Rally Exposes Depths of Anti-Muslim Hate

I've spent quite a bit of time, both on this site and my own, over the last few years commenting on and calling out some of the more virulent strains of anti-Muslim hate speech out there, be it from media pundits or anti-mosque protesters or crazed comic book artists. Usually, even though their rhetoric is rooted in the cement of prejudice, these folks tend to be so overheated and ridiculous that one can't help but poke fun and make merry sport of them. Then I see things like this, and it frankly doesn't leave me in a very fun mood.

As a communications instructor, one thing I try to drive home to my students -- and that I truly, fundamentally believe -- is that no matter how vehement our disagreements may be, we can (usually) come to some accord, or at least some understanding, if we try to view each other not as opposing ideologies to conquer, but simply as people who we don't know. But videos like the one above remind me of the bracing reality that sometimes folks hate just to hate. Because they can. Because it's all they have.

For some background, this is footage of a protest rally in Orange County outside of a fundraiser held by ICNA -- the Islamic Circle of North America -- to raise money for the poor and orphans in the area. As attendees -- mostly families, including young children -- from the local Muslim community file into the center where the event is being held, you can hear the jeers of derision and hate: "You beat your women?" "You rape your children?" "Why don't you go beat up your wife like you do every night?" None of that, unfortunately, is all that surprising, but what is surprising is the people who are there to cheer them on.

Witness this quote from Deborah Pauly, a local councilwoman, speaking to the gathered horde:

Let me tell you what's going on over there is pure, unadulterated evil. And I don't care... I don't even care if you think I'm crazy any more. I have a beautiful daughter. I have a wonderful 19-year-old son who is a U.S. Marine. In fact, I know quite a few Marines who would be happy to send these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise.

All that from an elected official who represents a community that I'm reasonably certain has at least a few Muslims living in it. And she's saying it about women, children, and families who are there to help the poor. You take rhetoric like this, draped in the trappings of patriotism but anti-American to its deeply-bigoted core, and you wonder if people like Pauly and her ilk, be they the protesters or her fellow politicos, would even grasp the clear irony that her speech and those like it embody the very same hatred and bigotry she seems to think she's railing against when calling her fellow citizens -- her neighbors -- "pure, unadulterated evil."

Vile.  Just vile.

 

 

 

Follow Zaki Hasan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/zakiscorner

Comments

[Anya Cordell]

11:22 PM on 03/08/2011

Where does this climate lead? See
“Then What? The Consequences of Lighting the Anti-Muslim Fuse” http://www.tikkun.org/article.php/20100825053912401 , which was recommended by Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist, Nicholas Kristof, by Queen Noor of Jordan, and by Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, and others. This is chillingly reminiscent of horrifying chapters in history.
Anya Cordell, Recipient:
2010 Spirit of Anne Frank Outstanding Citizen Award,
http://www.annefrank.com/fileadmin/safa/cordell10.html
www.Appearance-ism.com

[Kathy Northup]

06:08 PM on 03/06/2011

I was so enraged by this video yesterday, that I sent an email to Councilwoman Paulie and Tweeted my distaste to Boehner and Presidient Obama. I then sat down and composed a blog trying to explain that Islam, Christianity, and Judaism all worship the same God. I appreciate any feedback: http://kathylynne.multiply.com/journal/item/149/Feeling_Outraged_Today

[tyruler]

09:31 PM on 03/05/2011

Thank you Zaki for this.

[shastacola]

12:50 PM on 03/05/2011

Teabaggers are the John Birch Society of the 21st century.They are racist to the core and should be treated as a radical extremist hate group. They aren't just ordinary people opposed to tax policies as they like to claim, the are the most ignorant members of our society and should be shunned by sane people everywhere.

[Joyce Louden]

12:35 PM on 03/05/2011

How dare these hate fill BIG-ots chant USA and way the flag.

They are no different then the hate filled BIG-ots who lined the streets when schools were desegregated.

SHAME ON THEM!

[O K Ali]

02:40 AM on 03/05/2011

When I was bussed to a predominately White community in grade school, I heard the same evil diatribe. People waving flags and screaming for me to go home because I was a different color. That was integration, in the seventies, in Queens, New York.
I'm not going through this again. I'm an American, born here and raised here. I also have a copy of the Constitution and am well-versed in my Amendments. I don't call myself a moderate Muslim because I don't label people as moderate Christians or moderate Buddhists, just like I never considered myself one of the "decent black folk".

[Doug Watt]

03:46 PM on 03/05/2011

Deborah Pauly, a local councilwoman and Congressman Ed Royce both spoke at the protest, so yes anyone who read the article knows who at least the leaders of the protest are.

[truthupontruth]

02:23 AM on 03/05/2011

Forget Galliano - has anyone told Stephen Colbert? Operation Rally to Keep Fear Alive is a roaring, or rather, screeching success!!

[hermbil]

02:16 AM on 03/05/2011

You can send donations to them here:

ICNA
708 North Valley Street, Suite K
Anaheim, CA 92801

[tyruler]

01:18 PM on 03/05/2011

Thank You for that. I already donated and will do so again. ;)

[jusathot]

03:54 PM on 03/05/2011

Is that for the Mosque, or for the protesters?

[NamSpurs]

05:12 PM on 03/09/2011

Neither...its a charitable organization

[Doug Sandlin]

01:02 AM on 03/05/2011

"I know quite a few Marines who would be happy to send these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise."

Funny, I have family members (USMC) who did multiple tours in Iraq, and they returned home with a respect for Muslims and Islam that they didn't have when they left. Funny what actually spending time with people can do for related attitudes.

[Richbruin]

01:17 PM on 03/05/2011

Uh, she said "terrorists" Doug, not Muslims.

[godwithin]

12:29 PM on 03/06/2011

Uh??? She pointed to americans who happen to be muslims attending a charitable event, she did not point to organizer Pamela Geller and her hate group, or terrorists like KKK.

[tyruler]

01:19 PM on 03/05/2011

:0)

[Doug Watt]

08:39 PM on 03/04/2011

The hate shown by Tea Party Republicans in that video is disgusting and disheartening. I like to think we are more rational and cosmopolitan here in CA. than in places like Texas and Arizona, but obviously that is not true.

[corwin]

08:28 PM on 03/13/2011

Well, but good on you for recognizing it's not true.A fact that skews thjngs ,though is the emigration of,um...Smart Folks from California. (Don't worry.I'm sure you're safe. )Since about 3,000 people/week with 6 figure plus incomes are leaving the state,we can assume a small fraction of a point decline in IQ with each departure. assuming,(fairly,I think) virtually all these people are Republikkkkkans . I think there are two options to halting the IQ drop.Consider forcing a large portion of the state legislators to live in Illinois (Wisconsin had a significant rise in mean IQ from just 14 legislators residing in Illinois .Or ,go all the way,and expel Sen Boxer.
Corwin A Smart Person who's trying to help you .

[Richbruin]

04:12 PM on 03/04/2011

Unfortunately you have it exactly backwards. Spend your time commenting and calling out the anti-western hate promoted by radical muslims and you won't have scenes like this. And like it or not, the first amendment protects speech that you don't like and sometimes I don't like. Seeing American servicemen in Germany killed after someone yells Ala-Akbar doesn't put me in a very fun mood either. Nobody was killed in Orange County, just a protest by people you don't agree with.

[SameBoat]

05:32 PM on 03/04/2011

While we are addressing anti-western hate and radical muslims, let's look a little further than the end of the nose, shall we? Do you honestly deny that so called "Christian" hatred exists? That mosques and synagogues are not torched or defaced? That groups are not targeted "by people you don't agree with?" I wonder how you would feel if your family were the brunt of some of the taunting and bullying that the youngun's deal with when they're gay, or black, or just plain different. The "Christians" in this article should have been forming a circle to protect this man, not attacking him. Sorry, but I have no patience for bigots and fools.

[Richbruin]

10:31 PM on 03/04/2011

Whoa, slow down there. Anyone that torches or defaces a mosque or synagogue and claims to be Christian, is not. And I am not defending what these people are saying, but they have a right to be nasty and say nasty things. What I am saying is that there is a difference between "taunting and bullying" and getting on a bus and indiscriminately shooting American servicemen, trying to blow up a plane on Christmas or leaving a car bomb in Time Square. It isn't all the same. And when you try to make it so, it only defeats the very point you are trying to make. The writer's outrage is feigned and misdirected.

[Doug Watt]

08:40 PM on 03/04/2011

Rich, those were Americans attending a fundraiser, their religion is their business, not yours.

[Richbruin]

01:52 AM on 03/05/2011

Uh, Doug, where did I say their religion was my business? I did not condone the protestors. However it is their unfortunate right to protest. Love the doggie, btw.

[SameBoat]

03:57 PM on 03/04/2011

Please read this article:

http://www.truth-out.org/thousands-egyptian-muslims-show-up-human-shields-defend-coptic-christians-from-terorism66684

Speaks volumes, don't you think?

[Pema]

06:28 PM on 03/04/2011

thank you for posting this.

[Spank05]

08:04 PM on 03/04/2011

Yes, I'm sure you are an expert in the teachings of Islam.

Tell me, where did you get your PHD in religious studies?

[SameBoat]

09:44 PM on 03/04/2011

I don't think so, any more than does the Bible, which is full of death and lies. I doubt you have even picked up a Koran, much less read one. I don't go for either, mind you, but for those of you who feel compelled to, at least look at the other side's arguments for a change. I have met and known many Muslims who are kind and decent people who do not deserve your vitriol.