As Long Island faith leaders from different religious traditions, we fear that Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) congressional hearings about the "radicalization" of the Muslim community will demonize Muslim Americans, undermine interfaith dialogue and distract us from practical efforts to confront violent extremism.
We stand together with a broad spectrum of religious and secular leaders who believe that fighting terrorism does not require compromising our nation's core values and highest ideals. In our experience volunteering and breaking bread with Muslims on Long Island, we are inspired by our neighbors' commitment to worship in peace and pursue the American dream. We have visited mosques in an effort to understand our Muslim brothers and sisters' beliefs and proud traditions. We have seen their dedication to serve others, especially those with few resources, and have worked together as Jews, Christians and Muslims to speak on behalf of peace and nonviolent solutions to conflicts. Muslims are doctors and teachers, police officers and business owners. They are a part of our American family and should be treated with dignity.
Sadly, these misguided hearings have the potential to inflame a toxic climate of Islamophobia now common in our community and across the country. On Long Island, Muslims often face discrimination. Some Muslim women who because of their faith wear the hijab (head covering) are afraid to go to the grocery store alone. Recently, in an affluent Long Island neighborhood, an email circulated throughout the community warning people that a terrorist had moved into the neighborhood. Muslim children in a local school were shunned by students. This prejudice diminishes us all and undermines our nation's commitment to equality and religious pluralism.
Despite false perceptions shaped by stereotypes, Muslim-American leaders have consistently denounced terrorism and worked with law enforcement to prevent violence. In recent months, Muslims foiled attempted bombings in Times Square and Portland, Ore. Building and maintaining trust with the Muslim community is crucial to furthering this cooperation. Political spectacles and demagoguery that demean an entire religious community are wrong and do not make us safer. We encourage Congressman King to choose a more constructive approach to strengthening the bonds of trust that bolster our security and protect our values by convening a dialogue between faith leaders, law enforcement and elected officials.
Although Congressman King has insisted that his hearings will focus on Islamic extremism, his own rhetoric suggests that he will cast a cloud of suspicion over the entire Muslim community. He told a radio host that 80 percent of mosques are led by radicals and once described Muslims as "an enemy living amongst us." As Jews and Catholics have learned throughout American history, sweeping accusations have tragic consequences. Entire communities should never be targeted by overzealous leaders in the name of patriotism. During World War II, Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps because of broad suspicion of disloyalty. The McCarthy hearings of the 1950's became a national spectacle that falsely impugned the loyalty and destroyed the lives of many Americans. Catholics were once viewed as threats to democracy beholden to a foreign power. Jews have faced centuries of suspicion and prejudice. This shameful history should teach us to never again demonize an American simply because of race, religion or culture.
Leaders across the political spectrum agree that we must work together to prevent terrorist attacks. Our opposition to Rep. King's hearings isn't motivated by "political correctness" or a naïve belief that evil does not exist in the world. Rather, we call for a more constructive approach because we fear these hearings will undermine practical approaches to this profound challenge and threaten our most inspiring ideals as a nation.
Opinion Roundup: Muslim Radicalization Hearings : NPR
The GOP's Muslim 'radicalization' hearings: 4 possible effects ...
Religious leaders protest Rep. King's Muslim radicalization ...
Rep. King Defends Muslim Radicalization Hearings [VIDEO]
Who's Who in the Muslim Radicalization Hearings - The Atlantic Wire
Congressman King defends himself against criticism over hearings ...
Muslim 'Radicalization' Hearings Spark Times Square Protests ...
Two: Rather than focus on one religion, we should step back and look at the "radicalization" of multiple aspects of our own society including Christianity, capitalism and "democratic" politics (right and left) to name a few. We are flying apart in all directions at once with increasingly entrenched and closed minds. We must release the natural tendency to prove that we are right to have any chance of finding new solutions to our multi-crisis era: financial, social, environmental, philosophical and spiritual.
When was America at its best, or you for that matter? We have proven we can step up and be a beacon for humanity or shrink into banal selfishness. Which are you more proud to be? or willing to step up to be?
Since Islam is one of few faiths that also represents a way of life, those things that Islamists do are apt to intersect with the lives of non-Islamists in many ways. Given the current inertia within Islam to spread its faith and way of life, there will doubtlessly be push-back by the Judeochristian majority. The Constitutional system which we live under makes this intersection inevitable and frequent. The aggressive moves by the Islamists in concert with this "push-back" make Rep. Peter King's hearings ESSENTIAL. King is educating the ignorant (or intentionally blind) left-wing anti-Zionists. and the innocent, unaware average citizen. Many of the latter unfortunately bought George Bush's lie that "Islam is a peaceful religion." Many volumes have been written to the contrary.
It is so easy to prey on fear and demonize people because of their religion. It has been done to Jews, Catholics and Muslims.
What we need is dialog. Many Americans fear Muslims (all 2 billion of them) and these hearing will only whip up more fear, hatred and suspicion on both sides.
Of course there are Muslim radicals. As we see from Westboro, there are also Christian radicals.
My observation is that the Muslim community in America has come a long way in its self-reflection and whipping up paranoia and racism is exactly the wrong thing to do.
Somehow it feels UnAmerican to me.
Charlie
"Despite false perceptions shaped by stereotypes, Muslim-American leaders have consistently denounced terrorism and worked with law enforcement to prevent violence."
True. Here are 64 pages worth of details for anyone who may be interested.
Anti-Terror Lessons of Muslim Americans (2010, Duke University)
http://www.sanford.duke.edu/news/Schanzer_Kurzman_Moosa_Anti-Terror_Lessons.pdf
From the report's conclusion:
"This research project found that Muslim-American communities strongly reject radical jihadi ideology, are eager to contribute to the national counter-terrorism effort, and are fiercely committed to integration within the mainstream of American social and economic life."
"Muslim-Americans have developed strong working relationships with federal and local law enforcement agencies."
“Public opinion polls in the United States suggest that a significant minority of Americans are highly suspicious of Muslim-Americans and seemingly unaware of the consistent and strong public denunciations of violence by Muslim-American organizations and leaders.”
Why? Because 99% of what passes itself off as "interfaith dialogue" is a diabolically dishonest form of dialogue. Instead of true dialogue, it is a devious dissembling, conning people into denying what makes their faith truly 'faith', denying the very real differences between us.
There is a REASON Paul asks the rhetorical question, "What concord has Christ with Belial"? But the proponents of "interfaith dialogue" would rather we forget what that reason is.