Posted on 09/28/2001 11:00:41 AM PDT by HairOfTheDog
How do we end terrorism without being impolite to Muslims?
Subtitle: Why are we so messed up that BLIND political correctness is our priority right now?
I am sorry that Muslims are being shouted at from pickup trucks... because shouting from pickup trucks is unseemly and ineffective. But constantly tripping over ourselves apologizing to Muslims who are just "normal Americans" is going to ensure that we lose.
These terrorists make an art of coming to this country, making friends and seeming very normal for many years, taking full advantage of our political correctness, our free right of travel, our education in universities, our flight training, and while they are here they study our weaknesses, not the least of which is our desire to be completely trusting and accepting of them.
The hijackers who did this did not wear "Terrorist in Training" T-shirts. They looked very much like those who claim to be unfairly treated now, and also look like those that I have seen walking through Seattle trying not to make eye contact with anyone... I am very vigilant at watching them now.... I wonder what they think, whether they know one of them, whether they are one of them. I know they feel me watching them, and I hope they are getting mad... Not mad at me, but mad at those among them that are causing my fear.
I guarantee that my mistrust of Middle-Eastern Muslims will grow and not diminish, until there are long lines of Muslims waiting at police precincts to report suspicious behavior among them, and until the interviews shown on television are NOT people of European decent full of guilt at their own mistrusting thoughts telling us how to behave and what to think.
My mistrust will diminish when those Middle-Eastern Muslims here in America are the most vocal about rooting out this problem. The problem is that those that are speaking up so far are those that feel victimized unfairly, or offer vague references that Islam is a religion of peace, and not terror. Clearly there are lots of Muslims who have read something else. Where are those that have overheard discussions, but did not participate? Where are those that have been approached to participate or give money, but chose not to? Where are those that were trusted enough to confide in, but did not decide to join? Or those that joined ethnic or Muslim groups they believed to improve people's lives, only to find out that the real mission was something very different? Where are those that are vocal about exposing those among them that are the problem? Until they speak up, I will continue to mistrust all of them without feeling an ounce of guilt, because I refuse to feel guiltier than they do about these attacks on our country.
Remember grade school, when the teacher needed to know which student in the class had stolen Suzie's crayons? And all students were forced to stay after class until the guilty party confessed, or his friends ratted him out? Everyone in the class faced equal suspicion until the common desire to go to recess was greater than the embarrassment of confession. The peer pressure to end the detention of everyone turned toward finding the evil-doer within. Well, I for one will continue to blame the whole class rather than be made a fool of when they strike again while we do our best to be polite.
I have no doubt that America can take out all the terrorists and supporters that they find. But killing them from the outside will never really solve the problem. Weaken it maybe, make money harder to raise maybe, keep them running maybe, but we do not have a lock on craftiness and talent. Outsiders can never get them all, and will probably create more enemies as we try. Only "they" can solve this problem, and it is imperative that we compel them to do so, or assume they are guilty if they do not.
We should be very afraid that Muslims here and abroad that have been our friends when we could help them are only quietly and half-heartedly helping us now, trying not to be overly offensive to their own. We should be very afraid that Muslims in this country are silently trying to keep their heads down. I am very afraid that many Muslims in this country know more than they have admitted, and yet want the benefit of the doubt from me.
Let us not seem hysterical by shouting at them from pickup trucks, but let us never let political correctness allow us to be blindsided again...
Well said and true!
Perhaps we should keep a little closer eye on our Muslim friends... but we shouldn't persecute them -- unless individuals can be proven to either be connected or sympathetic to a terrorist. They are, after all, innocent until proven guilty, aren't they?
Blaming all Muslims for these terrorist attacks is akin to blaming all Christians for slavery. Neither is an accurate conjecture.
Most nations would be pondering the most painful ways to eliminate them.
The response of America has been much different. No Muslim has been summarily executed. No one has had their property stolen. No citizen has been derprived of their freedom. Quite the opposite, in fact. Our religious, political, military, and civilian law enforcement leaders have gone out of their way to ensure that none of this occurs.
Given this background, if the FBI sent an agent to the door of every single Muslim in the United States to ask them questions, there is no legitimate grounds for complaint by anyone. Not the Muslims, and not the America-haters either.
In the meantime, all the feminized apologists for America can go straight to hell and join in an orgy with their 'brethern-of-heart' who crashed those planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Clikker, I had not suggested any of those things, what I asked for in my article is that Muslims in America come forward and choose sides. Mere vague references to Islam being a religion of peace is not enough.
"My mistrust will diminish when those Middle-Eastern Muslims here in America are the most vocal about rooting out this problem. The problem is that those that are speaking up so far are those that feel victimized unfairly, or offer vague references that Islam is a religion of peace, and not terror. Clearly there are lots of Muslims who have read something else. Where are those that have overheard discussions, but did not participate? Where are those that have been approached to participate or give money, but chose not to? Where are those that were trusted enough to confide in, but did not decide to join? Or those that joined ethnic or Muslim groups they believed to improve people's lives, only to find out that the real mission was something very different? Where are those that are vocal about exposing those among them that are the problem? Until they speak up, I will continue to mistrust all of them without feeling an ounce of guilt, because I refuse to feel guiltier than they do about these attacks on our country."
Answer to question #1: If we have to, yes.
Answer to question #2: Yes, revoke their citizenship.
Answer to question #3: Yes, deport as many as we can.
Clikker, I had not suggested any of those things, what I asked for in my article is that Muslims in America come forward and choose sides. Mere vague references to Islam being a religion of peace is not enough.
Yes, they should. And, I'd imagine that many do -- but many probably don't make their statements public (as in make a live broadcast on CNN). The major American Muslim Orgainzations should come out and condemn them, also.
Whether Islam is truly a religion of peace I do not know. Remember, though, religious verse is usually vague and allows the reader to make his own interpretation of the text, so Islam may not be inherently evil. (Also remember that the Koran is an interpreted text, and Arabic-to-English translations are supposedly rough and imperfect.)
I didn't mean to infer that you want to pen Muslims in Internment Camps. I just kinda extended the logic to the point of absurdity to demonstrate my point. Sorry about that.
"Well, whatcha want to do about it? Put all Muslims in internment camps? Revoke their citizenship? Deport all of them, including those who are legal immigrants or citizens?"Answer to question #1: If we have to, yes. Answer to question #2: Yes, revoke their citizenship. Answer to question #3: Yes, deport as many as we can.
Do you really have that much disregard for the Constitution, or was that sarcasm?
You really believe that it is right to herd United States Citizens into concentration camps? Whatever did happen to things like "innocent until proven guilty", or "equal justice under the law" and other such concepts?
Next, the Supreme Court has ruled it unconstitutional (I believe) to revoke a citizen's citizenship -- cruel and unusual punishment. But does the 8th Amendment not apply to Muslims?
Last of all, I doubt that the Government has the power to deport citizens. Where would you deport them to, anyway? Their homes are in the US.
If I come across as condesending (as I think I have), I apologize. I just want to know if you're really serious about what you said.
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