| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Culture Wars |
| Red, White and Muslim (Takiyya) |
| 2004-12-02 |
| Since the tragedy of September 11, Muslims in America have been expressing their patriotism more often than in the past. Virtually every Muslim organization and community has touted its American-ness. And rightfully so; we are Americans. Some of us were born here, and others are naturalized citizens. Many who are not yet American citizens certainly aspire to be. Here we are, attempting to define ourselves as true Americans while holding onto our Islamic heritage and values. But defining Islam is far easier than defining American culture. Some would argue -- especially those not raised in America -- that there is no American culture. I disagree. While it is true that this culture is an ever-changing amalgam of ideas, values, cuisines, styles and ideologies, some imported and some born of this soil, there is a national consensus about what is distinctly American in the modern age. Some say that a pronounced, anti-Muslim; anti Arab and anti-immigrant vein runs though this country. That does not represent the views for all Americans. And, remember, people can change. Many Americans have no real problem with Islam in their midst. They just want their shake and fries with it. We have always embraced other cultures; we just like to add our own twist to it. Just look at how we embraced pita bread! I remember the time where about the only place you could get pita bread on the East Coast was to go to Malko Brothers on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. Now you can get it at just about any major supermarket in the country, and in different flavors too! At least 19 towns in the United States are named for Lebanon, six for Jordan, four for Egypt, and three for Palestine. There are four Cairos, six Damascuses, two Arabis, and at least one Baghdad. There's even a place called Mecca, California. History has shown that Americans are open for new ideas. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #4 Islam and the Constitution are incompatible. One or the other has to change. I will not accept changes in the Constitution to appease Muslims. Three things: The right to worship as we please, without strings or limitations. The right to speak out for or against anything, as long as it's not to incite violence against others. The equality of rights for men and women. These are three areas where Islam and American government are in collision. One or the other will have to give way. Our current form of government will only give way over my dead body, and long after I take a large number of its enemies with me. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-12-02 6:08:41 PM |
| #3 Ah, yes, pita bread and even a Mecca. All that one needs to make their ideals of intolerance and women-as-chattle go with freedom and equality, is a shake and an order of fries. |
| Posted by: 2b 2004-12-02 1:05:52 PM |
| #2 ..and at least one Baghdad. There's a "Bagdad" on the Santa Fe mainline in the CA desert between Ludlow and Cadiz. Does that count? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-12-02 12:17:54 PM |
| #1 ...Here we are, attempting to define ourselves as true Americans while holding onto our Islamic heritage and values... The very best way of integrating into the United States, yet keeping hold of your "heritage and values" is to embrace an additional value: intolerance. Not intolerance for those outside of your community, but intolerance for those within your community who violate the heritage and values of those outside your community. Insist that it is the duty of those in your community to cooperate fully with the authorities, as much as any outsider would. Demand that abusive individuals in your community be outcast--unnacepted by polite individuals, and turned out. Push your children to be as much like "outsider" children as your religion will permit: especially to learn their language and their culture. Demand less of the greater community and give more to it. Be prepared to discard non-essential cultural practices that are abhorrent to the greater community. Last but not least, keep an open house to those outsider polite people who would be your friends. Polite people in every community make strong allies. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-12-02 9:49:03 AM |