As an American Muslim activist, I receive this question all too often: "America is about freedom, free speech, and democracy--why do Muslims hate us?" The question is not at all why they hate us, but why don't we get it.
Many of age Americans remember Sept. 11, 2001--a day we justly cried out for freedom, free speech, and democracy. Fewer, however, remember Sept. 11, 1973 when America backed dictator Augusto Pinochet's forces to overthrow and kill Chile's democratically elected President Salvador Allende.
Many of age Americans remember March 20, 2003, the day America preemptively invaded and obliterated Iraq to unseat dictator Saddam Hussein--while killing 100,000 Iraqi civilians. Fewer, however, remember the December 1983 meeting between Donald Rumsfeld and Hussein, designed to emphasize America's "close relationship" with Iraq as an ally. The regime America destroyed in 2003, American tax dollars built two decades prior.
Few Americans remember that America long supported Libya's dictator Moammar Gaddafi before citing democracy to wash our hands clean. We championed Egypt's dictator Hosni Mubarak before demanding his arrest and conviction. We supported Pakistan's dictator General Zia--who helped Talibanize Pakistan and was the brainchild of Pakistan's infamous blasphemy laws that suffocate free speech. A mysterious plane crash ended Zia's reign, robbing our State Department the opportunity to personally crucify him.
In viewing America through this foreign policy lens, freedom, free speech, and democracy suddenly seem blurry. So why do "they" hate us? It should be obvious by now. Opportunistic clerics find little difficulty pointing to this suspect American government foreign policy as examples of the American people worldview. Citizens of such nations view anti-Islam propaganda emerging from the United States as stemming from the US. government itself--not private citizens. Thus, the U.S. Embassy in Libya needed to actively disassociate from the vitriol spewed in Innocence of Muslims--not to apologize for free speech, but to clearly demonstrate that they did not endorse the message conveyed.
And this is not just about "thin-skinned" Muslims. Americans must recognize that our free speech model is unique--and not just unique from the Muslim world. European nations, for example, impose limitations that Americans would consider First Amendment violations. In Germany, publicly denying the Holocaust earns a prison sentence. The United Kingdom enforces anti-trolling laws, making it illegal to create a website for the sole purpose of mocking a living person. Citing cultural supremacy, France has banned Muslim women from wearing a veil in public--enforcing a government-mandated dress code. (Yet, France strangely applies a different standard to justify publishing vitriolic anti-Islam cartoons).
Our image in many Muslim majority nations is that of a people who support dictators when convenient for oil and economic gain and overthrow them when not--all the while preaching the free speech, democracy, and freedom that we don't practice.
But lest we be guilty of speaking in generalities, "they" who hate us, still actually represent the vast minority of the Muslim world. Last June, several dozen Muslim leaders representing numerous different Islamic organizations convened at a Capitol Hill summit on Islam and world peace. His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community delivered the keynote address, after which the House passed a bipartisan resolution commending him for promoting "individual and world peace, and individual and world justice." Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia thanked Ahmad for "supporting a special envoy to advocate for religious minorities in Middle East." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi remarked, "You spoke out on violence and tolerance even among Muslims because calling for the destruction of churches and synagogues is a violation of human rights." Likewise, Minn. Congressman Keith Ellison added, "We're honored by your presence...under your leadership the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been a true blessing for us here in the U.S."
Free speech is crucial to any society's growth and maturation--but must be exercised responsibly. And since true freedom abhors enforced civility, Muslims must actively educate themselves. Ignorance to America's free speech principles and anger at America's unjust foreign policy are not excuses for Muslims to respond to mockery with violence. Islam categorically forbids such violence. Prophet Muhammad, accordingly, demonstrated a life of patience in the face of insults and persecution--even forgiving those who previously attempted to assassinate his person. Why then, should violence be the response to those who attempt to assassinate his character?
So please, enough of the questions. Muslims do not hate America. Muslims in the East, like non-Muslim Americans in the West, both hate injustice. Peace is possible despite free speech differences--but only by joining together against injustice.
This piece was originally published here in the Washington Post.
Follow Qasim Rashid on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MuslimIQ
Why Muslims hate America - Guest Voices - The Washington Post
Why Do Radical Muslims Hate America So Much?
American Muslims Hate America - YouTube
Why Muslims Hate America from Planck's Constant
http://www.answering-islam.org/Muhammad/Enemies/meccan10.html
War is hell !! Remember Pearl Harbor?? 9-11 ??
"Don't Tread On Me" That also means: "Don't threaten me with atomic weapons"!
The chemicals and technology to make chemical weapons, Iraq used were not provided by US but by the Soviets.
However, US, did supply both sides.
Even now, 1 billion+ converts, Muslims still obsess and often severely persecute anyone who chooses to leave Islam for greener ( no pun intended) pastures.
Millions of our fellow Americans are Muslim, and they don't seem anti-Western -- they're peaceful, productive and law-abiding citizens, almost without exception.
I posted several comments on this subject. Study them.
It stems from 3 things.
1. US support for dictators
2. US support for Israeli occupation of Palestine
3. US wars, sanctions, meddling, intereference
It stems from the Muslim concept of Sharia Law. Its not just law it is all encompassing of society. Sharia Law is INCOMPATIBLE with the Western values of Free Speech, Freedom of Religion & Equality of All Men.
* Islam treats women as property
* Islam values women as 1/2 that of a man
* Islamic culture condones "honor killings
* Islamic culture condones "clitorectomes" (90% of girls in Egypt)
* Islam condones the killing of converts
* Islam condones the killing of homosexuals
Some cultures are better than others. Our culture based on Judeo-Christian values is BETTER!!
If that was true. Why do Muslims riot & Murder in the Phillipines & Indonesia? They rioted and murdered over the Danish cartoons. I guess the Danish support for dictators bothered them.
You are wrong. Muslims who support Sharia Law are not compatible with with Western Ideals of Free Speech, Freedom of Religion & All Men are Created Equal.
I realize that I'm not going to convince you . Rather I'm happy for all readers of our posts to see that I have put forth a reasoned argument why Muslims murder & rage and you are just part of the blame America crowd.
Then get a basic history text online and read it.
Hint: it's not all about "freedom, free speech and democracy."
The Ahmadiyya community does not speak for a large majority of the Muslim community. In fact, many of them don't even consider Ahmadi's to be "real" Muslims.
So, no thanks. Not buying.
A lot of what else was wrong with this post has been pointed out by the top few favorited comments.
If Chinese become dominant they'll hate the Chinese with equal fervor.
The weaker societies always hate and fear the stronger ones.
Haven't you been paying attention to the cartoon, book and movie riots? Do.
In some countries ( Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria, Gaza,) rates reach alarming proportions-- 75%+ of population.
You want to help Muslims out? Good. Confront this serious problem without playing coy verbal games!
But NOT for leaving a religion!! You mean you cannot tell the difference?!!!!
Did I understand that correctly?
You do know that this was not the first eruption of Muslim anger/violence directed at Western targets in that part of the world, right? According to the author, Muslims have been angry at the West for a long time (and not just because of one movie), and a minority act out in violent ways but the majority even though not violent still dislike the West for its hypocritical and violent foreign policy that is often directed at them. It's not that hard to get his point (even if you disagree) is it?
Which is why i think it is wrong to trivialize what their issue is with the movie, that there should not be freedom of speech, and all allowed speech is, by extension, government endorsed speech. It is a perception failure that has absolutely nothing to do with the wrongs of the west.
And when were they supposed to do that? The time span in between never having heard of the film and being attacked was zero days. Nobody watched this amateurish film until AFTER the attack on the embassies. A film that, by the way, no Muslim would have ever even noticed if it hadn't been for an opportunistic, Egyptian cleric who decided to broadcast it on Egyptian television.
Yes, America's history of foreign policy has stains, but that goes for any country. If it were this simple, South Americans would attack American embassies, Aboriginals would burn Australian flags, Russians living in Poland or the Baltic countries would have to stay within heavily secured compounds, Spaniards couldn't visit South America, the Dutch couldn't peacefully holiday in Bali, and Germans would be better off never leaving their own country. But that's not the case.
I'm also not impressed with the author's brief mention of Charlie Hebdo's "anti-Islam cartoons". Let's please not forget that the cover depicted a Jew AND a Muslim, and that the magazine in question is a satirical magazine that has depicted clerics of every religion, politicians from every corner of the earth, celebrities, and so on. And yet the only time their Parisian offices required police protection was... guess when!
Most of these were not killed by coalition forces. The vast majority were killed by the opposition - marketplace bombings, executions, roadside bombs, etc. You can check this on iraqbodycount.org.
Muslims kill their own civilians, pretend that Americans did it, and hate them for it.
>RASHID: "Opportunistic clerics find little difficulty pointing to this suspect American government foreign policy as examples of the American people worldview."
That could have been the entire article.