And maybe there is more of that than we think; especially intelligence info over the last week.
Mr. Masoud has asked the right question. Our country needs the help of all its patriots in this time of need and peril. Millions of Muslim-Americans are good and true citizens. There are special ways that Arab-Americans, indeed all Muslim-Americans can help defend America. This may be one: Arab-Americans should take a central role in identifying effective ways of eliminating Arab terrorists from our midst without injuring the rights or feelings of good and true citizens. Those terrorists swim among us, using the freedoms of our open society to commit atrocities. They must not be allowed to goad us into striking out blindly at good and true citizens of the Muslim faith or Arabic descent. Your country needs you, Mr. Masoud, and all those like you. Help us.
Such an expression can be used only by those who do not know the definition of one or both of the terms in it.
How about a word about the persecution (mild word, "SLAUGHTER" is more accurate) of Christians in the Sudan, East Timor, Kosovo, Macedonia, The Phillipines? That's just this year. Your peace-loving co-religionists have been converting by the sword for 1400 years.
How about you and your fine, upstanding American co-religionists dropping a dime on the terrorists many of you know? Instead, you give them money, places to hide, cars, houses, jobs, papers. You wanna be an American, tell the cops what you know, right now.
How about one of your Arab-American newspapers condemning this act? Instead all we get is weasel-words. And as far as your clerics go, not one condemnation of these monstrous acts.
How about tonight, after you wash your various orifices in keeping with Mohammed's (may praise be upon Him) dictates, you unroll your rug and face the WTC. You might also want to face the fact that while washing is generally a good idea, many other of Mohammed's dictates are incompatible with residence in this country as a free man.
On the other hand, it's quite reasonable for the FBI to take a close look at Muslim immigrants from Arab nations whose histories indicate any possible connection with terrorist organizations (through family, friends, writings or other sources), or whose actions in recent months parallel those of the hijackers. They'd probably be mobile, have no families here and be interested in skills that could be used in future attacks (demolition, flying planes, etc.), among other indications.
There's no reason to suspect that most American Muslims, especially those with deep familial and community ties here in the United States, are a threat to our security. Law enforcement can be vigilant for possible sleepers without resorting to blanket persecution of all American Muslims based on hysterical stereotypes.
What happened to Japanese-Americans during WWII was wrong, and should not be repeated. There are indicators beyond just skin color or religion that can be used to sniff out genuine threats to national security; hopefully, investigation and not prejudice will decide who becomes a suspect.
Quite correct. And I have a response. Here is something the US Muslim community could do that would really help.
We are about to engage in a war of ideas with the extremists of radical Islamicist sects and parties. I say a war of ideas, because the whole result will turn on the "recruitment" question, on the question of how the rank and file of average citizens in Muslim countries react to the struggle. Laden and company are counting on them reacting by excusing their murder policies, rather than siding with us. For our part we need to carefully aim in order to seperate moderate Muslims from the extremists.
This war of ideas will be decided by where the "split" is located, that define the two sides of the struggle. If the wedge is driven between all Muslims and all non-Muslims, then Laden and company have won. If it is driven between Laden and company and the majority of Muslims, then we have won.
Thus, it is a war of ideas. Laden offers a vision of medieval blood feud as the essence of a world civilization. I've studied that civilization, and I think Laden's rather a cramped and narrow view of it. I find his vision distinctly unappetizing, and can't recognize the Merciful and Compassionate anywhere within it.
The issue of the struggle will turn on whether most Muslims can see and side with a more attractive understanding of their civilization, and one less extremist and hostile to us, than the one Laden is offering. So here is what you can do.
Present such a vision. Preach to the majority of the Muslim world. Regard Laden as a direct competitor to yourselves, for the souls of your fellows throughout the Muslim world, and reach them. Save them from his grasp.
This would be good theology, and good patriotism. It would also be heartily appreciated, and a serious service to your country, your faith, and mankind.
But there is more to this--
Firstly, WE SHOULD bear in mind, the next time Israel and The palestinians call on us the fact that most Paelstinians celebrated the murder of our people. This is unforgivable and America should NEVER FORGET IT
Secondly, if Arab looking people go on a plane I see nothing wrong with security giving them a little more attention than the other passengers, PC be damned, because otherwise after all this I ain't goin on a plane with a group of Arab men, would you?
Thirdly, we DO need to re-examine and change our immigration policies. These people lived in our country, this was a serious mistake, and again PC be damned we can't afford to make this mistake again.
Fourth, someone on a radio call in show said that this is not a "muslim problem" well, yes and no. most Muslims do not go on suicide bombing runs, no doubt. BUT do we see any other group of people doing this (outside of looney tunes McVey)? NO. Sadly there is a proneness to extreme fanatacism among SOME Arabs, it is a cultural more than a religious thing. And while we should not blame evey Muslim for it there does come with it a special responsibility for all Muslims that do not want to be blamed for that mindset to condemn it and work to root it out. For our sakes and theirs.
http://answering-islam.org/Silas/terrorism.htm
We are safe if ,like many Christians of this nation who pick and chose the tenets of their faith a la carte, American Muslims do the same. How many do not? Do you know? I don't. Until I get a feel for that I will feel very uncomfortable, especially with all the talk of "sleeper agents" in this nation. Am I a racist because of that? I doubt it. Paranoia is just a heightened sense of reality.