Posted on 02/05/2006 11:46:47 AM PST by lancer
WASHINGTON: Tempered reaction among US Muslims to the row over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) can be partly attributed to their integration into American society, community leaders say.
Fear of reprisals and the fact that the offending cartoons have not been reprinted in any major US newspapers may also have contributed to the lack of street protests and violence, they add. “There is better integration here of communities into the general society than in Europe where integration has not been very effective,” Kareem Shora, of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), said.
“This (controversy) echoes the historical problems that Europeans had with anti-Semitism,” he added. “Now Islamophobia seems to be an acceptable form of public discourse in Europe.”
Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News in the state of Michigan, which has the largest concentration of Arabs outside the Middle East, said he believes the country’s 6-7mn Muslims had not taken to the streets to express outrage in part because of fear of retaliation by authorities.
“People are scared,” he said. “We have a government saying it is spying on us and it’s scaring the living daylights out of people.
“But they still feel the same about this issue and are very angry.” Siblani blasted the cartoons as proof of Western insensitivity to Islam and double standards in dealing with the Muslim world. “The other day the president of Iran made a statement about the Holocaust and the whole world condemned him,” he said. “Here you have a statement offending 1.3bn people around the world. Why don’t we see condemnation?”
“There is one set of rules for the West and another set for everyone else,” he added. “Where do we draw the line on your freedom of speech and hurting my feelings and principles and irritating the hell out of me?”
Several community leaders warned that the crisis could easily escalate if the West fails to fully grasp the reasons behind the uproar over the cartoons, which have been printed in several European newspapers and which Muslims regard as blasphemous.
Islamic tradition bans depictions of the Prophet (pbuh). “Instead of encouraging constructive integration, this (cartoon controversy) does nothing but add to the divide and perception that there is an us-versus-them mentality,” Shora said.
He said ADC planned to meet next week with members of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCRIF), a government body that promotes religious tolerance, to discuss the uproar.
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said he hoped the controversy would not escalate any further and that reason would win over violence.
“We hope and pray that cool heads will prevail in the next few days and weeks as this controversy comes to our shores,” he said. “That extremism and bigotry will not be allowed to shape the debate between America and the Muslim world.”
The United States backed Muslims on Friday against European newspapers that printed the blasphemous cartoons in a move that could help America’s battered image in the Islamic world.
Inserting itself into a dispute that has become a lightning rod for anti-European sentiment across the Muslim world, the United States sided with Muslims outraged that the publications put press freedom over respect for religion.
“These cartoons are indeed offensive to the belief of Muslims,” State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in answer to a question.
“We all fully recognise and respect freedom of the press and expression, but it must be coupled with press responsibility. Inciting religious or ethnic hatreds in this manner is not acceptable.”
The United States stopped short of urging US media not to republish the cartoons.
American Muslims welcomed the position despite some misgivings that unpopular US policies such as the Iraq war and perceived pro-Israeli stances in the Palestinian conflict meant there was little America could do to repair its image.
What does this mean? They have not started torching cars, burning embassasies, phoning in bomb threats? Well good for them.
We don't draw that line, numbnuts. And since you morons are so easily manipulated by your demon possessed so-called leaders, stay tuned for a deluge.
10s of millions of armed Americans might also have a "calming" effect...
It would sure create a "come to Jesus" moment for the "moderate Muslims" in America to choose sides..
Semper Fi
Their numbers are simply not big enough to dare it. Yet.
Perhaps it's that fact that Muslims in America know better than to f*** with America, and that freedom-loving Americans will kick their asses up, down, and sideways if they start any of their jihad bullshit.
“People are scared,” he said. “We have a government saying it is spying on us and it’s scaring the living daylights out of people."
Even better, just tell them to get the hell out, go back where you came from and let the Mullahs and Kings tell them how much dirt to eat daily. Yeah, Allah be praised alright.
The gun thing works too though......
Excellent comment. The same I was going to make. Either I'm paranoid or incredibly desirous with a deep rooted need to preserve the West; am I nuts or correct; we need to get them out of our country, not welcome them or assume they'll assimilate. To me, they're no different than a rabid Nazi or Communist, same animal, different religion, so to speak.
Try setting out some bait if you get tired of waiting...
Fly 'em if ya got 'em!
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password= *blank*
MPEG4 webcam here in Vacaville, CA..... at Rancho del Toro.
Ditto!
What's the big deal about some cartoons anyway?
What about Sept. 11, 2001?
The test for this is simple. Ask yourself would the drawer of this cartoon have Muslims for dinner and repeat in a verbal way the message of the cartoon?
I think not. The MSM and the Internet permit insults and egregious ad hominem arguments to be hidden by either anonymity or hiding behind a mass media banner. In both cases cowardice and bad manners are portrayed as "freedom of expression" issues.
Good manners are required in a workable, civil society.
I feel nothing but pity for a person so mixed-up. Comparing the systematic slaughter of MILLIONS of people in WWII to a cartoon? Now, we are supposed to start thinking about the feelings and irritation of others when printing an opinion in the paper? When Christians and their religous beliefs are made fun of, they are ALWAYS told to "turn the channel if it offends you", or "don't be so unenlightened; your values deserve to be mocked."
As so many people have said here before, the lack of disgust and fear on behalf of muslims when it comes to be-headings or bombings speaks volumes about them.
You are correct.
I think the rioting and burning embassies pretty much takes care of creating that perception.
I feel the same way... Let them try...
Any straight males condemn the guy who tore up the gay bar in Massachusetts and injured people?
Didn't think so.
Do you know how silly it is to demand that American Muslims condemn everything that's done by Muslims anywhere around the world?
If you're going to start demanding that people take responsibility for things other people do, you're going to be a busy little beaver yourself.
Dinnertable conversation is not a free-for-all debate, or you wouldn't need FR.
Philadelphia Inquirer has published at least one photo according to a post I just saw. Good for them!
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