The Discerning Texan
All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.
-- Edmund Burke
-- Edmund Burke
Monday, November 22, 2004
Where are the "moderate" Muslims? (continued)
A week or so back I asked the question "where are all the moderate Muslims" to come forward and denounce Jihadism. So it was nice to see today that Ralph Peters echoes my sentiments on the matter:
Last week, I had an in spiring conversation with a Muslim-Ameri can. An immigrant from Pakistan, he hadn't yet been granted citizenship, but he had more faith in America than our native-born elite does.
"I write to my brothers and sisters," he said, "And I tell them that they do not know true Islam. If you want to see true Islam, you must come to America."
He meant the social justice and the respect for the individual, rich or poor, prescribed by the Koran. He had not found those qualities in the land of his birth. Nor do they prevail in any Muslim state between Casablanca and Karachi.
Islam sets high standards for the daily behavior of its adherents — but all too often the Koran's calls for fairness, charity and common decency are rejected in favor of social strictures misinterpreted by bitter old men and fanatics. The oppression of women, terrorism and the police states of the Middle East were not part of the Prophet Mohammed's vision.
My Muslim friend had recently found yet another reason to believe in America — in a place the rest of us would overlook. Coming from a land where the rich can even murder with impunity, he was thrilled that Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps had to face drunken-driving charges.
"Seven gold medals!" my friend said. "He is a hero, sir! And still he must face the court!
"It is not hidden away because he is powerful. This is very good, this is Islam."
The crime and possible punishment of young Mr. Phelps looks very different to a man born where the poor are eternal victims.
Nor is this soon-to-be citizen an exception among our immigrants. In his personal life, he follows the trail that so many newcomers of various faiths walked before him. He works two jobs. Family finances are tight, but he discourages his sons and daughters from working part-time jobs, insisting that they concentrate on their studies.
The result? His eldest son is studying business and accounting in a good university. The younger kids are determined to emulate their big brother and make the honor role at school. One boy is a gifted athlete.
In this country less than five years, they're as American as overpriced coffee.
Not all of our fellow Americans who happen to be Muslims are as vocal as my pal, but I believe that they overwhelmingly share his affection for their new home. The headlines will always go to the bad apples, but the very few American Muslims who've engaged in extremist behavior are often converts to the faith, jailbirds or troubled young people of the sort drawn to the worst elements in any belief system, from white supremacists to Islamic extremists.
No matter their backgrounds, new immigrants have to work through a period of disorientation. Emotional ties to their native cultures tug hard in difficult times — and no one likes to be vilified over an accident of birth.
Personally, I wish more American Muslims would speak out publicly against extremism, against the punitive visions that disfigure Islam and against the oppression they felt compelled to flee. But I also recognize that these new Americans have been badly shaken by the events of recent years. They're not sure where they stand, or if they'll ever be truly welcome. They're wary of criticizing their own kind, partly from shame and partly because their community is their only safety net.
There is more to the article, but the bottom line is that the day intelligent and decent Muslims start speaking out against this will be a very important day in this war. And I truly fear what will happen if some Muslims are not brave enough to speak out. Let us hope for our sake, and for theirs, that doing the right thing trumps doing the expedient thing. Muslim patriots for the American cause are every bit as welcome here as any other American patriot...so long as country comes first.
Last week, I had an in spiring conversation with a Muslim-Ameri can. An immigrant from Pakistan, he hadn't yet been granted citizenship, but he had more faith in America than our native-born elite does.
"I write to my brothers and sisters," he said, "And I tell them that they do not know true Islam. If you want to see true Islam, you must come to America."
He meant the social justice and the respect for the individual, rich or poor, prescribed by the Koran. He had not found those qualities in the land of his birth. Nor do they prevail in any Muslim state between Casablanca and Karachi.
Islam sets high standards for the daily behavior of its adherents — but all too often the Koran's calls for fairness, charity and common decency are rejected in favor of social strictures misinterpreted by bitter old men and fanatics. The oppression of women, terrorism and the police states of the Middle East were not part of the Prophet Mohammed's vision.
My Muslim friend had recently found yet another reason to believe in America — in a place the rest of us would overlook. Coming from a land where the rich can even murder with impunity, he was thrilled that Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps had to face drunken-driving charges.
"Seven gold medals!" my friend said. "He is a hero, sir! And still he must face the court!
"It is not hidden away because he is powerful. This is very good, this is Islam."
The crime and possible punishment of young Mr. Phelps looks very different to a man born where the poor are eternal victims.
Nor is this soon-to-be citizen an exception among our immigrants. In his personal life, he follows the trail that so many newcomers of various faiths walked before him. He works two jobs. Family finances are tight, but he discourages his sons and daughters from working part-time jobs, insisting that they concentrate on their studies.
The result? His eldest son is studying business and accounting in a good university. The younger kids are determined to emulate their big brother and make the honor role at school. One boy is a gifted athlete.
In this country less than five years, they're as American as overpriced coffee.
Not all of our fellow Americans who happen to be Muslims are as vocal as my pal, but I believe that they overwhelmingly share his affection for their new home. The headlines will always go to the bad apples, but the very few American Muslims who've engaged in extremist behavior are often converts to the faith, jailbirds or troubled young people of the sort drawn to the worst elements in any belief system, from white supremacists to Islamic extremists.
No matter their backgrounds, new immigrants have to work through a period of disorientation. Emotional ties to their native cultures tug hard in difficult times — and no one likes to be vilified over an accident of birth.
Personally, I wish more American Muslims would speak out publicly against extremism, against the punitive visions that disfigure Islam and against the oppression they felt compelled to flee. But I also recognize that these new Americans have been badly shaken by the events of recent years. They're not sure where they stand, or if they'll ever be truly welcome. They're wary of criticizing their own kind, partly from shame and partly because their community is their only safety net.
There is more to the article, but the bottom line is that the day intelligent and decent Muslims start speaking out against this will be a very important day in this war. And I truly fear what will happen if some Muslims are not brave enough to speak out. Let us hope for our sake, and for theirs, that doing the right thing trumps doing the expedient thing. Muslim patriots for the American cause are every bit as welcome here as any other American patriot...so long as country comes first.
