Posted on 04/12/2007 11:20:53 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
NORTHRIDGE - The Muslim university student was listening to his biology professor when the lecture sharply digressed from evolution.
"Don't talk to Muslims about religion," the California State University, Northridge, teacher reportedly said. "Because they turn to a different animal."
The unidentified student reported the incident to CSUN's Muslim Student Association, which sent a letter to university President Jolene Koester, demanding that the teacher apologize and that the university conduct sensitivity training.
"The school needs to provide a safe environment for our students' education," said Zabie Mansoory, Muslim association president. "It is a biology class, for God's sake. Religion shouldn't be anywhere close to a biology class."
The incident last month, which CSUN is investigating, illuminates a broader concern among the United States' estimated 5 million Muslims. With increasing frequency, Muslims are talking about an "Islamophobic" culture that is inciting violence and discrimination - more than five years after 9-11.
In February, a hacker entered the Web site for the council that oversees Southern California mosques and wrote a hateful obscenity aimed at Muslims on the mosque-finder page.
Three times in the past two months, the Islamic Center of Upland in San Bernardino County has been vandalized.
And in December, Keith Ellison, who was about to be sworn in as Congress' first Muslim, was widely criticized for wanting to take the oath on the Quran.
Hate crimes against Muslims have constituted about 11 percent of religious-bias incidents since 2002 - after spiking to 26 percent in 2001 from only 2 percent in 2000, according to the FBI. But religious-discrimination complaints filed with Muslim organizations have been climbing.
And some worry that could lead to broader problems. Marginalized Muslims in France rioted two years ago, bombed subways and buses in London, and bombed a train in Madrid.
"Islamophobia is a root cause of radicalization," said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council.
"As we are trying to counter extremism, we are coming up on Islamophobia as a major barrier to integration of Muslim Americans into the larger society."
Biology digression
At CSUN last month, biology lecturer Haig Kopooshian had been talking about evolution when he digressed into discussing religious perspectives on science.
An Armenian Christian who lived most of his life in Lebanon, Kopooshian said his discussion of humans as the "most complex animals" caused him to unconsciously refer to Muslims as animals.
"I don't know what the problem is. You are an animal and I am an animal," he said, adding that he immediately apologized in case he had offended anyone in the class.
While Kopooshian said he harbors no ill feelings toward Muslims, plenty of Americans do.
In the film "Borat," a Virginia rodeo organizer asks Borat, whom he thinks is a Kazakh journalist, whether he is Muslim.
"I see a lot of people," the organizer says, "and I think, `There's a dadgum Muslim. I wonder what kind of bomb he's got strapped to him."'
Prejudicial feelings
It's an uncomfortable moment because while Borat is a film character, John Saunders, the rodeo organizer and assistant director of the Salem Civic Center, is a real person.
Last summer, a USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 39 percent of Americans have "at least some feelings of prejudice against Muslims" and 34 percent said Muslims living in the United States were "sympathetic" to al-Qaida.
"There are elements of truth (to that)," said Daniel Pipes, a Middle East expert and visiting professor at Pepperdine University. "That is not to say it is a broad-brush indictment of all Muslims. But there is a segment of Muslims who are alienated from the United States.
"Were Muslims unequivocal and consistent in condemning not just terrorism but the perpetrators and the ideology that support terrorism, the American public would feel much more confident."
The term "Islamophobia" was coined in 1997 by the British think tank Runnymede Trust. But before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it had little use in the American lexicon.
Kevin J. Hasson, president of the Washington-based Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said growing suspicion of Muslim Americans isn't surprising.
"It isn't surprising people were fearful of Japanese-Americans in World War II, and it isn't surprising they decided to put them in internment camps," he added. "But it's still appalling."
Media voices blamed
Muslim leaders blame Islamophobia on voices in the media such as syndicated columnist Ann Coulter and politicians such as Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Virginia, who criticized Ellison's use of the Quran for taking the oath of office.
"The underlying issue is the growing anti-Islamic sentiment that is being fueled by the industry of hate in America," said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an organization that has been accused of having links to terrorist groups, most recently in The New Republic.
"It's an industry that benefits financially and otherwise from policies of war, policies of division and policies of demonization of American Muslims."
But Ayloush also added: "America has its way of eventually accepting and integrating all segments of the population. It is just a matter of how long it takes. We are, as American Muslims, fully committed to integrating through dialogue and creating trust, no matter what attacks we are subjected to."
“The underlying issue is the growing anti-Islamic sentiment that is being fueled by the industry of hate in America,” said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Southern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an organization that has been accused of having links to terrorist groups, most recently in The New Republic.
“It’s an industry that benefits financially and otherwise from policies of war, policies of division and policies of demonization of American Muslims.”
—
Who cares?
CAIR cares.
Hey CAIR, Get lost!
American Muslims beginning to fear that ‘Islamophobia’ is gripping the U.S.
I sure as hell hope so.
Ugh! Once again I’ll say: a phobia is an irrational fear. Fearing those who want to smite you (cut off your head) is NOT irrational!
“Beginning”?
I, for one, sure hope it is.
The student’s actions proved the professor’s point.
No, not islamophobia, simply seeing the world with eyes wide open. Read the koran, read the Politically Incorrect Guide to islam. islam is a cult of death, the koran is a war manual.
The unidentified student reported the incident to CSUN's Muslim Student Association, which sent a letter to university President Jolene Koester, demanding that the teacher apologize and that the university conduct sensitivity training.
Proving the teacher right, of course....
Is this industry listed on NASDAQ? Or is it just more of an organized conspiracy, sort of like the Vast Right Wing one?
Is this industry listed on NASDAQ? Or is it just more of an organized conspiracy, sort of like the Vast Right Wing one?
“American Muslims beginning to fear that ‘Islamophobia’ is gripping the U.S.”
Doesn’t that mean that American Muslims are suffering from Islamophobiaophobia?
Beat me by 21 seconds
All we needed to know about Islam we learned on 9/11.
I think they should be worried. They didn’t bother to stand up to their terrorist Muslim members.
I suggest they go live in the Middle-East where they can keep their 6th century mentality.
Good.
No hate. Just cancer prevention.
It’s not Islamaphobia that these animals are seeing. In most cases, it’s a healthy natural reaction to their excesses, or their lack of condemnation of their fellow followers. And it’s not just in the US. It’s in every place around the world where Islamaniacs have wreaked havoc: Australia, Thailand, India, Israel, etc., except, maybe Europe. :)
“”Islamophobia is a root cause of radicalization,” said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council.”
This guy is confusing causes with effects. Islamofacism is the root cause of radicalization. The effect is more Americans becoming “allergic” to Islam.
Ahhhh. Yeah, sure it is.
Maybe I’m just being old fashioned here, but random killings, the sudden jihad syndrome, and suicide bombing, all from the same religious cult , will create “phobia” in rational minds.
Yeah ... that whole "flying planes into buildings" thing had nothing to do with it. The constant qausi-legal and civil action assaults,the rioting, the suicide bombs and the IED's, the demands that we adhere to sharia law, the extortion of our corporations to avoid pork and alcohol, all those were totally irrelevant, it's all about the "industry of hate".
These people truly are shameless.
Hmm, fear of “islamophobia”, would that make it islamophobia-phobia?
No fear of Islam. Just the crystal clear picture of its reality coming into focus.
I certainly hope so. I was beginning to think our meaning had been misconstrued.
"The underlying issue is the growing anti-Islamic sentiment that is being fueled by the industry of hate in America,"
Is that like the culture of corruption? I fear another power phrase here.
Now that's clever. Did Brad A. Greenberg get a reacharound from his muslim brothers for writing this?
Hatred is much different than fear. Miso_islamics
“The term “Islamophobia” was coined in 1997 by the British think tank Runnymede Trust. But before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, it had little use in the American lexicon.”
It still has little use. A phobia is an irrational fear.
I am more inclined to fear Islamophiles.
I don’t hate muslims per se but I have to admit I feel better when they arn’t around.
Bush’s fault?
Or is it “24”?
So, if you fear the behavior of radical Islamists, you are, in fact, creating more radical Islamists. Thus, the whole notion of "Moderate Muslims" is a lie.
I guess the only choice is to submit, or eliminate Muslims entirely.
Thank you, Mr. Al-Marayati, for providing me with a bit of clarity.
You can bet I have it.
I hate to admit its true. All Muslims should leave the Great Satan so they don’t have to put up with such horrors. That’ll teach us. Buhbye.
Just behead the offending teacher of the religion of peace and move on...
That is great news!
I would worry if that were not the case.
Nothing has changed since 911. At the time I already had a totally negative view of islam, but no need or desire to actively oppose or attack it.
Things have changed for the worse. Muslims worldwide are either actively or passively attacking everyone else, and the number of murders has increased steadily those last 5 years.
It would be remarkable if the hatred for islam were not increasing.
Muslims don't have a clue. This is not a shari'a society. Adopting rules and passing laws will not work in a free country!
Last summer, a USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 39 percent of Americans have "at least some feelings of prejudice against Muslims" and 34 percent said Muslims living in the United States were "sympathetic" to al-Qaida.
So, if CAIR says there are 6 million Muslims in the US, we have 2,040,000 self-identified terrorist sympathizers in our midst.
“Muslim leaders blame Islamophobia on voices in the media such as syndicated columnist Ann Coulter and politicians such as Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Virginia, who criticized Ellison’s use of the Quran for taking the oath of office.”
Maybe they should blame CAIR and other Muslim organizations for handing out free Qur’ans. We actually read them and studied Islam just like they wanted us to. Islam is incompatible with our Bill of Rights and with our Constitution.
I remember way back to sophomore psychology class. The professor digressed from a discussion concerning delusional thinking to a tirade against the concept of "the virgin mother of God," and then on to a thirty minute attack upon the Catholic Church. I suspect this sort of thing still occurs frequently. Sensitivity training anyone?
I wouldn’t call it a phobia. More like calling a spade a spade, or coping with the cards we are dealt, otherwise known as “life”.
Also, if all the limp wristed liberals would wise up to the fact that their necks are also on the line, maybe they would stop brown nosing all those fannies waving in the air.
Sorry, I just couldn’t help myself!
Exactly, the ‘phobia’ suffix is a lib tactic, just like homophobia, xenophobia, etc.. if you don’t wish to put your head in the sand or just disagree, then some how your ill and suffering from a phobia.
Sorry, all.
“Islamophobia” = sensible response to a known threat
“All we needed to know about Islam we learned on 9/11.”
AMEN! and again I say, AMEN!!
Hey, I do not have warm and fuzzy feelings towards Islam or Islamic groups such as CAIR etc. To put it bluntly, I am wary. But many individual Muslims I have met are respectable people, and until they do something that turns me against them, I will continue to treat with respect. There is abig Muslim population out where my mom lives in Brooklyn NY (where I grew up, but don’t live now). Don’t you think it crossed my mind how many terrorist cells might exist among them? But, I am not the FBI or Homeland security. Muslims in America have done a terrible job at assauging our fears. Babbling on about Islam being a religion of peace is horse crap. Some dopes even said Islam means peace; no dopey, it means submission..and I graduated Romper Room with honors. All any nitwit has to do is read a little history of the Islamic world and the conclusion one comes to is that all they possess was taken by the sword.
“Muslims need to provide a safe environment for Christians and Jews and all other religions throughout the world”
Be careful what you ask for. Muslims will tell you they provide a very tolerant, safe environment - as long as they are in power.
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