Posted on 11/28/2001 4:21:31 PM PST by KQQL
CONFLICTED MUSLIM AMERICANS PONDER THEIR GREATER LOYALTIES
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The whole discussion is getting more and more tedious.
At first in the wake of 9/11, when American Muslims began to voice concern about persecution, distress over the Islamic roots of the anti-American terrorism, and confusion over their own loyalties, one could at least understand their motivation. Their expressions were serious and valid.
But now -- 2 1/2 months later, and despite the fact that the few, unfortunate incidents against Muslims here have been balanced by the nation's extraordinary gestures to them -- virulent complaints from much of the Islamic community continue against America. From some mosques, harangues about Mideast policy still drown out concern for America and Americans.
In one recent example, The New York Times featured a long article headlined: "Some Mideast Immigrants, Shaken, Ponder Leaving U.S." It quoted a longtime Garden City, Calif., resident, Haitham Bundakji, originally from Jordan, as saying, "I don't want to live in a police state. Some of us ran away from undemocratic regimes in the Middle East. Now we are facing it here."
Another article, which just ran in The Washington Post, was headlined: "Chicago Muslims Share Anxieties, Mistrust of U.S. Acts." And still another Post article was headlined: "Muslims Debate Diverging Loyalties: Faith, Patriotism Sometimes at Odds."
This last one at least contained a touching cry from a political scientist at Michigan's Adrian College, an Arab who dared to criticize his fellow Muslims who "love to live in the U.S. but also love to hate it."
He wrote: "It is time that we acknowledge that the freedoms we enjoy in the U.S. are more desirable to us than superficial solidarity with the Muslim world. If you disagree, then prove it by going to whichever Muslim country you identify with."
The paper reported that many of the 230,000 hits on his Web site responded favorably; but many did not, and a childhood friend remonstrated him for "selling out to America."
It has been nearly three full months since Middle Eastern terrorists realized their massive, long-planned attacks against America. We know who they were, where they came from and what they claimed inspired them. We know, without a doubt, the extent of the terrorist networks -- a veritable globalized "Murder Inc." -- that target Christian, Jew and Muslim alike.
We know the savage repression that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, which has been the diabolical ruling power behind the Taliban in Afghanistan for the last five years, has visited upon the Afghan people, men and especially women. Not incidentally, most of those Afghans are Muslims.
And it somehow is not easy to forget that all of the 19 terrorists immediately involved in 9/11 were Middle Eastern Muslims -- not 18, not 17, not 10 or 12, but all!
Yet despite some notable exceptions among American Muslims who are looked upon in their communities as quirky "dissidents," we read every day, in their own words and from their own souls, that American Muslims can't quite make up their minds where their loyalties lie.
Two caveats before we go on:
First, a lot of the problem is due to America itself. Our immigration and citizenship processes have become so absurd, so nondemanding, so almost anti-American, that no real allegiance is required of immigrants. Oh yes, they do have to give the Oath of Allegiance to America, in which they promise to abjure all other loyalties and defend America; but the entire process is so watered down that it is hardly surprising that many do not take that oath very seriously.
Second, some thousands of Muslim Americans fight in the American armed forces, and military chaplains have in general taken clear stands that Muslim American soldiers must make their first loyalty to their country and not to their co-religionists in any country or newly created random movement of the Muslim world. Young American Muslim professionals have formed a "Muslims Against Terrorism USA" organization, and others have begun to question the practice of hiring prayer leaders from overseas, where many are already steeped in rabid anti-Americanism. That is all to the good, but it is not enough.
The complaint from many Muslim Americans is that they are being questioned by the FBI about the terrorist organizations -- and why not? All of us owe it to our country to help it when we are under attack.
When you come down to it, many of them have come to feel, like so many Americans today, that they can simply have all the benefits of America with few or none of the duties and feelings of voluntary allegiance.
The last story I happened to pick up was one about the new U.S. stamp honoring Islam, which reads "EID," after the Muslim holidays, and "Greetings." It's especially for Christmas, and The New York Times story says American Muslims want to ensure that the stamps will be widely bought "so the post office does not drop them."
Somehow, I think I'll just wait on that one until I see how this whole thing works out.
As a foreign correspondent, I know the Middle Eastern countries intimately. In fact, I love many of them and their people very much, and I have often written with great sympathy about them. But mainstream America has made the distinction between normal, good, creative Islam and the hate-filled, perverted, degenerate Islam of the terrorists in a truly discerning and sophisticated way.
Isn't it well past time that American Muslims might draw some increasingly necessary parallel distinctions themselves?
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Actually, some are. There's a group in Seattle that have decided to do so -- they have realized that if they remain silent they allow others to define the image of the American Muslim. So they are coming out, speaking out, so we can know them directly.
"Our brothers, while honest, have made a terrible mistake. Allah does not condone mass murder, he forbids it!"
Then they could go on about how True Muslims will not support mass murder.
The fact is, until I hear some really strong denials and public protests of the events of 09/11, I will be a very kind to U.S. Muslims. And I will watch them like a hawk.
U.S. Muslims are advised not to make any false moves. There are millions of people like me watching.
This is the height of drivel. When some of these complainers actually act and leave, this type of article might actually mean something. Until then, please let them spare us.
I would like to see more Muslims come out and loudly call their bluffs.
Oh, if it were only true! But it isn't. They will live off the fat of the USA, and try to destroy her at the same time. Why give up the goodies, if the USA is stupid enough to give so much away?
I, as an American, and more so as a Christian, am unwelcome in the 28 Muslim states of this world, with the possible exception of Turkey. Living my faith as a Christian in these states would result in my arrest, or outright murder. No average Muslim in those states would mourn my death, and in fact, the murderer would become an instant hero.
There are Muslims in this country that want to kill me, my wife, and my children. They are terrorists. However, it's difficult to distinguish between these terrorists and the average Muslim who simply hates me and my family, and would prefer us dead because of our faith, even if they wouldn't take direction action themselves.
No, I DO NOT welcome Muslims within my country. They are a dire security risk to my children. But, unlike the majority of Muslims who hate me, and would kill or persecute me in their own countries of origin, I would not think of doing the same to them here. I simply want them gone, returned to their own countries, and I want my government to act within the law to protect my family from them.
I would not think of harming these detestable, evil Muslim people, because I (1) really don't hate them, (2) am an American, and respect their right to worship in error, and (3) am a Christian, and I love a God who prohibits both hate and murder.
As a Christian, I hope for these Muslims find salvation in Jesus Christ, but as long as they unapologetically support bloody murder and Islamic governance, such missionary work is best done off our shores.
It's a lesson about the Arab people that I will never forget.
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