I had a sinking feeling right away. It awakened memories of the Muslims’ protests against the satirical cartoons that lampooned the Prophet Mohammed five years ago.
I could see it again: protests, attacks on embassies, burning flags and attacking westerners.
This is such a bigoted and improper provocation of Muslims around the world. In fact, it is a killing of all what has been built of good will between Muslims and the rest of the world for the last few years.
Before heading to work this morning, I watched the pastor’s interview on CNN International. I focused on what he was saying to the anchor and noticed that he is totally ignorant of what Islam as a whole is and how different it is from Islamic fanaticism.
I could tell from the way he was talking, he was yet another Sarah Palin-like bigot and no more than that. No intelligence and no logic.
The Huffington Post quoted him in an AP interview, saying, “Instead of us backing down, maybe it's to time to stand up. Maybe it's time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behavior."
Well, let’s see. First he criticizes the Muslims of being violent when he himself is inciting violence. If he wasn’t, then why wouldn’t he find other alternatives “to stand up” and “not tolerate” their behavior? Isn’t it better to think logically and sit down with Muslims and hear from them directly or is it just an excuse to do something that may cause fury around the globe and probably create a religious war?
On the other hand, he is being smart. He is using THE most powerful weapon to poke the bear! He knows very well that the holy Quran is far more important to Muslims than the cartoons that were published in the Danish press. He knows that this may lead to a worldwide controversy that- God forbids- end up in a big mess, something he seems thirsty for.
And he is not doing it out of the blue. According to ABC News, he previously “launched an online video series called the "Braveheart Show," which he uses to preach anti-Islamic sermons to an audience larger than the 50 families who belong to the church. He even once sent his children to school, wearing "Islam Is of the Devil” T-Shirts!
That tells you a lot about that guy!
Luckily, this controversy has drawn criticism from many who are trying to quell the fire before it’s lighted. The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan Gen. David Petraeus condemned the event and said it could "endanger troops" and damage the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan.
The White House, the State Department, and Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith leaders in the U.S. and around the world, including the Vatican, have condemned this plan as well and called for ending it. And today the US Attorney General was quoted, calling it “idiotic and dangerous.”
However, it worries me that despite all of this condemnation it may not be enough to avoid the anger of the Muslims around the world who will be extremely offended.
This event will definitely be a useful tool to terrorists to launch attacks anywhere in the world. Civilians will be hurt, soldiers will be killed and the gap between Muslims and the West will be way bigger than it is right now. Then, it will be too late to talk!
Quite honestly, I don’t know what will make this bigot stop! All I can hope for is that Muslims do not react to it-if it happens- violently and the Americans stand up to defend their fellow Muslim Americans and stop this farce!
Great commentary, Bassam.
ReplyDeleteI think Terry Jones is in a very good position right now. No matter what happens, he wins. If anyone tries to stop him, he can readily evoke the First Amendment. If he burns the Quran without a violent backlash, he can call out his critics for causing unwarranted panic. And of course, if he burns the Quran and causes a violent backlash, he will believe that he has proven his point--that Islam is a violent religion.
Regardless of the outcome, I think that he and his followers will believe that they have won and that they have accomplished something, and no amount of logic or cultural understanding will convince them otherwise. The ignorance is truly disgusting.
How do we fight it?
Thanks, Danielle! I agree with you! Indeed, it looks like he will get out of it a winner in all cases.
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew how we can fight this ignorance and bigotry.
These fake Christians, Terry Jones and his wife, are a couple of grifters.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/9/5/893426/-WARNING:-Money-launderers-using-muslims-as-red-herrings
Well done.
ReplyDeleteI don't think he wins. Jesus doesn't take kindly to hypocrites who mis-use His name and twist the call to 'love your neighbor' and do unto others' lightly. He called them white-washed tombs, pretty on the outside but with the stench of death within.
I am a Bible-believing Christian. I wrote him, as did thousands of others, to kindly ask him to stop defaming our faith by insulting another. It is not what we want for us, it is not what we want for others.
How do we fight it? As a mom, I know the best way to deal with attention-seeking behavior is to first correct it,then ignore it. With no cameras, no media, no audience, we remove anything that he would hope to gain.
The real target is the man in the White House
ReplyDeleteMusical blogs, Bassam?
ReplyDeleteI think that people in leadership positions, such as the White House, other faiths, or in the military, are responding appropriately to this type of extreme behavior by speaking out against it. Ordinary Americans can do the same in whatever forum they may find themselves in. It is the type of response one would have wished to see in the Middle East toward the extremist behavior after the Danish cartoon publishing.
Btw, in regard to the prior post, you may find this blog to be of interest. Perhaps it will help restore your faith in America's tolerance. While we may be going through some hard times in this regard at the moment, that's not to say it will last.
Quite honestly, I don’t know what will make this bigot stop! All I can hope for is that Muslims do not react to it-if it happens- violently and the Americans stand up to defend their fellow Muslim Americans and stop this farce!
ReplyDeleteIf Muslims can be so easily provoked and manipulated by a single preacher, the onus is on them to be tolerant and understanding. The overwhelming majority of Americans wouldn't even think of burning a Koran, yet the ignorant Muslim masses seem willing to condemn all Americans. Clearly it isn't the Americans that have a problem it's Muslims. Their reaction in response to a burning Koran will likely be misdirected and disproportionate, a point that the preacher is trying to make.
Ripama, I agree with you completely. 'If Muslims can be so easily provoked and manipulated by a single preacher, the onus is on them to be tolerant and understanding'
ReplyDeleteWe will never be rid of racists and bigots here in the U.S. OR in the Muslim world. Our reactions to them are what we will be judged on. Bassam, if these reactions concern you so much why don't you spend your time trying to teach your bretheren to change the way they react to things? I imagine there would be no more Americans left if we had deadly violent protests every time an American flag or an American president was burned in efigy in the middle east.