By Russell Simmons and Rabbi Marc Schneier
On the eve of Yom Kippur, a day of prayer, fasting and self-examination, each of us needs to shatter our complacency and narrow the gap between our conscience and our conduct as it relates to American Muslims. Let us acknowledge that ever since the Ground Zero Mosque controversy of 2010 and continuing until today, it has been open season on Muslims in this country. There is no conflict between Islam and the West. There is only conflict between those who embrace coexistence and those who seek to destroy human life. As we write, ads will be going up in New York City subway cars -- which, sadly enough, have been placed there by a Jewish woman named Pamela Geller with a fanatical hatred of Muslims, featuring the slogan; "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad."
Let us be clear that if someone was to put up billboards on the subway referring to Jews or African-Americans or gay people as savages, there would be an enormous uproar. With all the talk about Ms. Geller's right to free expression, it is inconceivable to me that a judge would rule or that the MTA would accede to a ruling that it is OK to put up ads smearing Jews in such a way. Our community would simply not stand for it. Are we going to sit silently while another relatively defenseless community, is smeared in such a vile way?
Yes, there is a serious problem with Islamist extremism and terrorism and we must be vigilant in fighting those who follow that twisted ideology. But as we have learned firsthand in our work building ties of communication and cooperation with the American Muslim community over the past six years, the vast majority of American Muslims are decent, loyal and law-abiding citizens who want the same things for themselves and their children that the Jews want; to be able to practice their faith freely while simultaneously being proud and productive Americans who contribute to the well-being of the larger society.
When anti-Semitism rears its ugly head, we expect non-Jews of good-will to speak out against it. On this day of reflection and introspection, are we really OK to turn our heads and look the other way when our Muslim brothers and sisters are held up for contempt in such a public way? We believe it is incumbent on each of us to speak out loudly and say it is morally unacceptable to falsely libel all American Muslims or any Muslim as savages and to hold a great religion in contempt.
In that light, we are proud that The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding is taking an active role in Shoulder to Shoulder, a coalition of 28 national Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups, who are standing up for American Muslims and upholding basic American values of tolerance, openness, fair play and celebration of diversity. Let us make it clear that the vast majority of Jews do not share Ms. Geller's bigotry, nor accept her equation that support for Israel means hatred of Muslims. The time to raise our voices is now.
Russell Simmons and Rabbi Marc Schneier are the chairman and president, respectively, of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, an organization dedicated to fighting intolerance and promoting understanding between ethnic communities.
Follow Russell Simmons on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unclerush
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Now, to understand the meaning of all this, you need: to be versed in world history, get your news from sources other than John Stewart, and have some neurons under your hair. Being a BDUI will not carry you very far.
I add the point that the Federal courts have historical served the protector of free speech and expression. In this case Judge Engelmayer’s decision is well reasoned and clearly written. He rejected the MTA’s attempt to restrict speech that that it found to be “demeaning.” The MTA argued its point in legal briefs and orally to no avail. What Simmons fails to mention in his rush to condemn the Jewish and Israeli cause is that the very same MTA recently ran pro-Palestinian ads on its Metro-North lines. Restriction on speech is often a doubled edged political sword.
Unfortunately, America needs enemies, within and without, to perpetrate "war." Not war for the sake of protection. These wars feed that seems to be two different entities, yet really have the same purpose. Within, we have the "war on drugs" a war on specifically the minority people in order to feed the newly emergent, prison-industrial complex. A complex which has moved ever so swiftly toward privatization. Without, there is the "war on terrorism" which globally seeks to rid the world of terror in the name of freedom against religious fanaticism. It too feeds into a complex, the military-industrial complex.
The two industries of the prison and the military are by their very nature the least successful solution to the two problems they seek to resolve. Why do we solve OUR problems in America with WAR? What is in our collective DNA which says war is the best answer to the problems of "drugs and terror?" We have learned to bring a .44 magnum to a fight which requires a surgeons scalpel, a diplomat's intellect, and the heart of Mother Teresa. In addition, we are an economically driven society. Despite our various religious denominations, money unites us in ways which allow the stupidity of war, racism, gender-bias, and etc., to thrive in our country and moreover as an international representative of our true intent. My message is not new. Inform yourself and be liberated.
Sincerely!
Yes, we are not perfect, but compared to other regimes in the world I'm extremely proud to be an American!
Stop apologizing for what you have and look what you can do for the rest of humanity. And if you think that a world without the US will be a better one, may God have mercy on all of us.
remember this. The savage acts out of pure ignorance. So deserves to be cut some slack. The civilized man knows full well, that his actions are not based on cogent thought nor judicious reasoning. Thus deserves the contempt he gets.
“Ms. Geller's right to free expression”
might have license, if it emanated from the mind of a child.
“smeared in such a vile way”
The moving finger writes. And having writ s**t, also besmirches itself.
“there is a serious problem with Islamist extremism and terrorism”
There is a serious problem, with those who seek to cloak their true agenda by swathing it in ill-fitting Islamist robes. If they have a beef with the US, why not stand up like adults and say what it is out loud?
“When anti-Semitism rears its ugly head”
its often fortified by tenuous connections to nationalistic identity. Yet another masked crusade hiding behind a cape of false-colors .
“Shoulder to Shoulder”
Those now grown playground bullies, shall not pass. (Their predatorily prejudices on)