Source: CNN
By Haroon Mohgul
A fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. He is an author, essayist and public speaker. Follow him @hsmoghul. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
American Muslims had the same questions as most Americans, ahead of President Obama’s Sunday night speech to the nation about terror. What tone would he take? What new policies would he lay out? Would he take a position on gun control?
But we had even more specific concerns, too.
Why? I cannot remember American Muslims feeling so anxious, unsettled, or scared for their future. Like many, I hoped President Obama would take a clear stand against anti-Muslim bigotry. More importantly, though, I expected an outline of how America might defeat the terrorist movement that has declared war on so much of the world.
You see, for Muslims, this year has been a painful one. Today, for example, Donald Trump called for all Muslims to be blocked from entering the United States.
The truth about Muslims in America
In April, a former candidate for U.S. Congress from Tennessee, Robert Doggart, was arrested for plotting to attack a Muslim community with guns, bombs, even a machete. In August, Ku Klux Klan member Glendon Crawford was arrested for plotting to build and use a weapon of mass destruction against Muslim targets. And politicians’ rhetoric has all but declared open season on American Muslims.
There’s GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson’s proposal of a religious test for high office, and Donald Trump’s suggestion that Muslims carry special IDs. Some 76% percent of Republicans now believe Islam and American values are at odds, while 30% of Iowa Republicans believe Islam should be illegal in America
An irony here is that even as some Americans believe Muslims can’t be loyal to America, the Islamic State’s brutal attacks continue to attack people regardless of their faith.
ISIS’ self-styled confederates have bombed Kuwaiti and Saudi mosques, reportedly taken down a Russian airliner, attacked Turkey, Lebanon and France. This week has seen a massacre in San Bernardino, by a married couple who at least claimed ISIS affiliation, and attempted murder on the London metro by a knife wielding man who reportedly shouted “this is for Syria.” The world’s first social media war has gone global, and most of the world’s Muslims fear being caught in the crossfire.
Categories: Islamophobia, Opinion, The Muslim Times, United States
It is America which is being besieged by this murderous group and not the other way round. But should the allegation be true (which it is not), then they have an option: return to where they will not be besieged. Nothing makes it compulsory for anyone to live in America if the environment there is not to his/her liking. They are more than a burden on the system.
To continue living in America while complaining about negativity shows that the complainants are not serious. That opinion will change the day they leave in trickles which will later become droves.
Who is dropping more bombs? America on Arab countries or the other way round?