aspirations at the possible expense of the issue at hand.

        Otherwise a nice note.

        1. I have to disagree wit you on this.

          He reference the traditional disputes between the two communities and his reference to the last six to eight months is accurate and doesn’t explicitly mention Trump or even attribute the problems to him.  I think you’ve greatly reached here.

    2. Quoting Mr Davis, from the article,

       I also recognize that, historically, debates about Israel and Palestine (the Middle East situation appearing to be the backdrop to this sermon) in this community have been extremely divisive and bitter.

      Also,

      I will say that over the past 6-8 months I have seen a great deal of fear and angst in both the Jewish and Muslim communities here. Acts of hate around the US and in Davis have stoked that fear.

      Your

      So Mayor Davis believes that Pre-Trump there was no conflict between the two groups?

      appears to be incorrect, and it is you, not Robb who made a ‘leap of faith’ as to a swipe at Trump…

      If I had been quoted, I would have said last 12-14 months… a certain candidate did indeed “stoke fears”… but you can’t stoke a fire that has not already been lit… even if just smouldering… Trump was not the ’cause’, but he certainly ‘milked it for all it was worth’.  No other candidate played the ‘Islam card’ the way the Donald did.  That’s a fact.

      And it is a fact that he not only did so as a candidate, but as President, in an apparent attempt to bolster his “ratings” in his core constituancy… it appears he has suceeded.

       

    3. Maybe it would be prudent to ask for clarity before jumping to an illogical assumption of motives (fully understanding that your assumption was couched in a question here…). Your comment seems to say more about your political aspirations than those of Mayor Davis.

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