Is it possible to change West’s idea of Islam?

Arab News ^ | 9-23-02 | Dr. Abdul Qader Tash

[SJackson]

The discussion on the possibility of changing the West’s distorted image of Islam, taking place in both Islamic and international contexts, has reached an unprecedented level. The tragic events of Sept. 11 and the dangerous insinuations that followed have created deep feelings of despair among Muslims as well as non-Muslims.

Though change may be difficult, we should, nevertheless, refuse to give up; nor should we give in to the many Islamic and Western “extremists” who believe that Islam and the West can never see eye to eye and who seek to widen the cultural, political and economic divides separating Islam from the West. These “extremists” are taking advantage of the anti-Islamic campaigns in the Western media and even in some important Western policy-making circles.

These campaigns have exceeded all reason. They have brought us all together to cry loudly: “Things have gone too far.” We must not forget though that this propensity to distort the image of Islam and Muslims is not new. It is, instead, the revival of a tendency whose roots go back more than ten centuries. Politicians and thinkers from those times regarded Islam as a threat to the West. This same tendency is evident today in works by Zingenio Bergensky, “Crescent of Ages”, Bernard Lewis in “The Resurgence of Islam”, Francis Fukuyama in “The End of History” and finally in Samuel Huntington’s “Clash of Civilizations”.

We are faced today with an enmity of unlimited organization and influence, what one British researcher calls the phenomenon of “anti-Islamism”. He believes that this phenomenon has been widening, not merely in the West but throughout the world, as a result of a number of factors. With the end of the Cold War, the idea that Islam, not communism, is the enemy of the West gained acceptability in many circles. Another factor is the rise of an extremist right wing in both Europe and the United States. Far too much anti-Islamic writing and sentiment is being spread in the name of such principles as openness, democracy, freedom of expression and the benefits of globalism.

We must resist all of this. We are a nation with a universal message that must be conveyed to the world. If the image of Islam and its culture remains unchanged, it will keep people from understanding its culture and living peacefully with its followers. It is not within our power, even if we so wished, to live isolated from the world. Our interests have become intertwined. “Islam exists in the West and the West exists in Islam” as a famous French social scientist has remarked. The flood of Western information and advertising has invaded our homes and now shapes much of our thinking. Islam is present in Western societies and is spreading with amazing speed, becoming significant in terms of demographic composition and politics.

The success of efforts to change Islam’s image in the West depends on two factors. The first — Muslims themselves must be convinced of the need for real efforts to change it. Sept. 11 has reinforced the need for us to act and give the matter the attention and care that it deserves.

The second factor is to have an environment in the West, susceptible to such a change. Do we see any real indication in the West of this willingness? Has the question of change been brought up? Is there any sense in trying? And if so, what can we do? How can we act and is there still a chance for us? These are questions that we will attempt to answer next week.

[SJackson]

Muslims gather behind a banner reading "ISLAM Will Dominate the World", at the
Finsbury park Mosque, in London, Wednesday Sept. 11, 2002, to participate in a
conference entitled "September 11 A Towering Day in History". The conference is due to
hear from some of the most radical Muslim clerics in Britain. (AP Photo/Mark Lees, PA)

Militant Indonesian Muslim protesters hold up a sign
reading "Total holy war (Jihad) for the enemy of Islam"
during an anti-America demonstration in Solo, central Java,
September 16, 2002. The small group of Muslim youths REUTERS/Stringer

[July 4th]

Western “extremists”

That's pretty funny...coming from an Islamic author. How about they drop the false pretenses and just come out with the fact that they are in a violent quest for world conversion? It's not like there's not enough evidence for us to prove it.

[weikel]

We are a nation with a universal message that must be conveyed to the world.

You see thats why you must die nobody cared what you did in your wretched desert but try to bring it to us now you all gotta die.

[weikel]

"We are a nation with a universal message that must be conveyed to the world."

He kinda did its just buried in the rest of the stuff.

[Pearls Before Swine]

9/11 DID change the West's perception of Islam, and not for the better. Its much harder to sell the peaceful side of Islam now.

[TYVets]

There are two ways to deal with Muslims.

#1 Never, never turn your back to them!

#2 Keep your finger on the trigger at all times!

[martin_fierro]

Is it possible to change West’s idea of Islam?

Yeah. Act like the "Religion O' Peace" that you claim to be.

[FreePaul]

Is it possible...? Maybe. How about starting by having all muslim leaders declare a death penalty for anyone advocating violence against non-muslims. If we have evidence that they are enforcing this and it is changing the muslim terrorists then we will consider changing out idea of Islam. We do not have a distorted image of Islam. Islam has been distorted by the people in charge of this so called religion.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Ham Hock]

The arabs and muslims have worked very hard over the years for their stereotype, they will have to learn to just accept it.

[doberville]

Notice: In all these pictures, the faces are covered. Who needs to conceal their identity with such a SINCERE, UPLIFTING message, eh?

[johniegrad]

changing the West’s distorted image of Islam

The author's problems begin in the first sentence. He makes the assumption, perhaps an invalid assumption, that Islam's problems begin with the West's perceptions. He never considers the possibility that this may not be a public image makers issue but rather an issue of reality. Islam may have more of a reality problem than a PR problem.

We must not forget though that this propensity to distort the image of Islam and Muslims is not new. It is, instead, the revival of a tendency whose roots go back more than ten centuries.

A conflict that goes back to the birth of Islam becomes the rallying cry for a PR campaign. Again, the failure to accept the possibility that there is any thing beyond a perception problem misses the point. Can wars on virtually every border between Muslim countries and non-Muslim countries be attributed to bad press? Can stoning and beheading people who fail to follow the incomprehensible idiocies of Sharia law be swept under the rug for an advertising campaign? It takes a lot of hard work to undo the favorable press that Islam has received in the United States but somehow this misunderstood religion has managed to do it.

The second factor is to have an environment in the West, susceptible to such a change

Despite the ability to freely enter this country as citizens, residents, workers, and students living here and enjoying the rights and freedoms that have been extended to them, he questions whether this nation has been able to view them in an unbiased fashion. It's only now after being repeatedly attacked both literally and figuratively that people are even becoming suspicious.

Islam had better wake up to the fact that it is not being descriminated against and accept responsibility for its own actions. That's the way we would want to handle our problems here and they need to come to terms with it. In this country many have become our guests. Not only could this end but so could their welcome elsewhere.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

The arabs and muslims have worked very hard over the years for their stereotype, they will have to learn to just accept it.

Yassir Arafat is the embodiment of all that is Islam.

He invented Airplane hijacking.

He pollutes the minds of the young.

He promotes the darkest in the human heart.

ARAFAT = ISLAM = HATE = EVIL

[dark_lord]

Islam - religion of suicide bombers, truck bombs, wahabbi jihadists, airplane hijackers, abuse of women, ranting mullahs, and massive denial of responsibility.

Who's fault is everything? The WEST! The JOOOOOOOSSSSSS! The Great SATAN! (that's us, USA, in case you missed it.)

Yeah, they've got credibility all right. </sarcasm>

[Alouette]

The success of efforts to change Islam’s image in the West depends on two factors. The first — Muslims themselves must be convinced of the need for real efforts to change it. Sept. 11 has reinforced the need for us to act and give the matter the attention and care that it deserves.

How about a fatwah against Al-Qaeda and its supporters? Next thing, an invitation to Jewish and Christian groups to come to your community centers and tell you about Judaism and Christianity?

[Hitlerys uterus]

Barbarian savages who worship a satanic copralite and blow up woman and children as a national sport deserve no better. We should begin loading a few retrofitted 767's with deportees and remote pilot them into mecca.

[Cachelot]

Is it possible to change West’s idea of Islam?

You just did that quite neatly, guttercrawlers. Now we have the right idea!

Let's play!