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Min. Farrakhan speaks to Houston community

By Jesse Muhammad
Staff Writer | Last updated: Jul 13, 2006 - 9:30:00 AM

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The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

HOUSTON (FinalCall.com) - In town to attend the 2006 Essence Music Festival, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan made a special appearance at Houston's Muhammad’s Mosque No. 45 to address the local Nation of Islam believers and community on July 2.

With the sanctuary filled to capacity, the overflow room jammed and hundreds more standing outside in the streets, the sunny day was made brighter with the presence of the man that millions have come to love and respect.

Prior to introducing Minister Farrakhan, Southwest Regional Minister Robert Muhammad acknowledged the presence of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18), who was afforded the opportunity to speak about the battle in the halls of Congress.

“I come to you to today because I come to pay honor to those who lead. The Nation of Islam has always been on the forefront of leadership without embarrassment, shyness or apology. You have always been there when we have had the cause,” stated Congresswoman Jackson-Lee, who then addressed the fight to renew the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “The promise has been broken to us. The Texas Republicans and the Georgia Republicans who do not even equate to 60 members are now holding us hostage in the U.S. Congress. They are trying to tell you that you are so insignificant.”

She called on everyone to make calls to Congress and announced a National Vigil that would take place on the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington on July 3. “What we must have we must obviously take charge. Over my dead, cold body are they not going to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act of 1965!”

The room then burst into thunderous applause as Min. Farrakhan mounted the rostrum to deliver a timely, thought-provoking and therapeutic message. “We are dealing with an enemy that is very wise. He is so wise that the scriptures said that he would deceive the whole world. The enemy keeps working to divide us from ourselves and to weaken our resolve in the struggle for liberation,” he said.

“Out of those of us who were around in the ’50s and ’60s struggling, many of us have become tired and we let the enemy have his way, and will say, ‘You all take it and I will sit down, relax or retire.’ There is no creature that God creates that retires from being what God created it to be. It dies on its post. So there is no such thing as age retirement in the struggle for justice and freedom,” stated Min. Farrakhan, as he admonished the elders to pass on their wisdom to the young warriors of today. “This is no time to be weary,” he said.

Min. Farrakhan then acknowledged the words spoken by Congresswoman Jackson-Lee. “She knows the struggle that the Black and Brown members of Congress have to influence that process. It’s very difficult and it will be even harder if they do not have the support of a learned constituent. Ignorance cannot support them but if we understand the struggle then we can struggle better and more effectively.”

He closed his words of guidance by discussing the abuse of women and need for everyone to purify their lives. “A virtuous woman is more precious than silver and gold. Restraining ourselves to save our marriages is a great test. Most of us as men have lost the moral authority in our homes. No man should beat his wife and no woman deserves to be abused,” stated Min. Farrakhan.

“The Mosque gives us a moral standard and we should govern our lives by that standard. Stop the masquerading of Islam and end your caricature of Islam,” he said.