As soon as it became clear that the suspect in the shooting rampage at Ft Hood claims the Islamic faith, every Muslim organization of note put out a press release condemning the brutal attack that claimed the lives of 13 soldiers and sent more to hospital for treatment. Muslim spokespersons were on every TV channel and newspaper answering questions on what drove Major Nidal Malik Hassan to open fire on the soldiers he was supposed to care for, and to betray the institution that paid for his education and helped him become the psychiatrist he is.
There are those, both in the Muslim community and the public at large, who ask why should Muslim organizations and leaders feel compelled to condemn a crime that seems to happen repeatedly and whose perpetrators belong to all faith groups. When a person who happens to be a member of an established religion, say a Christian or a Jew, commits a crime, the media refers to him as a criminal and questions his act. When, however, the one who commits the crime happens to be a Muslim, the media refers to him as a Muslim and question his faith.
It sounds very logical indeed that in normal circumstances Muslim Americans should not feel that they have to issue press releases and convene press conferences every time a Muslim is involved in violence or crime. After all no other faith group do anything close to that. But Muslim Americans do not live under normal circumstances in post 9/11. Since the infamous terrorist attack hit mainland US, dozens of think tanks and hundreds of pundits, journalists, and talk-show hosts have decided to use their intellectual and oratorical skills to paint Islam and Muslims in the most negative color. Distorting Islam and demonizing its followers is the most recent cottage industry that promotes Islamophobia in the United States and Canada.
As soon as I heard of the fatal shooting at Ft Hood, two thoughts crossed my mind. My heart went to the families of young service men and women. The most traumatic experience any family could go through is to lose its loved one to a senseless killing. Learning that the alleged perpetrator of this heinous crime was a Muslim, I immediately thought of the backlash the Muslim community braces for every time a violent attack is associated with a person of the Islamic faith.
While some wonder why in the world should leading Muslim organizations condemn atrocities committed by a Muslim, people who know better understand that speaking out and publically reject violence and crime is a must for the followers of a religion that has been systematically demonized by professional Muslim bashers (see for instance http://smearcasting.com). Muslims must make their views known to their neighbors and fellow citizens, and must speak out and explain their values and beliefs as long as Islamophobia is part of the American experience.
Despite their concerted efforts, the smear-casters have not been able to drown the advocates of fairness and pluralism. Yesterday, General George Casey, the army chief of staff, cautioned against possible backlash directed towards Muslim soldiers and stressed the importance of safeguarding American pluralism. “I am concerned that this increased speculation could cause a backlash against some of our Muslim soldiers,” he said. “As great a tragedy as this was, it would be a shame if our diversity became a casualty as well,” he added.
The Islamic society of North America (ISNA), the largest Muslim umbrella organization in the US and Canada, went beyond condemning the Ft Hood attack and announced today a special fund for the benefit of the families of soldiers killed in the attack. The fund is a collaborative effort among Muslim and interfaith organizations and is seen by Muslims as a natural expression of Islam’s call to compassion towards those who are experiencing adverse conditions. ISNA is asking Mosques across the country to encourage members to donate, but has also invited the general public to contribute to the fund.
I am personally confident that, as soon as the dust created by the rumbling of Muslim bashers settles and the smoke generated by anti-Muslim bigots disappears, Americans will realize that their Muslim neighbors work hard, like themselves, to raise good families and struggle to lead a morally upright and compassionate life. Until then, Muslims will have to continue to speak up and share their personal beliefs, values, and stories with their fellow citizens, using every available medium of communication. Eventually, the truth will triumph, but till then the hard work and the struggle must go on!
Comments
very well said
Anybody that understands the true history of Islam from its beginning to now understands that this violence against non-believers is justifed by their own teachings and is proven by their past actions. Islam is not a religion of peace and never has been. Mohammed and his followers started the first crusades.
Want to hear an interesting fact? one of the strongest tenets of Islam is that there is no compulsion in religion. That is, you cannot convert anyone to Islam and it is not anyones job to do that - so when you refer to crusades in islam - there simply weren't any. The Prophet Mohammad did participate in some wars, but they were for political reasons and had the LEAST casualties. Women and children were never harmed. AND Prisoners of war were often forgiven or treated with the utmost respect. The total number of hours that Mohammad participated in wars has been catalogued to less than 20 hours - in hiw whole lifetime! You are misinformed and please go and read the Quran - the one and only source of information about Islam. Read it and decide for yourself - you will be amazed. I also don't need to tell you how bloody the concept of crusades was and which religion came up with that. Please be better informed so that you can base your statements on true knowledge and not bias.
Your revisionist version of false history is intersting but I'm not biting. I could care less about any religion and can base my opinions on the secular history that exists and determine that the Islamic religious and polictical systems are nothing more than a scourge to the planet. Muslims enslaved both whites and blacks and sold primarily black slaves to England and Spain. The crusades were a response the Muslim's many years of "crusades" on western civiliztion (remanents of the Roman Empire) and the torture/enslavement of Christians. Yes there were atrocities committed by rouge so called Christians and I'm not denying that but I also cannot deny the historical fact that Mohammed was a pedaphile.
NoMore, could you give me book references along with name of authors and reliable and authentic resources of that pertains to the information you just said? I am not sure what books you read and where do you get your information but even basic/simple resources do not even come close to what you are saying.
But anyway let me give you a chance to give me your resources since you seem to know a lot about Islam (or against Islam). If you could give me books (from Secular resources and non secular resources) along with names of authors (please make sure to write correct title of the book) so I could look into them. Also, if you know of any documentaries that has been released by secular and nonsecular group that tells about Islam based on what you say, please do write them here. And with regards to Crusades, have you watched the movie "Kingdom Of Heaven" (by Ridley Scott)? then I think you might want to watch it.
Homeland Gestapo Police State.
Likud Joe Lieberman and Bibi.
Backlash Neocon AIPAC.
Projection much?
Asking for Truth, if that's what you really want, You need to "Seek the Truth" on your own. I will not get into a debate with you on what you consider "Reliable" resources. Start with Google and you can find all the books, resources and articles you need to justify your own sense of truth or open your mind to the possiblility that the truth you thought you knew was wrong. If you cannot find any information then you are covering your eyes on purpose. I have seen the movie Kingdom of Heaven and although entertaining, I would advise against using Hollywood's highly fictionalized movies as a basis for truth in history. Good luck in your search.
If any Muslim could answer; why do you suppose Hassan shouted praise to god as he was killing us?
If he was a believer where did he get the idea that god would be pleased; in his daily devotions, in his conversations with his spiritual advisors, why did his faith not dissuade him from that bloody business?
People who know the Christian faith hear god approaching man with his love ... not that it is always effective ... but they see it in each act of Jesus related to us in the Christian scripture. Where is the lesson in Islam that god, although omnipotent is yet constrained; limited by the love he holds for man? That it is not possible; not logical as Hassan surely believed, for god to be pleased by the killing of gods creations; even in a just cause.
Christian's killing muslims, what an idea. Maybe then you will feel and understand the terror we feel when we see one of you... But Christians arent animals, we have evolved unlike muslims, and dont kill other faiths anymore... too bad.
Dear Burton, no Muslim could ever imagine why Hassan shouted praise to God, except to think that perhaps he couldn't think of anything else to say. The man was clearly sociopathic, and certainly was not basing his actions on established concepts of Islam - perhaps he had perverted concepts in his head, but we can never truly know that, can we.
As to the term "Allahu Akbar" - which means "God is the Greatest," Muslims repeat this saying at least 102 times each day in our mandatory prayers alone (the 5 daily prayers).
God does NOT love/like/approve of the killing of people, in Islam or otherwise. The Prophet said "killing a single person is like killing all of humanity," and the Quran says that God's Mercy and Love always overcome his Anger. But remember, that God is not limited in any way - even by His Love. His Love may overcome his Wrath, but that does not limit Him - even in Christianity and Judaism.
Hassan clearly did not understand this.
You people are pretty mean about this.
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