May 7, 2003
The Record
Re: Stereotyping Muslims (response to “A Voice for
Islam in Canada”)
As noted in the March 29, 2003 Record article
"A Voice for Islam in Canada" Mr. Elmasry, President of the Canadian
Islamic Congress, is outraged when Muslims are negatively stereotyped.
Unfortunately,
some of the recent models described to the western world;
"Islamic-inspired terrorist attack" or "Islamic terror" are
not exactly inappropriate or inaccurate stereotypes.
Osama bin
Laden has planned or committed appalling atrocities all in the name of Islam:
- bombing of World Trade Centre in 1993
- attacks against U.S. soldiers in Somalia in 1993
- failed attempt to destroy 12 American airliners in the Philippines in 1995
- bombing of Americans in Saudi Arabia in 1996
- bombing of U.S. embassy in Kenya in 1998
- bombing of U.S. embassy in Tanzania in 1998
- foiled terrorist attack against Los Angeles International Airport in 1999
- failed attack on the U.S. Navy destroyer USS The Sullivans in Yemen in 2000
- explosive attack against U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole in Yemen in 2000
- World Trade Centre and Pentagon destruction in 2001
Osama bin Laden may not be a typical Muslim
but the worldwide Muslim community, including Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and
Pakistan, have done absolutely nothing to bring him to accountability or
justice for his atrocities.
Unfortunately,
the stereotyping will continue until Muslims demonstrate through their actions
that they are prepared to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice. When so
little is done by the Islamic world, it only lends credence to the notion that
such individuals may be upholding Muslim values and ideals.
It may be true
that there is a double standard and that Baruch Goldstein who gunned down 29
Muslims should have more appropriately been referred to as a "Jewish
terrorist." However, the enormous disparity in how Jews and Muslims are
treated stems from the never ending incidents of terrorism in the name of Islam
that have left Muslims with very little goodwill.
Racism is a
horrible thing. I have employees and suppliers who are Muslims who are wonderful
people but it is very easy to see, when others may know no Muslims personally,
how hatred and racism can develop when such atrocities are perpetrated with no
significant justice, condemnation, or outrage by the Muslim world.
Muslims want
to be understood and accepted and in most parts of the world they have been.
Conversely, however, Muslims do not accept much of the rest of the world. There
are more than 1000 Muslim mosques in the United States and yet in Saudi Arabia
and Afghanistan there is not one Christian church. The first and last Christian
church in Afghanistan was built in 1970 and destroyed by Muslims three years
later.
In many parts
of the world, Muslims are taught that non-Muslims are enemies of God who are
living in a world of ignorance and disbelief and that the peace of the world
cannot be secured until people come under the rule and protection of Islam.
In many parts
of the world, Muslims are taught that if they embrace the love of Jesus Christ,
they will suffer the penalty of death.
In many parts
of the world, Muslims are taught that non-Muslims are to be brought to
surrender and subjugation through jihad which often involves physical force or
war. All of these approaches and perspectives do very little to build or
enhance either acceptance or a positive stereotype.
The people of
this world need to be reconciled to each other as never before but some of the
rebuilding must begin within the Muslim community. The western world has done
much to ensure that Muslims are granted the freedoms, rights, privileges, and
liberties that are an integral part of our glorious nation, but very little
seems to be offered in return.
