Vocabulary of hate
© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com
In America, hate groups tend to get close attention and very little tolerance. Particularly groups that use religion as the basis for hate. The federal government went after Randy Weaver in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, guns a-blazing, then attempted to justify it by claiming he was a member of a "Christian" white-supremacist group. Despite the government excesses, Weaver got very little public sympathy.
Following the attack in Oklahoma City, anybody who had a problem with the government was represented in public as a hate group until they could provide evidence to the contrary. Using legislation designed to combat hate groups, many members of the "vast right wing conspiracy" were targeted for special attention by the IRS. Others were sued.
Anti-hate legislation made possible lawsuits against alternative news organizations. Under the Clinton administration, it seemed that anybody who didn't like Bill Clinton and company was either a hate group or a terrorist organization.
In the wake of 9-11, a new dynamic came into play in the discourse about hate groups and terrorist organizations. Osama's al-Qaida redefined terrorist organizations. And the administration's perceived need to maintain an international coalition against terror redefined what constitutes a "hate group."
Now, terrorists are al-Qaida members who kill Americans on American soil. Terrorist states are defined as Afghanistan. And sometimes Iraq. States like Syria and Iran are "supportive of the American effort" in direct proportion to the degree they say they are. What they do is irrelevant. So when Syria arms, trains and funds Hezbollah, they are not really supporting terrorism, they are just aiding freedom fighters. The same can be said for Hamas, al Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
A Palestinian state is supported by the White House, despite the fact that a dozen terrorist organizations (I mean, freedom fighters) openly maintain offices in areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Israeli retaliatory strikes are "terrorist."
The administration has gone out of its way to make the point that Islam is a religion of peace and love. But a propaganda campaign underway to promote Islam is faltering as examples of the peace and love of Islam so far consist of Islamists who aren't in the process of either calling for, or actively participating in, efforts to bring about death to America or death to Israel.
One can look long and hard for an example of an Islamic charity on the level of a Salvation Army. There are Islamic charities that exist, but what they actually do in terms of charitable work is a mystery.
What is not difficult to find are Islamic hate groups. Not groups that hate Islam, but Islamic groups that hate us. And Islamic groups that hate Jews. New Black Panther Party leader Malik Shabazz appeared on Fox News recently to condemn the United States as a "terrorist" state. He defended the al-Qaida's actions, scoffed at designating bin Laden as a terrorist, saying, "Bin Laden a terrorist? He's a terrorist terror produced." He went on: "… there is solid proof that President Bush has inherited the staunch pro-Zionist, pro-Israel callous policy of the destruction of Palestinians."
Or Imam Abdul Alim Musa, who vows America will "fall" to Islam. "This way of life known as Islam will dominate all others. Whether Bush, Bush senior, Clinton or [Russian President Vladimir] Putin … all the oppressors join together. Islam will rise, no matter what."
Hate groups are hate groups in America unless they are speaking under the banner of Islam. Then they are "fringe" or "extremist" elements. Where are the "mainstream" that they are the fringe elements of? There are lots of Islamic "moderates" on television saying they don't represent Islam's views, but very few saying what Islam's views to the contrary actually are. I'm waiting to hear from one who says he has no axe to grind against the Jews. I'm waiting to hear a positive message from an Islamic group, but instead all I hear are "moderates" who make apologies for the "extremists" by pointing out the tragedy of the Palestinians.
I await the Muslim cleric who discusses the good works of Islam for the poor, the dispossessed or the disenfranchised in general. To listen to even the most "moderate," the only poor, the only dispossessed and the only disenfranchised are Muslims. And they are poor, dispossessed and disenfranchised by Christians or Jews.
The poor, dispossessed and oppressed Palestinians who turned to their Islamic brethren in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon were put into refugee camps until the oppressor Jews are defeated. Islamic charities donate much to fight against the "oppressors," but the victims get nothing now.
This all goes on in plain sight. The president says we are not at war with Islam, but rather with terror, and he is correct. But saying we are not at war with Islam is not the same as Islam not being at war with us.
We hear words of peace and inclusion, but we see deeds of war and exclusion. In America, there are plenty of hate groups that claim peace and brotherhood, but when their actions are responsible for death and destruction, they are identified for what they really are.
For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.
