Good Reason for Muslims to Fear Ft. Hood Backlash
The instant the news broke that a soldier with a Muslim name shot up the base at Ft. Hood the Council on American-Islamic Relations wasted no time and issued a loud and vigorous denunciation of the mass murders. The Council didn't know whether Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the alleged shooter, was a Muslim by birth, a converted Muslim, or even a Muslim at all. The name and the horrific murder spree was enough to drive the group to quickly distance itself from the rampage. Other Muslim organizations instantly followed suit and issued their own equally strong disavowal of Hasan.
They were wise to do so. Though anti-Muslim hate crimes and anti-Muslim hysteria have leveled off somewhat since the September 11 terror attacks, Muslims still routinely get the blame for anything that even remotely smacks of a terrorism act.
Hasan's alleged Ft. Hood bloodbath is no different. The pack of shrill rightist bloggers and talk radio chatterers jumped all over the shooting and gleefully fanned anti-Muslim passions. It didn't take much to get the anti-Muslim hate juices flowing. A legion of writers on websites spewed the ritual anti-Muslim slurs, profanities, and insults at Hasan and Muslims.
President Obama saw the danger of anti-Muslim fear mongering, and tried to head it off at the pass. He quickly admonished the public not to rush to judgment about the shooting and the shooter. Obama took a page from Clinton and Bush's playbook when mob hysteria was building after the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1996 and the 9/11 attacks. Clinton and Bush cautioned the public not to finger point at Muslims for the attacks.
The Oklahoma City bombing was the handiwork of Timothy McVeigh, a loose screw, red-blooded American fanatic. The 9/11 attackers were mostly Saudi nationals. Yet, that still didn't stop the murmurs, and finger pointing at, and bashing of all Muslims.
That's no surprise. American Muslims have been the repeated targets of verbal digs, physical assaults, and profiling. They are just too inviting a scapegoat for the fears and frustrations many American have over two failed and flawed wars, a moribund Middle East peace process, and even more frightening to many is the increasing presence of Muslims in their neighborhood, in schools, and work places, especially when wearing Muslim attire.
Obama's admonition and the absence of self-serving, anti-Muslim inflammatory antics or statements by elected officials, as well as the army brass's bending over backward to tamp down any talk that Hasan's act was anything more than the crazed act of an over-the-edge military guy took the edge off the mob stirrings.
But that may not be enough to totally still the murmurs about alleged Muslim conspiracies and anti-American terrorist plots in the coming days. The repeated media loop of a witness' claim that Hasan allegedly shouted Allah Akbar, the Muslim impassioned cry, is prima facie proof for some people of a darker Muslim conspiracy afoot.
In an interview a Palestinian cousin of Hasan's hinted that anti-Muslim taunts may have driven him to commit carnage. While there's not a scintilla of proof to back this charge up, it's still more than enough to set the mindless and the gullible off to the races about the Muslim peril to America.
The Council of American-Islamic Relations then had good reason to rush out their statement denouncing Hasan's alleged murder spree. However, even that won't be enough to convince the hate Muslim crowd that Hasan's bloody assault had nothing to do with Muslim fanaticism but simply one man's going off the murderous deep end. Those types, we've learned to our sorrow, come in all shapes, sizes and religions.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press) will be released in January 2010.
Kamran Pasha: A Muslim Soldier's View from Fort Hood
I spoke today with a friend who is a Muslim soldier stationed at Fort Hood. He and Hasan prayed side-by-side at the mosque the morning of the massacre. He agreed to share his story with me if I granted him anonymity.
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Who ya gonna get to write THAT article?
Here's another thing we may be forgettin':
Islam isn't just a religion, it's a culture.
Sometimes it's hard seperatin' the two.
It appears that Hasan himself portrayed himself as motivated by Islam. That does not mean, however, that Islam is to blame for his actions. He is to blame for his actions, and to blame for his interpretation of Islam.
The same is true of self-professed Christians who commit horrific acts in the name of Jesus.
Such incidents in no way justify condemning all of those who adhere to the same faith, without the same radical interpretations.
A horrific act, indeed, NO MATTER WHO would had done this. But what's disturbing is not that Hasan was Muslim per se, but the notion that BECAUSE he is Muslim there is some form of nebulous justification.
Again, aside from the fact that there has been no retaliation, what ethnic group in America, or anywhere for that matter, has not at some time been the target of verbal digs, physical assaults, and discrimination? It is NOT unique to Muslims or even in America. Racism exists throughout the entire world. But to continue to foster an insidious form of racism, that Americans are somehow lone at fault, is appalling.
Please note, Timothy McVeigh was white.... and executed for his crime.
As a believer we are taught to fear our creator, not a backlash from people who only need a reason to be hateful.
Well actually Oklahoma City Bombing, was linked to Muslim Extremists. If you do some research you will discover suspects of Muslim decent; that were burried in the investigation.
Racial hatred and bigotry in this country lies tense, curled up, rattling, waiting to strike at a moment's notice. All this anger needs is a motive veiled in the disguise of patriotism. It's a shame that common sense does not prevail.
Jumping the gun a bit aren't we? Where are all of the stories about anti-Mulsim backlash? Perhaps Americans have more common sense than you or Hutchinson give them credit for.
All the tamping down is having a backlash effect. People know too many facts. Telling people not to think that this was what it was doesn't work.
Discussing how this STILL doesn't reflect the majority of Muslims living in the United States would have been more effective.
Last week I flew out to our nationa;s capital and then came back home. At the airport, the TSA pulled an 80 year-old man from our line for a more vigourous search. Why? When, in the history of aviation in the US, has an 80 year-old man taken down a plane? None. But the TSA pulls 8- year-old men out of the line for searches because they don't want to hurt the sensibilites of Muslims. I hate that, in the name of political correctness, we can't call a spade, a spade. This man who shot up Fort Hood apparently threw up many red flags as to his mental state and where this could go. Was it ignored because he was Muslim and no one wanted to "hurt his feelings?"
Why are people acting like, for this to be a terrorist action, the killer had to be part of some larger conspiracy? Can it not just be a terrorist act if it's PROVEN that he murdered innocent soldiers because he believed it was his duty? Terrorism isn't tied to the activities of a group. A homicide bomber is a terrorist, whether coerced to do it or of his own volition. It's the actions/intent, not numbers, that define what 's terrorism.
Perhaps - we don't know - perhaps in his mind, he thought this would somehow stop the deployments? The command at Ft. Hood was asked that question by the media. Whether these actions would prevent or delay deployments that were to take place in January. Or perhaps he attacked them because he believed those coming back killed muslims, and those preparing to leave, anticipated killing muslims?
We don't know right now. But, I think that is a plausibility. I wish people would stop pretending that it isn't , then claiming anyone who disagrees is some kind of small-minded bigot.
I have a feeling if he came out and said "I killed these soldiers because they are infidels who are killing my people", that some of you would still try to explain it away. Why is it that so many look for the worst in our own people, and the best in everyone else? Our soldiers did NOTHING to this man that would make them deserve what happened to them.
What's appalling to me as well is, the fact that this site (among others) is putting out stories where the authors theorize that he was a victim of systematic, prolonged racism. Or suggesting that he was on some kind of medication that made him go crazy. All without proof.
Yet, admonish us not to rush to judgment about what role his religious beliefs may have played. I'm sorry, but if he in fact did shout Allah Akbar, that pretty much seals it for me, with regards to his motivations.
If you wish to call me a bigot or a racist for using facts to make my determinations, so be it. So many people don't want him to be called a terrorist, because then we get the whole "that'll make everyone think all muslims are terrorist". Which is just bs. If this was a terrorist act, pretending that it isn't won't make things better.
Ok, yes indeed this is a terrorist act. As is robbing a bank, as is holding up a convenience store, as is waving around a gun, as is using racism against a group of people - who are now terrorized of walking down the street because they fear reprisals from narrow-minded people for something they have had nothing do do with.
I'm right wing, I'm a lifelong republican, I'm highly conservative, I'm born of revolutionary roots - of my direct-relation ancestor, LT Dickinson - who came here, to the British colonies as a British soldier in 1632.
I'm also half-Arab by birth - not choice. I can't change who I am.
Unique, isn't it. Half pure-American as American can be - more pure than the majority of the United States.
The other half of me - is the enemy, according to your standards - try to deny it. That, disgusts me.
I'd put out my full views on the situation -hah- you'd be surprised, and I'd be banned from this site.
Keep it in mind here - that not all ARABS should be scrutinized.
After all, for the rest of my right-wing friends, the heart of the Judaeo-Christian culture ... is in Arabia. The true ancient Jew or Christian - is an Arab - not European.
When Europeans were heathenish polytheist barbarians - Arabs were Christians and Jews.
Keep that in mind. ( Yes, oh I'm sure those words are a stab in the gut, aren't they. )
So consider my words there.
Live up to what you're telling everyone to do - YOU FACE THE TRUTH.
The denial over this event being a terrorist attack is amazing and all efforts are being made to make sure no one thinks it is. Most reasonable people are able to think for themselves. All the excuses of hazing, PTSD, and so forth are non-sense-esp. coming from the family-"they made him do it."
There also seems to be a failure to understand how his actions brought pleasure to those who supported the events of 9-11, the ones in this country and around the world who danced in the streets, and are behind the extemist violence around the world.
It is clear there are people in this country that intend to cause harm to the US on US soil. It sd. be a wake up call to the intent of extremist in the US. Had countries in the region policed their own population and confronted the extemist elements of their own country, we would not be having this sitution/and or 9-11.
Posting this as a reminder that they are war with us. Not all Muslims should be scrutinized. I do find it interesting that this guy was reported to the FBI 6 months ago. Nothing done. This could have been easily avoided. But remember this?
www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/.../fatwa_1996.html
Which goes to show that the Feds were not rushing to judgment and assuming he was a terrorist waiting to strike.
Unfortunately, in this case, I'd have rather they erred on the side of caution and taken him in. If they had, we wouldn't have 13 dead men and women, dozens of devastated families, and thousands of traumatized soldiers.
I agree with you.
We should not ignore Hasans actions and conversations prior to his attack. As another writer for HuffPo has already written about Hasan was vocal in his support for suicide bombers and his support for those fighting the US. We can pretend that religion had nothing to do with this act but that doesn't make it so.
Will there be a blame psychology article similiar to the one you participated in for Scientology?
It's a sad thing when folks who have no relation to the shooter have to rush out a statement to (at least try to) stave off anti-Islamic hate speech that was destined to be baked up after the shooter's name had a Islamic-sound to it let alone he was an apparent Islam follower. It just shows that the hatred that has been embedded in Christians since the Muslims once ruled Jerusalem centuries ago still continues to this day and has gotten worse since the launch of Islamic Fundamentalism. And it is also sad that the hatred hit Muslims even after the bombing of the Murrah building by a WHITE terrorist. If only these right-wing nutcases could get a grip and look at the fact that not ALL Muslims follow the rhetoric of Bin Laden, Hamas, and the other Radical Islamic groups. If anything, it is a minority of the Islamic population.
Sigh...they'll never learn.
I remember how, before McVeigh was arrested and linked to the bombing, the "usual suspects," of course, were Muslims.
Well to be fair, prior to that time, we had the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, which was carried by Muslims. Also, prior to WTC 1993, we have never had a major attack on civilians on U.S. soil. The public, and the government certainly had a right to some suspicions after WTC93. As such, I certainly don't remember an all-out campaign or accusations against muslims for OKC. Just the fact that people considered it a possibillty, based on prior actions, is not some great crime, in my opinion.
When I saw the name on TV, my heart sank because I knew the anti-Muslim bigots were going to have a field day. Hating Muslims will not bring back the lives that were lost in this tragedy. (Corrected for sentence error).
"The Oklahoma City bombing was the handiwork of Timothy McVeigh, a loose screw, Red Blooded American fanatic."
Whenever a white person says that 'red blooded American' crap...they are always only talking about White American's WHY?
Us Black American's have red blood also.
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