Middle America

While fishing the news for a client today I came across this story in the Baltimore Sun. (I can see now that the site hosting the article is subscrip only, so I've added the article in full at the end of the post.)

I had to wonder how much time the author, one Cal Thomas, had actually spent developing his opinion for the op/ed piece. Had he even taken the time to read anything about Islam or the Qu'ran or the true meaning of the word 'jihad'? Something that hadn't been published from a western interpretation, that hadn't been slanted by the 'war on terror' media frenzy to villify Muslims, marginalize them via news reports permeated with race/faith based fear?
I never never write to columnists...except for once when I just had to respond to an Indian writer's grand delusions on the fabulous internet technology being developed and implemented in India - I live here and I live with the technology - it's a joke, believe me.
But I was so put off by this dangerously narrow voice finding its place in the media only to replicate itself on American streets and at the water cooler the way these things tend to do, immediately after I read the article I drafted and sent my reply (first quoting the last paragraph of his article in which he questions whether Islam is a quiet weapon, just waiting to be unleashed)....


"Among the many problems with this twisted religiosity is that the West does not know how many share it. Instead, political leaders repeat the bromide that Islam is a "peaceful religion" and radicals are trying to hijack it. Are we being infiltrated by people who, on the outside, pretend to be peaceful and tolerant, but inside wish to undermine and overthrow our government?"


Islam IS a peaceful religion...if you'd taken the time to actually research your article, rather than spouting pre-formed media-induced rhetoric, then perhaps you would know that.


I'm an American expat, just converted to Islam (expat because I didn't vote for Bush/can't support the United States of Capitalism waging war for profit/am tired of the homogenous approach to the idea of the American melting pot/etc. etc. - and, converted because I chose to marry into an Iranian family and in the process found the religion to be beautiful in philosophy and practice.)


Your article had some kind of viability UNTIL this last paragraph. It's one thing to question the radicals and their sick twist on a religious philosophy, entirely another to question the religion as a whole and shuffle all Islamics off to one side as 'the other' - a dangerous-other at that.


Your statements are small-minded and transparent...it's clear you've not even opened the Qu'ran to try to glean some information about the deeper philosophy of one of the world's oldest faiths.


It is, at least partially, the fear-mongering over Islam that is allowing Bush and other western leaders to manipulate western society into believing there is a solid enemy in the war on terrorism - that the word 'jihad' refers to violent self-sacrifice and that Muslims are not to be trusted.


Your reference to frightening interpretations of Islam and the equally frightening behavior is intially aimed at one individual (Mr. al-Masri), and by association, perhaps one extremist group - extending your perception of his expression of Islam to the entire religion is a dangerous and irrational step.


We could write a similar article questioning the whole of Christianity for all the right-wing violence against non-believers that goes on in America and other parts of the world 'in the name of God.'


Educate yourself.


Tess Strand Alipour
Current Locae - Bangalore, India

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Infiltration by the book
By CAL THOMAS
Originally published January 18, 2006
Baltimore Sun


ARLINGTON, VA. // Beginning with the Revolutionary War when British agents and sympathizers attempted to derail independence, there have been people who have tried to infiltrate the United States for the purpose of undermining and destroying it. In modern times, communism and fascism have sent agents among us, but we discovered their plans and defeated them.
Now comes what may be the greatest threat: radical Islam, whose "agents" may have established a base more solid and more dangerous than anything we've encountered before. The good news is that they speak openly of their intentions. The bad news is that many of us are not taking them seriously.
Last week, at the beginning of the London trial of radical imam Abu Hamza al-Masri, evidence was presented detailing how he encouraged his followers at the Finsbury Park Mosque to kill non-Muslims. In lectures, recordings and writings, the imam said Adolf Hitler had been sent into the world to punish the Jews. Repeatedly, said the prosecutor, Mr. al-Masri told his followers they must fight for Allah and such fighting involves a religious mandate to murder Jews, kuffars (nonbelievers in Islam) and "apostates," such as leaders of Arab nations like Egypt.



Mr. al-Masri has pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges, including nine counts of solicitation of murder, four counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior intended to incite racial hatred and two counts related to the possession of offensive sound recordings and books.


The talks and written materials are not only about war. Mr. al-Masri also delivers diatribes about the use of additives in food, adultery, the role of women and the "evils" of democracy.


Mr. al-Masri repeatedly defines "jihad" as an avenue for establishing a caliphate, or Islamic state, which would be governed by the most radical interpretation of Sharian religious law.


Prosecutors introduced as evidence a 10-volume "blueprint for terrorism" they say was discovered in Mr. al-Masri's house. Among the targets for "causing disturbance but not loss of life" are Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty. Chapter headings include "The need to study the principles of war" and "The duty of assassination and kidnap." Other subheadings offer advice on reconnaissance, infiltration and ambush and how to manufacture explosive devices, open locks and train assassins. One section details plans to hit buildings with large populations, including museums, ports and archaeological sites.


David Perry, prosecuting counsel, said the document's "execution section" recommends that Islamic agents be sent to any country intended as a target at least 10 years before jihad begins. This was the profile of terrorists depicted in last season's 24 series on Fox. In this fictional story, terrorist cells were established in a middle-class American neighborhood where they remained dormant and appeared peaceful until a signal was given to conduct mayhem.


On one tape, Mr. al-Masri discusses the killing of tourists in Egypt in November 1997, describing them as satanic. He says the tourist industry should be "Islamicised" and added that while children should not be deliberately killed, their killing is permitted if they are in the target area. Suicide bombings are "martyrdom," he says. They are permitted "if the only way to hurt the enemies of Islam is by taking your own life."


Among the many problems with this twisted religiosity is that the West does not know how many share it. Instead, political leaders repeat the bromide that Islam is a "peaceful religion" and radicals are trying to hijack it. Are we being infiltrated by people who, on the outside, pretend to be peaceful and tolerant, but inside wish to undermine and overthrow our government?
(article copyright Baltimore Sun 2006)