Posted on 05/13/2007 12:42:35 PM PDT by Alouette
Muslim groups in US should battle Islamophobia by explaining how America, Islam in fact share same values
Published: 05.12.07, 15:15 / Israel Jewish Scene
After six Muslims were arrested this week for plotting a terrorist attack on an American army base I heard an interview with a representative of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
He was expressing concern for the safety of his community and thus stressing that these six were in no way representative of Islam or American Muslims and he criticized the media for portraying them as such. As a Jew who has suffered from anti-Semitism I felt instant sympathy for this man’s cause. However, it was undeniable that he did not say enough to calm the nerves of his audience.
People have questions about the way Muslims think precisely because they are unclear about who represents the faith. Most Jews and Christians I know living in the United States feel their countries’ core values, such as equality, the respect for human life, freedom of religion, and justice for all, are in step with their religion. This should come as no surprise; most Jews and Christians are taught this from childhood onwards.
Islamic values correspond with America's?
Whereas, it is true that many of the basic values of democracies are biblical, these are not exclusively Judaic or Christian. In fact one prominent American Muslim I know when asked which countries’ values are closest to those of Islam without hesitation he replied the values of the United States of America.
This is where people get confused. Because if this is in fact true why is it that six Muslims were arrested this week for plotting to attack the United States and slaughtering hundreds of US soldiers in Fort Dix to “defend their religion”?
The answer is because the radicals do not see American values as dovetailing with those of Islam. However, while it is clear to me, as a person who has relationships with Muslims, that the overwhelming majority of Muslims living in the United States share American values as their own, many Americans still need to be educated.
This is demonstrated by a conversation I recently had with a former member of the United States government. He claimed that whilst it is possible for Muslims to live as minorities in predominantly Christian countries this was not the case for Christian and Jewish minorities in Muslim countries.
When I pointed out that Jews live very peacefully in countries like Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan—both have Muslim majorities—he was astounded and replied, “Well I did not know that and am very pleased to hear it.”
Terrorism harms Islam
Sadly the voices of those Muslims who preach tolerance and human rights are drowned out by the shouting of the terrorists. Because of terrorist attacks carried out in the name of Islam around the world many people wrongly label Islam as a terrorist religion and all Muslims as terrorists or as potential terrorists. Although this type of bigotry and stereotyping is as repulsive any other types of fascism, it can only be effectively countered with the cooperation of the Muslim community.
Americans and non-Muslims need to hear the voices of those prominent Muslims who say that classical American values and Islamic values are one and the same. The message needs to be loud and clear: we are on the same side. The fact that we are not hearing this enough is partly the fault of the Media, but organizations like CAIR are also to blame.
A different message
CAIR and others must begin to take a different approach to the unacceptable levels of Islamophobia in the West. In addition to the interview I listened to this week, a quick survey of their website shows that they focus mainly on the anti-Muslim bias in America and parts of its media. By doing this they ensure that their communities feel threatened which feeds the hate and resentment some Muslims feel towards the USA. They actually reinforce the impression that Islam is under siege by the USA when in fact it is not. This strategy must be modified.
In addition to their campaign against Islamophobia and the statements against terrorism in the name of Islam which they make regularly, organizations like CAIR must explain how America and Islam in fact share the same values.
This message must be stressed in public, to the media and within their own communities especially to the youth. This way young Muslims living here can feel that, despite the imperfections of America, the United States is still their country, and the average non-Muslim American can know that most American Muslims are on the same side as they are. Undoubtedly this would go a long way to remove much of the fuel that drives Islamophobia.
I’ll say this much. After reading the comments section, it is apparent that disgust with Islam is very definitely growing. I haven’t been to Haaretz lately, so I don’t know if the trend is the same there. Even a year ago, there was more defense of Islam.
I stopped there too. We share NO core values, none whatsoever. They want to kill us; we don’t want that. They mutilate and control women; behead; destroy; seek death; produce nothing; celebrate bloodlust; eat sheep’s anuses. Will not mix.
Then the slimes will appreciate this work of literature from gawd!!!!
HADITH Sahih Muslim [41:6984] Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that allah's Messenger (may Pigs be inseminating him) said: The Jews muslimes will fight against you and you will gain victory over them until the stone would say: Muslim non muslime, here is a Jew muslime behind me;
Qur’an 8:12 “I shall terrorize the infidels So wound their bodies and incapacitate them because they oppose The One True God.”
Qur’an 8:57 “If you gain mastery over them in battle, inflict such a defeat as would terrorize them, so that they would learn a lesson and be warned.”
Quran-4:89— Take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of The One True God. But if they turn renegades, wherever ye find them; and take no friends or helpers from their ranks.
Sura 9:5 of the “Koranus,” “wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.”
" upon such of those to whom the Scriptures have been given as believe not in God in allah." Sura 9:29
"Strike off their heads then, and strike off from them every finger tip." - Sura 8:12
They declared WAR on the world 1400 years ago, isn't it time to end their aggression against mankind?
Wasn’t there an article about muslims and christians fighting because a new church was to be built? shoots his theory to hell. nowhere in my christian upbringing does it say to behead others not of your faith.
Both are former Soviet Republics, where all religion was suppressed. Second, Azerbaijan had a war with neighboring Christian Armenia. Third, Uzbekistan is currently an all-encompassing dictatorship on the Stalin model.
We got genius' out there.
We can’t just copy their Mohammed Mouse. How about Dhimmi Cricket or Infidella?
Lets assume they have a point - that many in the West are so worried about Islamic terror that they fear Islam.
The best way to combat that isn’t with phony outreach groups like CAIR, it would for every Muslim to be out and public condemning terrorists and helping to get them arrested. They should be at least as vocal as they are about cartoons.
BUMP!
Imperfections meaning that Europeans haven't yet been reduced to an oppressed minority or exterminated.
If America does not snap the hell out of this lovey dovey pc drivel and soon, things are going to get worse - much worse and sooner than you think.
Let me tell you for a fact that news like this drives the so-called moderate muslims closer to the fundamentalists and not towards the West.
Name one Islamic Democracy or Muslim majority democratic society on the planet - you can't!
The reason is because Islam and Democracy/Freedom are like oil and water. You choose which one you want - but you cannot have both.
Oh of course someone will say Turkey or Malaysia - but do they realize what happens under the surface - how these countries maintain order?
They maintain order by curtailing Freedom!! Is this what America and Americans want?
For years Turkey has banned the hijab - ask yourself why
Freedom is restricted in countries like Malaysia and Turkey so that order can be maintained.
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