about past reform

Our effort was an experiment... We weren’t members of any larger islamic movements (no Ikhwans or Jammats), for us it’s not as easy as following the teachings or the methods established by leaders of the “islamic movement”. If we were, we’d be involved in MAS-YD or the likes...

* The history of MYNA can be seen as the story of a group of American Muslims trying to define a role for themselves while working for youth. As we grew in understanding and experience, as we noticed various problems, we attempted reform. I’m sure the most innovative solutions were watered down by those who preferred to keep things the way they were, it comes with the territory. But the best activists see a problem and rise to the challenge of fixing it by any means:

# 1-some tried to solve the problem of youth empowerment. It led to the idea of a national youth organization, there were no local MYNA youth groups back then. Only when youth from various cities across the nation got together, were there enough people do anything. (mid 80s);

#2-some tried to solve the problem of grassroots organizing. It led to the creation of local chapters. (late 80s);

#3-some tried to solve the problem of being recognized as a real organization rather than a committee or program of ISNA. It led to the creation of a constitution for MYNA. (early 90s);

#4-some tried to solve the problem of training new officers and continuity of work. It led to the creation the FYLTP. (mid 90s);

#5-some tried to solve the problem of providing professional youth services. It led to the proposal to hire a full-time director. (late 90s);

#6-we tried to solve all of the above. Incorporate the best ideas of the past, while creating a strong and stable foundation for future growth...

* Previous efforts were done when natl MYNA still functioned; when there were active zonal and regional youth officers; and there were no other youth organizations like YM or MAS-YD trying to recruit them. Some local MYNA chapters were still out there but not much else. This last effort of ours was almost like starting a national org for youth from scratch. Natl MYNA had become nothing more than a name, one advisor, and one person as acting president attending the ISNA Majlis meetings (who wasn’t even officially a youth elected by other youth, as MYNAs own constitution required)...

You know, towards the end, it was emphasized to us that MYNA was NOT to be seen as a real organization at all. It’s advisory board and president really had no power, and only allowed to sit at Majlis meetings because the ISNA president let it...

* We were informed that technically, MYNAs advisory board was under the ISNA President’s control. And could be dissolved by the ISNA President, regardless of what the Majlis authorized us to do. We were told that reviving the old MYNA was all we should do; to find youth to fill all the old youth positions; that’s it. We had no power or authorization to DO anything else. SO no reform I guess, just find youth and have them organize a camp or conference or something...

Sadly, that attempt to “put us in our place” is what brought our effort to an end. Its like not even acknowledging MYNAs past efforts to reform and evolve; like wanting to go back to a mythical MYNA of 1985. To me this is absurd....

* We strongly felt that MYNA shouldn’t get lost in ISNAs bureaucracy at this critical early phase of its revival. We proposed that before anything can be done, MYNA should be recognized as and made a REAL organization under ISNA’s umbrella. Since the MYTH was that it WAS a real organization, and its youth and advisors believed it was a real organization, we felt there was nothing wrong in making it official by empowering our officially Majlis appointed advisory board. To me, this is the “groundwork” and a good “infrastructure” that Lubabah also says is needed. It also settles a long overdue issue....

What’s the problem with it? In our proposal, the ISNA Majlis would even have representation; and the ability to replace us if it felt we were not doing the best thing for the youth. Everyone would be happy, everyone would have power. Why the fear? Why the lack of trust?...

* I know what you are probably wondering:
“What about the youth? SO the youth have no real power now? But they would still have no power if the name MYNA is handed over to a strong advisory board; “by youth, for youth” would still be a myth, right?”...

Let me respond to that:
We wanted to make “by youth, for youth” an official part of a real organization. How? By making it the official way MYNA activities take place on the local level, where youth empowerment is most effective....

End of Part 2... Part 3 about “by youth, for youth”