This is a question I hear frequently. "If
Muslims are against terrorism, then why don't
more Muslims speak out against it?"
Hmm. That is a very compelling issue. Obviously
from my perspective, Muslims DO speak out. As a
Muslim, I know that terrorism is not condoned in
my religion. I know that we consider killing
innocents an egregious sin. I do not want to
post history lesson of the last 2000 years, nor
do I really want to comment on politics or the
global socio-political situation. However, I
would like to try and add my perspective to this
issue for the benefit of Muslims and those of
other faiths in the interest of a deeper mutual
understanding.
"It is what we don't know that frightens us, and
nothing stifles joy like fear."
First,let me state unequivocally that terror
attacks on civilian populations are wrong. I
despise these attacks in their various forms,and
there is no jutification for them. No excuses.
I would like to ask my non-Muslim readers to
remember that Muslims are human. We love our
families. We worry over our children's
education, health and general well-being. We get
up in the morning, get dressed, eat, read the
newspaper and go to work. We come home in the
evening, fix dinner, check homework, watch TV
and sleep. We do not want to live in chaos, nor
do we want our children to fight and die, or be
killed by bombs falling from the sky. I say that
because I think that many people lose sight of
that. We, as individual humans are not looking
for trouble. We have enough on our plates just
trying to live.
So, what about these suicide bombers, terror
plots and 'terror training camps'? Even though
it seems that western media would lump all of
these disparate events and attacks together,
many are quite distinct from each other. There
are many groups around the world that seem
dedicated to anarchy. Some are Muslims, such as
al-Qa'ida; some are Christian, such as 'Army of
God' and the Aryan Nation; Jewish groups like
the Jewish Defense League. Certainly other
religions have their own sects, but you get the
idea.
The vast majority of suicide bombings that we
see carried out around the world are committed
out of hopelessness and desperation. The act
itself gets a lot of press, but the situation
which caused someone to commit such a violent
act is generally overlooked. The most recent
comparable situation in the west would be the
IRA and Irish independence. There is no excuse
for these acts, but they are generally in
response to an extreme situation in which the
bomber feels powerless, and is desperate to have
some impact on his or her situation.
Then we have the indescribable acts such as the
hijacking of the Achille Lauro, the bombings of
mass transportation in Europe and, of course
9/11. These are akin to abortion clinic bombings
and the Oklahoma City bombing. Just as main
stream Christians do not consider those who
commit these acts to be behaving as Christians,
so, too Muslims do not consider those who commit
these organized acts of terror to be acting in
accordance with the tenets of Islam.
Yes. I did call these acts crimes. Any time an
innocent is killed, it is a crime. The color of
your skin does not make you fair game. Your
belief does not make you fair game. Where you
live or your personal life choices do not make
you fair game.
Why do Muslims not take to the streets and
protest these acts en mass? For the same reason
that Christians did not take to the streets and
protest Christian participation in the Oklahoma
City bombing. Did they agree with it? Were they
secretly sympathetic to the cause of those who
committed this act of terrorism? Of course not!
But the fact of the matter is, as shocked and
dismayed as we all are by these acts, we all
have our lives to live. We have come to feel a
little powerless. And let's face it; as terrible
as it was, it does not directly effect 'me'. It
fascinates me that people are generally more
likely to protest an issue that has a financial
impact than to protest a crime committed by a
member of their own social group. Another 'hmm'.
Here we all fall short. None of us should sit by
silently and endure the assault on our freedoms.
Do we randomly attack those that appear
'different'? Do we sacrifice our hard-won
freedoms so that we can feel some false sense of
security? No. I am reminded of two quotes from
one our great founding fathers,Benjamin
Franklin, "They who can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve
neither liberty nor safety" and "Sell not virtue
to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase
power."
There have been numerous Muslim organizations
that have publicly spoke out against terrorism.
There have been many well-known Muslims who have
spoken out against terrorism. These are
published (although not prominently featured)
and are easily accessed on line for those who
really need the extra assurance.
Here is the thing. When the Muslims see abortion
clinic bombings, they never say, "Oh, look at
those Christians! Why are they so violent?" That
is because we are taught about Christian beliefs
in school. We live next door to Christians. We
see how they conduct themselves, and understand
that their concerns are like ours. They live as
we do. Eat, sleep, raise their families, worry,
plan and save.
It has become so cliche to say,"Our common
interests are greater than our differences".
Real work needs to be done. There must be a
unilateral rejection of violence and hate, and a
dedication to not only the defeat of its
perpetrator, but also a commitment to winthe
hearts and minds of future generations through
education and cooperation.
What do you think?
"We look forward to a world founded upon four
essential human freedoms. The first is freedom
of speech and expression — everywhere in the
world. The second is freedom of every person to
worship God in his own way — everywhere in the
world. The third is freedom from
want...everywhere in the world. The fourth is
freedom from fear...anywhere in the world."
* Franklin D. Roosevelt, Message to Congress
(January 6, 1941)
