Re: NPR fires Williams over Muslim fears » GetReligion

On Oct 22, 2010, at 11:31 AM, pcg wrote:

>>  Unproductive and inflammatory at best.  He
>> sounds like someone who obviously doesn't
>> spend a lot of time around fellow Muslims.
>
> I disagree. I spend plenty of time around Muslims, as someone in my
> family married a French-born Arab Muslim. He's a terrific fellow, and
> I get along with him and his traditional family very well. I don't
> distrust him or eye him with suspicion, because I know him. We spent
> Independence Day at his house this year, and had a wonderful time.
>
> None of which changes how I feel about the Muslim faith, or its
> dangerous implications.  I'm growing a bit tired of hearing about how
> we can't tar all Muslims with the same brush. No kidding. That much
> should go without saying (with regard to *any* ethnic, religious, or
> national group).

Unfortunately, I think that it should be said.  There are just too  
many people right now who equate all Muslims with terrorists.  It is a  
sad fact.  The context of this whole episode was Bill O'Reilly saying  
"Muslims attacked us on 9/11" and the ladies of The View walking out  
until he clarified himself.  Even if you ignore all of the obvious  
discriminatory problems, If you keep telling people they are  
terrorists, they just might become one.

> But the war that has been declared on the West is an
> explicitly holy war -- devised, funded, and carried out by
> self-identified Muslims. This is a fact. Whether or not friendly,
> peaceful Muslims endorse their actions is immaterial to how we must
> respond.

I disagree.  The fact that it is a tiny tiny minority of Muslims that  
support this holy war should mitigate our response to Muslims in  
general.

> We must not pretend, for the sake of principle, that the next
> terrorist attack might come from a group of indignant Scandinavians or
> vengeful Navahoe.

I agree.  Good thing I haven't suggested that.

> Our enemy isn't shy about their affiliations or
> motivations (which, just to reiterate, are explicitly religious and
> specifically Islamic).

even MORE specifically, a backwoods extremist sect of Islam.

> I'm also tired of hearing about how other killers are Christians, but
> we don't brand all Christians because of them. It's a worthless point.
> People like Tim McVeigh (not a Christian, I know, but a popular
> example) are isolated nutjobs who are not claimed by the religious
> establishment. The Muslims we're fighting are part of a  well-funded,
> highly-organized, internationally cooperative network. Their
> sympathizers include powerful, influential politicians AND religious
> leaders. It's not a handful of crazies, my friends, it's a *movement,*
> and a growing one. We ignore these facts at our peril.

good thing I wasn't suggesting ignoring those facts either.  I was  
just pointing out that suggesting to people we should be afraid of  
people wearing arabic clothing is unproductive and inflammatory.
Let's stick with what Williams said.

regards,
-Lance


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