The Surest Way to Reach People

HOW CAN you reach someone? That's the basic question, isn't it? You want to share what you know about Islam with people you love, and you want them to listen to you. What can you do to make them more likely to listen to you?

One of the most successful, effective, and enjoyable books to read on the subject of dealing with people is How to Win Friends and Influence People, originally published in 1937 and still on store shelves today. One of the principles from the book is to talk in terms of the other person's interests. Is that obvious? Perhaps. Do you do it? Probably not nearly as much as you could. But if you want to reach people, this principle is a good place to start. The book is full of true stories. Here's one:

Take Henry G. Duvernoy of Duvemoy and Sons, a wholesale baking firm in New York.

Mr. Duvernoy had been trying to sell bread to a certain New York hotel. He had called on the manager every week for four years. He went to the same social affairs the manager attended. He even took rooms in the hotel and lived there in order to get the business. But he failed. "Then," said Mr. Duvernoy, "after studying human relations, I resolved to change my tactics. I decided to find out what interested this man — what caught his enthusiasm.

"I discovered he belonged to a society of hotel executives called the Hotel Greeters of America. He not only belonged, but his bubbling enthusiasm had made him president of the organization, and president of the International Greeters. No matter where its conventions were held, he would be there.

"So when I saw him the next day, I began talking about the Greeters. What a response I got. What a response! He talked to me for half an hour about the Greeters, his tones vibrant with enthusiasm. I could plainly see that this society was not only his hobby, it was the passion of his life. Before I left his office, he had 'sold' me a membership in his organization.

"In the meantime, I had said nothing about bread. But a few days later, the steward of his hotel phoned me to come over with samples and prices.

"'I don't know what you did to the old boy,' the steward greeted me, 'but he sure is sold on you!' "Think of it! I had been drumming at that man for four years — trying to get his business — and I'd still be drumming at him if I hadn't finally taken the trouble to find out what he was interested in, and what he enjoyed talking about."

If you want people to listen to you, if you want to reach people, if you want to influence people, start by talking to people about what they really care about. It will not only transform your ability to persuade, it will vastly improve the feelings of connection you have with each other.

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Why the Open Fuel Standard is Important

Someone just mentioned that we're promoting the Open Fuel Standard without explaining what it is for people new to Citizen Warrior. Here are some previous articles about it, in order of their relevance:

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2010/08/how-to-boost-economy-of-free-world-and.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2008/11/support-open-fuel-standard.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2009/03/strike-heart-of-jihad.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2011/06/keeping-saudis-wealthy.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2011/05/how-to-achieve-energy-security-and-fair.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2011/06/if-you-have-gas-only-car-youre-already.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2011/11/congressman-allen-west-co-sponsors-open.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2011/11/legislative-action-alert-from-act-for.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2011/05/perfect-opportunity-to-concentrate.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2011/05/lets-put-on-pressure-our.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2009/04/action-alert-cut-off-jihad-money-supply.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2010/08/flex-fuel-imperative.html

http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2011/08/breaking-opecs-grip.html

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This Just In...

The following Action Alert just arrived in my inbox from ACT! for America. Let's add momentum to this important legislation!

*** LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT ***

VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE OPEN FUEL STANDARD AMENDMENT TO THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION BILL!

This week, the U.S. Senate is scheduled to consider S. 1813, a transportation bill called “MAP-21.” We expect Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) to offer S.1603, their Open Fuel Standard (OFS) Act as an amendment to the transportation legislation (amendment #1657).

The auto industry has been blanketing the Hill in opposition to the OFS amendment, using patently false claims. To counter that message, it is critical that our U.S. Senators hear voluminous and loudsupport for the amendment from the folks back home. ACT! for America’s 185,000 grassroots members can easily provide that support. Will you help us make this impact?

The Open Fuel Standard Act is very much needed legislation—especially at this point in time. With the return of increased gas prices due to OPEC’s standard manipulation, as well as the Iranian regime’s dangerous game- playing using oil as a negotiating tool, it’s time for us to finally sever OPEC’s chokehold. The OFS Act will move us in that direction. Brazil has already done it successfully and other nations are moving in the same direction.

While there certainly are numerous valid approaches to transportation fuel independence (most of which we fully support), the Open Fuel Standard legislation is the easiest first step. At zero cost to the Federal Government, and only $70 to $100 per vehicle, passage of the OFS Act will finally provide Americans a choice when filling up their gas tanks—just like we all have a choice for every other product offered to us. It will allow free market capitalism to be applied to the transportation fuel industry—something that currently does not exist.

We must finally cut the cord that keeps us dependent on wealthy dictators and Islamist nations for our gasoline. Further, we must stop funding Islamist terrorists every time we fill up our gas tanks. Passage of the Cantwell/Lugar Amendment is our opportunity to do so.

** IMPORTANT ACTION ITEM **

Please take a moment today to send your U.S. Senator an e-mail of support for the Cantwell/Lugar OFS amendment. Simply click on the Alert titled, “Cantwell/Lugar OFS Amendment” and follow the simple directions!

Thank you for all of your efforts. Together we will achieve freedom from OPEC oil!

REMEMBER, YOUR VOICE COUNTS!
IF EACH OF US DOES JUST A LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN
ACCOMPLISH A LOT!

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Blasphemy and Free Speech

IN A RECENT issue of Imprimis from Hillsdale College — a publication read by almost two million people every month — is an excellent article by Paul Marshall, adapted from a lecture he delivered February 3rd this year. Here are the opening paragraphs of the article:

A growing threat to our freedom of speech is the attempt to stifle religious discussion in the name of preventing “defamation of” or “insults to” religion, especially Islam. Resulting restrictions represent, in effect, a revival of blasphemy laws.

Few in the West were concerned with such laws 20 years ago. Even if still on some statute books, they were only of historical interest. That began to change in 1989, when the late Ayatollah Khomeini, then Iran’s Supreme Leader, declared it the duty of every Muslim to kill British-based writer Salman Rushdie on the grounds that his novel, The Satanic Verses, was blasphemous. Rushdie has survived by living his life in hiding. Others connected with the book were not so fortunate: its Japanese translator was assassinated, its Italian translator was stabbed, its Norwegian publisher was shot, and 35 guests at a hotel hosting its Turkish publisher were burned to death in an arson attack.

Click here to read the whole article (and share it with your friends).

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Ayaan Hirsi Ali Has Gone Mainstream With Our Message

I DON'T KNOW HOW she did it, but Ali has an article in the February 13 issue of Newsweek. Not only that, but it's the cover story! The cover says simply, "The War on Christians." The name of the article is this gem: "The Rise of Christophobia."

She makes some great points in the article, including an admonition to pay attention to the differences in "intolerance." The "intolerance" in the West comes in the form of cartoons, films, and writings. The intolerance against Christians in the Muslim world is expressed with knives, guns, and grenades.

In the article, she takes the Western media to task for not covering the war on Christians better.

This is excellent. Count one point for our side and celebrate the victory.

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