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Editorial: The Time for Action Is Now
The time for action against anyone who supports the kind of terrorism perpetrated on Monday night in Riyadh is now. They have to be hit hard at the core of their organization to put an end to their malicious ideals that are based on violence and intolerance. At the same time, we have to face up to the root causes that have created this trend. By looking around us we can identify some of these causes.
| We can, too. Let's see if we identify the same ones... |
There are also less obvious causes that infest the impressionable minds of our youngsters. When an elementary grade child expresses glee and no sorrow at the loss of a non-Muslim life because his teacher told him that they deserve it and that they are going to hell anyway. When a college student treats expatriates in this country as if they were sub-humans, especially manual laborers and domestic helpers.
| You mean raising your children on hatred, and maturing them into the idea they're part of a Master Race might make them into hateful, arrogant bastards who're content with the idea of slaughtering innocents to attain their ends? Good point. |
When some misguided souls in the mosques preach a message of hate and prejudice against anyone who does not conform to their understanding of what a Muslim is and how they should dress and look. These kinds of exclusionary attitudes feed on the subliminal message that itâs OK to attack anyone who does not believe in the same things you do. Well, itâs not OK and enough is enough.
| Agreed. Now let's see you stop it. You were planning on stopping it, weren't you? |
Not to praise myself, but whenever someone attacks non-Muslims I always tell them that one of my dearest friends in the United States is a Christian. I have a better friend in her than in many of my Muslim friends. After our years in college we stayed in touch and continued sharing our times of happiness and times of grief. Does that make me less of a Muslim?
| Oh, yasss... Some of my best friends are [fill in inferior class here]... |
When I was asked about Islam while I was studying in the US, I answered that the best way to know about Islam is to read about the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), noting that he is the best example for all of us to follow. When the right time and place for me to speak up about Islam presented itself, I did so to the best of my ability without giving off- the-cuff edicts about things I didnât know or wasnât sure about it. I didnât try to persuade everyone I met to convert to Islam, but that doesnât mean I did not correct some of his or her misconceptions about Islam by educating myself first. The Prophet said that a Muslim can teach with his good behavior what a preaching, praying Muslim cannot. Iâm not surprised if non-Muslims who live here do not believe that Islam is a religion of tolerance, seeing how we are many times unfriendly toward them, disrespectful and arrogant.
| Maybe it's something in the water. Or something in people's heads, injected at an early age. Cause -> Effect... |
I also donât blame non-Muslims abroad for having a negative impression of Islam, seeing how some of us behave when we are in their countries. Muslims everywhere are having a tough time defending their religion, feeling helpless and oppressed, but itâs no excuse to resort to violence, which only creates more violence and friction.
| If they didn't engage in mindless violence then they wouldn't have occasion to have to defend their religion, would they? Nobody would care... |
What is happening to the Palestinians under the brutal hands of the Israeli occupying forces is a disgrace for all humanity and not just Muslims, and the Palestinians have every right to defend their land. The Afghansâ fight for liberation from the invading Russians was legitimate, and our support for the freedom of Iraq and other nations under any kind of occupation, injustice and torture is a duty. However, there is a big difference between that kind of fighting and the kind of terrorism we saw in Riyadh. What we, people of the world, need is to relate to each other on a humanitarian level, regardless of religious differences, political motivations and economic interests.
| I'm confused. The Paleostinians are the foremost practitioners of suicide boomings. The Afghan Islamists are attempting a war of assassination and harrassment against the Afghan gummint. And the Chechen Islamists suicide boomed twice in the the past week, killing as many as were killed in Riyadh. Where's the difference? I don't see it, but the writer appears to. Maybe I'm just not smart enough — but then, I'm not an aherent of the Master Religion... |
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-05-17 |
