Reply
Thu 13 Feb, 2003 09:00 am
By this time we have all heard or read about the Bin Laden tapes. So than, I suppose, have the Arab or Muslim Americans. Where than is their voice. Why hasn't it been heard? Could it be that they side with Bin Ladens call for terrorism and a holy war against America and the West. If not IMO they should vocalize it and show there support for the US.
I should note that I am not talking about the situation with Iraq but the terrorism prescribed by Bin Laden and the danger he poses. I don't hold with much that our present administration says or does but when George says you are either with us or against us when it comes to US citizens or residents I echo those sentiments.
This joke sums it up.
A man is walking in the park. Suddenly he sees a dog attacking a boy. He tries to safe the boy and kills the dog. A journalist just walks by and says "Can i have your name to put in my article about your brave rescue" The man gives his name: Mohammed Al-Brawashi. Next day in the paper: "Muslim fundamentalist kills dog in the park"
frolic
That I believe is a copout.
au1929 wrote:frolic
That I believe is a copout.
Its a huge simplification of what is going on. Can u give me a newspaper or Broadcasting netwerk that gives muslims a chance to explain their point of view. The reason you don't hear them is because nobody is giving them the opportunity to talk to the audience. Not because they agree with what Osama says.
Islam in the US
There was an Arab American on one of the networks I think CNN that said the same thing about speaking out. CNN, MSNBC and others I am sure would be amenable to Moslem American leaders being interviewed on their news programs.
Listening in.... reading up.
Ohio News
Missouri News
another
Doesn't look like the Arab-American Community has responded as a whole.
I get a little snarky when I hear someone bewailing the fact that this or that "community" hasn't "denounced" this or that reprehensible action or statement by someone supposedly of their membership.
"Why haven't black leaders denounced Farrakhan?"
or "Why haven't the muslims denonced bin Laden?"
... I can't help always mentally juxtaposing questions like that with my own made-up examples in my mind. They sound something like "Why haven't white people denounced Ken Lay?" or "When will christians everywhere denounce the white separatist christians?"
Stupid, huh?
snood
Quote:Why haven't white people denounced Ken Lay?" or "When will Christians everywhere denounce the white separatist Christians?"
Many have. Where is that chorus of Muslim voices denouncing Bin Laden and terrorism?
As for Farrakhan I cannot say but possibly it's because many agree with him..
I can think of a number of reasons why Muslim Americans might not want to speak out:
They agree with Bin Laden
They are loyal to America, but may have family in fundamentalist countries, and fear for their safety.
They are loyal to America, but because of the paranoia that many Americans have towards Muslims, feel that they are better off keeping a low profile.
They could have diminished the so-called paranoia by openly speaking out against terror and bin Laden. Quite possible that they have families in the Muslim countries, and these families are somewhat hostages of the Islamic world. But from other side, it is quite possible that bin Laden expresses openly the things they are afraid to.
Local Muslim Leaders React To Latest Tapes
A couple of snips from the above link:
Quote:Inayat Malik is the president of the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati. He questions if the voice on the recent tape is really Osama bin Landen. But no matter who made the tapes, he said he and his Muslim friends wish the messages of violence would stop.
...
"He's done the cause of Islam and Muslims extreme harm and the Muslim community is very upset by that," said Malik. "He has no credibility among mainstream community and has no sympathy among Muslims in the United States."
That's the only news source I could find citing specific reaction of American Muslims to the recent Bin Laden tape.
i have a close friend, a former Afghani freedom fighter, that was escorted out of Afghanistan by the CIA after being put on the hit list of the Taliban, he lives here in colorado, he has adopted western style of dress, shaved his beard and makes every effort to blend in. he has had to darkly tint his car windows and often has to call for police protection for his drive home from work. he will not, he dares not speak for or against anything preceived as Islamic out of fear for his life. I dont think he is alone in his fear of what he calls the "christian taliban."
Trespassers Will wrote:That's the only news source I could find citing specific reaction of American Muslims to the recent Bin Laden tape.
That is the point. Majority of Muslims do not find it necessary to openly condemn violence, or, maybe they tacitly agree with bin Laden...
Comment on bin Laden?
To what avail?
Are you all intentionally missing the point I was making?
There is no implicit moral mandate that says I or anyone else has to apologize for what some demented or evil people do, who happen to espouse some belief in common, or look like me, or originated geographically nearby.
It's like white people think its everyone else's responsibility to make them comfortable with certain events; or as if its too much work for them to mentally compartmentalize between individuals who are similar.
Snood
Quote:Are you all intentionally missing the point I was making?
There is no implicit moral mandate that says I or anyone else has to apologize for what some demented or evil people do, who happen to espouse some belief in common, or look like me, or originated geographically nearby.
Of course there is no mandate however, considering the times and the situation the Muslims in this nation IMO should have been vocal in there support of this country. I haven't heard any of that.
Everything is not a black/white issue although you seem to make it so. Race does not enter into it. In addition we need no one to make us feel comfortable we are quite comfortable in our skin.
dyslexia wrote:i have a close friend, a former Afghani freedom fighter, that was escorted out of Afghanistan by the CIA after being put on the hit list of the Taliban, he lives here in colorado, he has adopted western style of dress, shaved his beard and makes every effort to blend in. he has had to darkly tint his car windows and often has to call for police protection for his drive home from work. he will not, he dares not speak for or against anything preceived as Islamic out of fear for his life. I dont think he is alone in his fear of what he calls the "christian taliban."
Nor do I doubt that he is alone in wrongly attributing the worst behavior of INDIVIDUALS to a RELIGION.
"like white people"?
Which white people are you talking about? Are you generalizing?
Stumble It!
Tweet This
Bookmark on Delicious
Share on Facebook
Share on MySpace