[bravotwozero]

Speaking of Civility…
21 January 2011

America is understandably shaken by the attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. That mindless assault claimed the lives of six individuals, including a promising nine-year-old child and a sitting federal judge. In the aftermath of that act there has been a call from many sides, including the President, for greater civility in the public political discourse. One of the reasons for that call has been the perception, held by some, that Gifford’s assailant was a product of the climate of vitriolic political speech that has been growing in this country. If that is true or not we may never know. However, the mean-spirited tone and the increasingly nasty nature of our political discourse in undeniable.

Like most Americans, I welcome the call for increased civility in our political discourse. However, I question its sincerity. My cynicism is based on the fact that in recent years no group has been exposed to the level of vitriolic, defamatory, demeaning and threatening speech than America’s Muslim community. Yet in the discussion of “toning down the rhetoric” there has been no mention of the situation the Muslim community faces in this regard.

It is well known, as has been stated by the noted linguist and political analyst, Noam Chomsky, and others, that anti-Muslim bigotry is the last acceptable bastion of unmitigated, uncensored hate speech in this country. Every day, Muslims must listen to our Prophet, peace upon him, defamed and slandered, our religion ridiculed, our lives threatened, and a growing array of “Muslim jokes,” many with nasty, racist undertones. Mainstream politicians like Tom Tancredo have called for the nuclear bombing of our holy city. On the website of the noted African American conservative and former senatorial candidate, Alan Keyes, is an article calling for genocide against Muslims. Intellectuals like Sam Harris make twisted arguments calling for our extermination, and armies of bloggers fill the internet with unspeakable hate-filled diatribes against our religion, leaders and organizations.

As a result of the climate of hate that has been generated around the uncivilized anti-Islamic discourse there are escalating attacks against Muslims, our homes and houses of worship. Yet the call for greater civility in our public discourse somehow misses us. Many feel we simply do not matter in the political calculation because our weak and fragmented community poses no threat to the political or economic interests of those engaging in our defamation. Yet somehow we are said to threaten, in the view of some, the very existence of this country.

This is a sad and even tragic situation that those who stand idly by and allow this climate of anti-Muslim hatred to grow, unabated, will soon come to regret. Those individuals and groups descending into the abyss of anti-Muslim hatred represent a dark force, which may have been unleashed against Muslims, but once that force reaches full strength it loses its ability to discriminate, for its roots lay not in reason, but in violent, inflamed passion. That force becomes like a powerful hurricane whose winds destroy all in its path. Similarly, like those late summer storms that feed on hot air, the path of hate-filled masses is difficult to predict. It may be currently bearing down on Muslims, yet it can suddenly change course and head off wildly in another unforeseen direction.

The best way to prevent that storm is to stop it before it gains strength. Any call for increased civility in America has to include, or even start with greater civility in the discourse around Islam and Muslims. If that discourse is excluded from the conversation on civility then everyone should start boarding up their windows now, because a monstrous storm will soon hit shore.

New Islamic Directions

[Khairan]

It is sad but true - for the West, Muslims are today's scapegoats. We're not the first such group, and we won't be the last. Hell, we can't even say we're innocent of doing the same thing ourselves.

I think xenophobia is really an ingrained human response. It goes against our natures to trust people who are "strangers" or "different" from us, and only very slowly has society -- with fits and starts -- begun to migrate away from the idea of hating "the other."

As Muslims, I think all we can do is remember the example the Prophet set for us, which was to maintain an excellent character despite whatever else we may have to endure. In the end, the first Muslims were successful because they won people's loyalty and faith through the strength of their actions and the nobility of their purpose. Our best weapon in the modern era is to emulate that example, rather than the example of the Western chicken hawks who hate Muslims and see no place for Islam in Western society.