Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Hard times for U.S. Muslims
The Indianapolis Star ^ | December 16, 2001 | SHAHID ATHAR

Posted on 12/16/2001 4:36:38 AM PST by sarcasm

The events of Sept. 11 were not only a terrorist attack on America, but on Islam in the United States. About 500 Muslims died in the tragedy and the rest of them became hostage to fear, intimidation and insecurity about their future.

All the progress made in the growth of Islam in our country for the last 50 years seems to be reversed, and some immigrant Muslims have started to question whether they should go back to their countries of origin.

Of course, Muslim Americans like my children, who were born here, have no place to go. This is their home.

The response of many American Muslims to the tragedy of Sept. 11 is seen in two extremes. At one end is the group most visible on the Internet, still working on the conspiracy theory, touting the idea that this evil act was done by the work of Mossad, the CIA, the Pentagon, the militia or remote control devices, completely denying the possibility that it could have been the evil act and plot of Muslim terrorists.

On the other extreme are Muslim leaders, who, after recovering from the shock of Sept. 11, suffered from an unwarranted guilt complex and became apologetic. After visits by the FBI, they realized they must make politically correct statements now in order to save American Islam. They had to change their tone of speech and writing, and even retracted and regretted statements made before Sept. 11 against the U.S. "superpower."

Now, some of them are telling the same Muslim-American audience, "If you do not like the West, go back to your own country."

The average middle-class, mosque-going Muslims who run grocery stores, are office workers or students, are totally confused at what they should do or say. Should they side with the terrorists overseas or with the superpower that is bombing the innocent civilians in hospitals and houses in Afghanistan in order to free the world of these terrorists?

How can we present Islam to those who stereotype, profile and even call us their enemy? On record are close to 1,000 cases of such hate crimes since Sept. 11. Is the FBI our friend or our foe? Will our children get admission to schools of flight training, biomedical research and nuclear physics? Will we ever feel comfortable flying as a passenger in an airplane? Will our women in hijab be able to shop without fear?

The joy of being a Muslim in America is gone, at least for now. How can we live our faith while we work with those who defame it? We Muslim Americans are going through the most difficult time in our history in this country. These are difficult questions, and I have no simple solutions.

I hope and pray we regain our bruised self-esteem. Many of us, especially those from overseas, tend to live in the past rather than the present. While our bodies are here, our hearts and minds were left behind. We need to bring our hearts to the land we have adopted as our home.

Ordinary Muslim Americans need to take charge of our religion as we take charge of our families, our health and our lives. We should learn Islam for ourselves as a religion of love, peace and tolerance and prove it by our individual actions. If we want to be counted as Muslim Americans, we must take all the concerns of Americans, whether terrorism, anthrax, drugs, violence or even pollution as our own concerns. We must show Islam by our actions, not by speeches, videotapes and pamphlets.

We must denounce all those who use religion for their political gain and denounce political powers that wish to abuse the religion of Islam. We must reclaim our faith from the terrorists who hijacked it and also from the leadership who apologize for them.

God has chosen Islam for us, and we are thankful for it. As for the question, "Are you with us or with the terrorists?" We are neither with the terrorists nor with those who intend to terrorize us. We are here to stay, vote and participate in the American process. We are not going back, nor can we be interned.

Athar, M.D., is past president of the Islamic Society of Greater Indianapolis and the author of numerous articles on Islam. He can be reached by e-mail at sathar3624@aol.com


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: muslimamericans; september12era
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-124 next last

1 posted on 12/16/2001 4:36:38 AM PST by sarcasm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
500 Muslims died on 9/11? That's 1/6 of estimated deaths. Wonder the percent of Muslims in U.S.? Could this be right or do we have another wild and wide-eyed journalist?
2 posted on 12/16/2001 4:43:40 AM PST by not-an-ostrich
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
The average middle-class, mosque-going Muslims who run grocery stores, are office workers or students, are totally confused at what they should do or say. Should they side with the terrorists overseas or with the superpower that is bombing the innocent civilians in hospitals and houses in Afghanistan in order to free the world of these terrorists?

Mr. Athar. Please go. If you can't tell the difference between good and evil, then you should just leave. By the way, take some academics with you. Thanks.

3 posted on 12/16/2001 4:46:15 AM PST by LenS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
This entire article got my blood pressure up.

All the progress made in the growth of Islam in our country for the last 50 years seems to be reversed, and some immigrant Muslims have started to question whether they should go back to their countries of origin.

Please, by all means...

On the other extreme are Muslim leaders, who, after recovering from the shock of Sept. 11, suffered from an unwarranted guilt complex and became apologetic.

Please indulge me. These Muslim leaders are who?

Should they side with the terrorists overseas or with the superpower that is bombing the innocent civilians in hospitals and houses in Afghanistan.

WTF? Just how many "innocent civillians" have been bombed in Afghanistan? Maybe a microscopic fraction of those killed on 9-11 (if any at all).

The joy of being a Muslim in America is gone, at least for now.

Oh cry me a river... Do these people think only of themselves? I have heard little remourse, only the moans and groans of being discriminated against while celebrating in the streets.

4 posted on 12/16/2001 4:50:24 AM PST by Drew68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: not-an-ostrich
It's fantasy. But complete fabrications seem to be the stock in trade of so much of the Islamic world. Part of that might be the nature of Arabic as a language.
5 posted on 12/16/2001 4:50:34 AM PST by LenS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: not-an-ostrich
Could this be right

Nope!

6 posted on 12/16/2001 4:51:22 AM PST by sarcasm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: LenS
Will our children get admission to schools of flight training?

Fat Chance.

7 posted on 12/16/2001 4:52:48 AM PST by USNBandit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: not-an-ostrich
All the progress made in the growth of Islam in our country for the last 50 years seems to be reversed, and some immigrant Muslims have started to question whether they should go back to their countries of origin.

Maybe because the Koran teaches muslims to kill infidels, and the non-muslim US population has just gotten educated. How many non-muslims in the US ever read the Koran before 9/11? Don't let the door hit.....

8 posted on 12/16/2001 4:53:01 AM PST by Go Gordon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
bump
9 posted on 12/16/2001 4:54:44 AM PST by foreverfree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm; SJackson; anapikoros; white trash redneck; Sheik Yerbouty; Inyokern; Anamensis...
Will our women in hijab be able to shop without fear?

It's the Israelis who are getting blown up in shopping malls, you cretin (the cretin being Athar, not sarcasm who brought this barf alert to our attention).

10 posted on 12/16/2001 4:55:47 AM PST by Alouette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
Here's the CONTEST -- Who's got the best tag line for Islam. Here's my entry to start: ISLAM -- THE RELIGION THAT LOVES TO HATE.
11 posted on 12/16/2001 4:56:22 AM PST by jrlc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: not-an-ostrich
500 Muslims died on 9/11? That's 1/6 of estimated deaths. Wonder the percent of Muslims in U.S.? Could this be right or do we have another wild and wide-eyed journalist?

Maybe their 600 number (which is fanciful bs) includes the demons who flew the planes into the buildings.

12 posted on 12/16/2001 4:59:18 AM PST by dennisw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
I hope and pray we regain our bruised self-esteem. Many of us, especially those from overseas, tend to live in the past rather than the present. While our bodies are here, our hearts and minds were left behind. We need to bring our hearts to the land we have adopted as our home.

Why not take your sorry arse back to where your heart is? So for 50 years, while you have adopted the US as your "home", your heart never came with it. I guess Allah will be real proud of you living the good life in the US, while abandoning your bretheren. What a bunch of cowards. At least the muslims that came to this country to educate themselves (better than they could in the homeland) and then returned home to try to make their countries better can be given a certain amount of respect.

13 posted on 12/16/2001 4:59:56 AM PST by Go Gordon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
A FORMER MUSLIM PROFESSOR ON WHY HE LEFT ISLAM (click on picture)


The Hardcover edition.


14 posted on 12/16/2001 5:01:44 AM PST by Cacique
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
"some immigrant Muslims have started to question whether they should go back to their countries of origin."

I feel threatened by anyone who believes that perverted Islam crap, go home!

15 posted on 12/16/2001 5:02:30 AM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
TRANSLATION:
We don't care about America but we Muslims do care that our life here is a lot more dicey since our fellow Muslims killed thousands of Americans while on a Jihad.
16 posted on 12/16/2001 5:02:45 AM PST by dennisw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: sarcasm
Where is the Muslim leadership condemning these terrorists!

The silence is DEAFENING!

17 posted on 12/16/2001 5:03:13 AM PST by G.Mason
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: sarcasm
I don't see one word of anger here about this attack on America.

All I see is some Muslim complaining about treatment of his fellow Muslims in America. Also lying too about 1000 hate crimes.

19 posted on 12/16/2001 5:05:31 AM PST by dennisw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jrlc
Who's got the best tag line for Islam.

ISLAM - Uncle Osama wants YOU!

or

ISLAM - There's a future in martrdom

or

ISLAM - The Clintonian religion

20 posted on 12/16/2001 5:06:53 AM PST by Go Gordon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-124 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson