Fighting Terrorism
What we should do,
and what we should not do.
(c) 2015
After terrorist attacks in Paris and in San Bernardino, Americans have been on edge. They’re even more on edge after realizing the two San Bernardino terrorists infiltrated the country’s immigration vetting process, and were “sleeping terrorist cells.”
Throw in the angry, attack-dog rhetoric of Donald Trump. He has argued for banning all Muslims from entering the country. He even wants to put Muslim mosques under surveillance. In some circles, it’s starting to resemble a modern-day witch-hunt.
However, the United States can go about its business of fighting terrorism and tightening its immigration policies without vilifying an entire group. You never want to blame an entire group for the actions of a few in that group.
If it helps, here’s a dose of reality. More Americans are killed by mass shootings done by angry, mentally disturbed, white, male, Christians, than Muslim terrorists. Yet, no one singles them out. Moreover, after the mass shootings by disturbed white males, 355 in 2015 alone, Americans didn’t feel the need to line up to buy guns in response.
In addition to Islamic terrorists, Americans should also fight domestic terrorists like the KKK, skinheads, and white supremacist groups. They are just as dangerous and divisive.
After the San Bernardino terrorist attack, media outlets have reported several incidents of Muslims being taunted and threatened. Mosques have been firebombed, women and children, have been mistreated. This truly is an ugly time in American history, due mainly to demagogues who have been fanning the flames of bigotry.
By contrast, when countless priests were implicated in the sexual abuse of children, no one talked about putting Catholic churches under surveillance or going after priests.
Unfortunately, Americans have a long history of jumping off the rails of humanity after their prejudices have been stoked by bigots and demagogues. This was done against Blacks, and it continues until this day.
When black students, as young as 6 years old were integrating schools, crowds of angry Whites taunted them and shouted at these children, “Two, four, six, eight, we don’t want to integrate,” which was accompanied by racial slurs. All of that hostility was directed at children.
Then there were the Irish, Italians, Jews, and just about every other group that was targeted by hostility shortly after they immigrated to the United States. But Japanese Americans were not just targeted by hostility; they were rounded up, isolated, and put into camps. They lost their property and valuables, but German Americans, were not interned. Was it because the Germans were white and the Japanese were not?
The United States has the means to fight terrorism without Americans turning against each other and resorting to our most primitive selves. It is the domestic hate groups and white supremists who are stirring the pot and feeding the hostility towards their latest targets—Muslims. They wake up with prejudice and hatred on their minds, and they thrive on it.
Twenty years from now, like those who taunted young black children when schools were being integrated, those taunting Muslims today, may look back with shame and embarrassment.
MARTIN NIEMOLLER wrote a very thought-provoking poem that can apply to the current anti-Muslim hysteria:
“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.”
Today, it’s the Muslims, the Blacks, the Mexicans, the Gays who are targets of hatred. Will you give in to prejudice or will you make God proud? If you don’t fight against prejudice today, tomorrow, it could be your turn.
What we should do,
and what we should not do.
(c) 2015
After terrorist attacks in Paris and in San Bernardino, Americans have been on edge. They’re even more on edge after realizing the two San Bernardino terrorists infiltrated the country’s immigration vetting process, and were “sleeping terrorist cells.”
Throw in the angry, attack-dog rhetoric of Donald Trump. He has argued for banning all Muslims from entering the country. He even wants to put Muslim mosques under surveillance. In some circles, it’s starting to resemble a modern-day witch-hunt.
However, the United States can go about its business of fighting terrorism and tightening its immigration policies without vilifying an entire group. You never want to blame an entire group for the actions of a few in that group.
If it helps, here’s a dose of reality. More Americans are killed by mass shootings done by angry, mentally disturbed, white, male, Christians, than Muslim terrorists. Yet, no one singles them out. Moreover, after the mass shootings by disturbed white males, 355 in 2015 alone, Americans didn’t feel the need to line up to buy guns in response.
In addition to Islamic terrorists, Americans should also fight domestic terrorists like the KKK, skinheads, and white supremacist groups. They are just as dangerous and divisive.
After the San Bernardino terrorist attack, media outlets have reported several incidents of Muslims being taunted and threatened. Mosques have been firebombed, women and children, have been mistreated. This truly is an ugly time in American history, due mainly to demagogues who have been fanning the flames of bigotry.
By contrast, when countless priests were implicated in the sexual abuse of children, no one talked about putting Catholic churches under surveillance or going after priests.
Unfortunately, Americans have a long history of jumping off the rails of humanity after their prejudices have been stoked by bigots and demagogues. This was done against Blacks, and it continues until this day.
When black students, as young as 6 years old were integrating schools, crowds of angry Whites taunted them and shouted at these children, “Two, four, six, eight, we don’t want to integrate,” which was accompanied by racial slurs. All of that hostility was directed at children.
Then there were the Irish, Italians, Jews, and just about every other group that was targeted by hostility shortly after they immigrated to the United States. But Japanese Americans were not just targeted by hostility; they were rounded up, isolated, and put into camps. They lost their property and valuables, but German Americans, were not interned. Was it because the Germans were white and the Japanese were not?
The United States has the means to fight terrorism without Americans turning against each other and resorting to our most primitive selves. It is the domestic hate groups and white supremists who are stirring the pot and feeding the hostility towards their latest targets—Muslims. They wake up with prejudice and hatred on their minds, and they thrive on it.
Twenty years from now, like those who taunted young black children when schools were being integrated, those taunting Muslims today, may look back with shame and embarrassment.
MARTIN NIEMOLLER wrote a very thought-provoking poem that can apply to the current anti-Muslim hysteria:
“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a trade unionist.”
Today, it’s the Muslims, the Blacks, the Mexicans, the Gays who are targets of hatred. Will you give in to prejudice or will you make God proud? If you don’t fight against prejudice today, tomorrow, it could be your turn.