Posted on 10/25/2003 12:47:19 PM PDT by chicagolady
General's anti-Muslim comments, and Bush's silence, speak volumes October 25, 2003
BY ALI ALARABI
Lt. Gen. William Boykin, the officer leading the hunt for Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, told evangelical Christian audiences last week that God was on the side of America's war on terrorism and said that Muslims worship an "idol." And that the Muslims' God is not a real God.
I know, being a Muslim myself, that I don't worship an idol, and my God is the same God who created us all. And I don't think that God all of the sudden has taken sides in killing and slaughter done in his name. Only people with serious delusions and mental problems think that God is a cheerleader for killing.
Such blatant racism and ignorance should not have a place in the U.S. armed forces or U.S. official policy. The president should make it clear that such extremist views will not be tolerated, and Boykin should resign.
Boykin's resignation would, first, maintain the integrity of the armed forces; second, send a message that racism and bigotry will not be tolerated in this country and, third, show that the U.S. war on terrorism is not war against a religion but rather against terrorists regardless of their religion.
One cannot help but to draw a comparison between President Bush's reaction to anti-Jewish comments by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohammed and his reaction to Boykin's anti-Muslim remarks. Bush chastised the prime minister publicly and said nothing to his Pentagon official. To Muslims around the world, Bush's silence confirms their suspicion that this U.S. administration is waging a new crusade against Islam and Muslims.
The general's ugly, racist comments did not come out of the blue, however. There is an undercurrent of anti-Muslim and anti Arab sentiment fomented by right-wing Christian evangelical groups and, unfortunately, as in this case, that seeps into the administration's official thinking and decisions.
Imagine if the general said the same words about any other religion. Of course, all hell would break loose, and he would not last until the end of the day in his position. To be an anti-Muslim in this country is, sadly, tolerated and oftentimes encouraged by extremist propaganda.
Are we a nation where hatred of particular religious and ethnic groups has evolved to become a common currency? In some quarters, yes, and I would not have been too shocked if those comments had come from the likes of Pat Robertson, who has in the past said similar things and just recently said that the State Department should be "nuked."
In the Middle East, Boykin's comments have made headlines and will definitely increase the perception that the United States today is a country bent on waging war against Islam. Moreover, the general's remarks will make bin Laden's argument more credible: that the United State is waging a war against Islam and Arabs, and, of course, for oil, under the guise of fighting terrorism. This perception, if it confirms Muslim suspicions, would not be very helpful to America's image around the world and would doom any U.S. policy in the Middle East or in the Islamic world.
Right-wing Christian groups, too, would see the general's comments as a vindication of their anti-Muslim hatred campaign and a step in the right direction toward an eventual Muslim-Christian war in the Middle East. As crazy an idea as it sounds, that's an eventuality crazed extremists on both side are rooting for.
Level-headed Americans of all colors and religions -- Jews, Christians, Muslims and others -- need to make a courageous stand against all forms of racism and extremism and to make America a better country.
Ali Alarabi is the National Director of the United Arab American League-Chicago.
E-mail: alialarabi @suntimesmail.com
I hope you will take a few monments to e-mail this guy and let him know what you REALLY think!
Bears repeating.
Plus, we have to realize this: Not all "religions" are actual religions. If a billion people got fooled by Scientology, that would not make Scientology a religion. Islam, as it is practised, and as it is written, is a nasty, benighted death-cult.
I beg to differ on both points. You worship your black meteorite Kabba rock and your moon gawd is not the same as my G_d.
Ssshhh, don't say that, or better yet don't say anything, or better yet retire from government service, or better yet go hang yourself -- or else the Muslims will become angry! We all know what the Muslims are like -- they're as excitable as a nest of hornets and fly into a rage any time a twig snaps or the breeze changes direction -- so any bigot who would speak negative generalities about Muslims needs to stuff a sock in it!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.