Intersections and ChangeTheStory.net Urge New Administration to Change the Course of U.S.Muslim Relations



Intersections and ChangeTheStory.net congratulate Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden today on their decisive victory in the 2008 Presidential race. This is an historic time for the people of the United States, who have made their voices heard this Election Day and have voted for a change in the direction of their leadership.

Intersections, a multi-cultural and multi-faith initiative of The Collegiate Church of New York, recently launched the unique on-line resource ChangeTheStory.net to enhance mutual respect and understanding across lines of faith and culture and to transform the narratives we carry about each other, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The web site addresses the fact that the majority of Americans have very little understanding of Islam even though there are millions of Muslims in the U.S. ChangeTheStory.net offers an interactive experience where users can meet their neighbors, learn about Islam and apply techniques of interfaith dialogue and action to local communities.

In this unique time in American politics, ChangeTheStory.net asks the incoming Obama administration and the new Congress to alter the course of U.S.-Muslim relations. ChangeTheStory.net urges all of our elected leaders to read an important new report issued by the Leadership Group on U.S. Muslim Relations called Changing Course: A New Direction for U.S. Relations with the Muslim World. This report outlines a strategy for reversing the downward spiral of U.S. relations with the Muslim world, and can guide you in shaping U.S. policy and changing the way we work with other cultures to solve problems.

The Report speaks directly to the new administration, emphasizing the important window that President Obama will have in his first one hundred days in office, said the Rev. Robert Chase, Founding Director of Intersections. The whole world followed this election, longing for a new direction in U.S. foreign policy, especially as it relates to the Muslim world. The report offers practical, bipartisan steps for change. The 'surgency of now,'s one of the campaign'ss signature themes, demands that this report be on top of the reading list of President Obama and his chief advisors.

The report can be found online at:

http://usme.nonprofitsoapbox.com/index.phpoption=com_content's38;task=view's38;id=18's38;Itemid=47

ChangeTheStory also asks the American people to embrace this new era of hope and do everything they can to improve U.S.-Muslim relations. Some things that people can do right away include:

1. Sending their elected officials an email about the Leadership Group'ss report by visiting http://www.changethestory.net/q=content/advocacy

2. Learning more about their Muslim neighbors at http://www.changethestory.net/q=content/meet-your-neighbor

3. Making a donation to ChangeTheStory.net at http://www.changethestory.net/q=content/make-donation

ChangeTheStory.net serves as an example of how people who differ can work together to form common ground for justice and reconciliation. Visit www.ChangeTheStory.net to learn more.





Intersections and ChangeTheStory.net Urge New Administration to Change the Course of U.S.Muslim Relations