Dear People-Who-Are-Afraid-of-Islam-And-Think-Your-Fear-Should-Affect-Other-People's-Freedoms,
You have a right to your feelings. But you do not have to right to expect your feelings to limit the rights of other Americans.
The 9/11 terrorists were angry, violent, screwed-up people, ok? Muslim, male, young, Middle-Eastern, dark-skinned, angry, violent, screwed-up. It's the angry, violent, screwed-up action that makes a terrorist. Nothing else.
Islam has nothing to do with terrorism, or, it has as much to do with terrorism as does ethnicity, national origin, age and gender...which is to say, nothing. We may as well associate maleness with terrorism...all the 9/11 terrorists were men. That's just as (ir)relevant as the fact that they were Muslim.
Most terrorists are men. Many cultures of "manhood" advocate violence, but I haven't noticed a backlash against male culture as terrorism. Imagine people making statements, writing tweets and articles or holding signs that say:
We will be overtaken by MEN, and their goal is to get people in Congress.
It’s provocative for these MEN to want a community center near Ground Zero.
Don’t Dishonor my Son’s Grave. No MEN Near Ground Zero.
It’s ridiculous, right? It’s ridiculous no matter what word is substituted for “MEN.”
There is a word for generalizing about people who practice a particular religion, look a particular way, or are a particular gender: it is called BIGOTRY and it is not protected by the Constitution of the United States, or any rational, moral or ethical argument.
So, get over the Islam thing. Or shut the hell up, let people worship as they choose and get some professional help for your anger, insecurity and paranoia. Or move out of the USA to a nation that does not give people the right of religious freedom. (Did Saudi Arabia come to mind? One of those nations run by…MEN?) If you can’t respect the basic beliefs of this country: Liberty and Justice for All—then it’s you who doesn’t belong here.
Best Wishes,
Saumya
P.S. If you’re wondering what triggered this rant, it was this article:
Festive Muslim Holiday falls around Sept. 11 this year; US Muslims leaders fear backlash
It pisses me off that people in our country have to be afraid of celebrating their holidays. If terrorism is using fear to intimidate and control people, or words to that effect, and the Muslim community is afraid of us, who is it that is advocating terrorism??
i completely agree! people don't see through their wall of fear and self-righteousness. it pisses me off.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I try to see it from the other person's side, but I don't know how to respectfully respond when someone says: I have a right to decide your rights.
ReplyDeleteHence the ranting. Thanks for listening.
Well said, unfortunately ignorance, bigotry and fear have a long stronghold in our nation.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if there's any place in NYC, let alone the USA that isn't too close to Ground Zero in the eyes of these small organized groups. They're afraid of what they don't know. They don't realize the anger, fear and alienation they attempt to impose is what causes problems, not peaceful gathering places such as mosques.
It's people like this that piss me off too. They are always striking out at someone, blacks, immigrants, Muslims. They use hate and fear to ignite their rhetoric. They try to hurt their fellow Americans. It's criminal. It really upsets me when it's news.