Islam Itself Is On Trial
By: Ampbreia
After the shock and horror that was 9/11,
quickly followed by the knowledge that our attackers had committed the
atrocities in the name of Islam, the immediate reaction of many
Americans was to strike out at the Muslims among us. Perhaps aware of
this, most leaders of Islamic countries hastened to assure us that
they sympathized with us, that Islam was really about peace, and that
those terrorists who'd attacked us did not represent "True"
Islam.
One of these, the Islamic Regime of Iran, held off on their
"Death to America" rallies for a whole week or two in
condolence and thousands of ordinary Iranians actually held a
candlelight vigil for our victims in Tehran's Azadi
("Freedom") Square. However, the Islamic Regime soon showed
its true colors by actually sending it special militia to beat up and
arrest those masses that held sincere vigil for us.
In other Islamic countries, like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan (ironically
our first allies), the Muslim masses declared their sorrow for our
losses also, but then deflected blame from the terrorists themselves
by saying that it was our own fault because we supported Israel so of
course Muslims were going to be attacking us.
Unlike other Muslims, the Palestinians didn't even put up a pretense
in the first place: no, they literally danced in the streets to
celebrate our losses.
How do I know this? Probably the same way most of you do:
international forums and news services on the Internet. In order to
get the fairest possible picture, I selected news services belonging
to the countries whose opinions I was interested in, rather than
sticking only to our own national news services, which I could expect
to be naturally biased in our own favor. What shocked me about news
from the Islamic countries is the extremely poor light they cast their
own religion in: it was all saturated with outrageous propaganda
tactics, unadulterated hatred of us, and an extremely low regard for
life and humanity in general!
Very soon, Muslims on American soil, American or foreign, were being
targeted for abuse and high scrutiny. Seeing the obvious social and
political hazards of this is, I think,
is why our President decided to make that speech of his about how
Islam is a religion of peace and the word Islam actual means peace. It
was a necessary lie. I won't knock him for it; he still took
appropriate actions while using this to keep the peace at home. He
could have gone further by shutting off all American relations to
Muslim people, but it isn't the American way to shut people out or
shut them up. The U.S. has always been a refuge for anyone and
everyone. An isolationist policy would end that as would in fighting
on the home front. It's been allowed to happen from time to time and
it was always very ugly and regrettable when it did.
Logically, I understand. Emotionally, I still want to strike out
against Islam in every way possible, including by isolation. The
balance between logic and emotion is common sense and harmony. Maybe they
would prefer to commit murder in the name of God and never even
question it, but most of us would rather talk things out with our
would-be attackers, try to reach equilibrium or understanding, only
use killing as a very last resort, and then only via military action. We
don't believe in murdering innocent civilians for political purposes
or any purpose at all. It amazes us that anyone could.
It's too easy to fall into the US and THEM mentality. It really would
be better to find some common ground instead. Wouldn't it?
Shortly after 9/11, Mr. Bush's tactful "Peaceful Islam"
speech, and our first forays into Afghanistan, we got to see a
televised video of Omar Bin Laden clucking over his 9/11 successes
with his cronies in some bunker. The man and every word he uttered was
Evil Incarnate, to say the least, but one thing he said stuck out for
sheer idiocy: He said that Islam was attracting new followers all over
the world in response to 9/11. I just couldn't believe anyone could
make such a stupid deduction, but I could see exactly where he was
getting this idea: blind optimism and the noticable fact that Korans
and books of Haddith were suddenly selling like hotcakes here, as were
all books that had anything at all to do with Islam. Americans were
also descending on mosques and the Internet to learn all about Islam.
It didn't mean Americans were converting to Islam en masse as OBL
assumed, though. Far
from it!
When Mr. Bush said Islam was really peaceful, I suspect that I was by
no means a minority in seriously doubting this but really wanting to
believe it nonetheless. I have friends and relations that are Muslims.
Many Americans have Muslim neighbors that seem like perfectly nice
people. We don't want to have to be afraid of them. We don't want to
have to hate them either. Religion is a private affair in the U.S., so
it shouldn't come between people. Right? But seemingly it was Islam
itself, a
religion, which had attacked us.
For those of you Muslims that still don't get it, understand this: Islam
itself is on trial here for crimes against humanity. As Islamic
terrorism against all people - Muslim and non-Muslim alike - continue
to date and so-called "peaceful" Muslims won't even
demonstrate against this trend except in Iran (an important and
noteworthy exception I feel), Islam has continued to condemn itself.
So tell us, Ummat, can you live with us peacefully and we with you? Or
must we destroy you in our own self-defense? It's up to you: action to
back your claims of peace. Placating speeches are NOT
enough. I mean, come on, get REAL
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