Tomorrow marks nine years since an extreme Islamic group took our country completely by surprise. Prior to this, Americans lived in a naive state of mind believing terrorism to be a foreign thing that plagued uncivilized places in some distant land. We had heard of the strife in the Middle East caused by suicide bombings and jihadis, but on this day nine years ago, terrorism would forever take a place in American thought, discussion, and fears.
Everywhere we turn Islam is in the forefront of discussion. Every media page, news program, magazine and blogosphere is in a constant state of reporting some story that revolves around Muslims. It has completely permeated every area of American life: our culture, our legal system, our deepest held beliefs. We are told many things from people who have a myriad of motives. The unknown has thrown America into a tailspin. Many people, even with the best of intentions have no idea how to react to a value system so different from our own. This is why we hear outrageous stories ranging from extreme acquiescence of allowing Sharia law within our borders to the incendiary pastor condoning and leading the burning of Korans.
Let me start by making some statements that will probably really anger some of you. Let’s just get them out of the way. After reading Nomad, an incredible book by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a woman who escaped extreme Islam, I am more sure than ever that most forms of Islam will never coexist with American values. She tells of the Islam that she has seen, one that rules by fear, warning of a furious god that will punish for the most minor infraction, and results in total social control. She tells of societal norms, prescribed by their biblical texts that oppress women, and sour men towards all forms of modernity, seeing them as immoral and corrupt. She points out certain passages in the Koran that suggest beating your wife to keep her from rebelling, killing infidels, and valuing men above women in every way. A Muslim woman’s testimony is worth half of a man’s in a court of law. In the case of rape, it is a he said/she said, and he always wins because his testimony is worth double of hers. A woman who is raped is often outcast or stoned for her “illicit” behavior that led to her rape. A Muslim woman’s inheritance is legally half that of her brother’s.
The author herself underwent genital mutilation at the hands of her grandmother as a small girl so that she would never enjoy sex, and thus, remain pure and faithful to her future husband. She states that genital mutilation is an extremely common practice in African Muslim nations, happening to 90% or more of young girls, and continues in Western societies despite laws trying to prevent it. Ali had no choice in whom she would marry, and faced an arranged marriage to a cousin that she fled from, putting her very life in jeopardy for her disobedience. Merely speaking out as a now-American citizen has her life at a constant threat from Muslims trying to assassinate her.
Under Muslim law, women do not have the right to decide what to wear, if they will work, who they will marry, or even where they will go. All these decisions are made for them by their father, brothers or husband.
Let me stop here. Folks, we are not talking about extreme Islam here. Just plain Islam. Certainly, there are zealots in Islam just as there are in other religions, and of course there are moderate Muslims who do not prescribe to these beliefs, but in many cases these are values taken directly from their holy texts and integrated into their daily lives. And let me address something that is sure to be argued: these are folks living among us. They are not just some fringe group in a far-away land. There are millions of Muslim Americans living around us that have immigrated from all over the globe. Do you think they integrated into American life completely upon entering our borders? Do you think they left behind all their customs and beliefs just because they don’t jibe with our American civil rights? Do you think they care about feminism?
Recently, a case in New York came to light in which a woman accused her husband of multiple rapes. The state pressed charges, and the husband calmly explained in court that he abides by Sharia law, which dictates that a man can have his wife whenever he wants, even if she doesn’t want to have sex. He admitted to forcibly making her perform sex acts because that was his right as a husband. Was he sentenced to years in prison for admitting to raping his wife, you ask? No, a judge found that the man would be held to a different standard because his personal religious beliefs dictated a different set of rules. So basically, we’ll just throw the laws of our nation out the window to acquiesce to someone who is attacking their wife on a regular basis in the name of religious tolerance. Be warned: Someone who thinks Sharia Law is acceptable is accepting of discrimination against women. There’s no way around it.
Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion, and extremism is growing in leaps and bounds as well. Today, a major news source released a report that showed a frightening increase in Muslim American-born citizens resorting to terrorism. In her book, Ali addresses this issue, describing how Muslim populations often “ghettoize,” segregating themselves from the rest of society. They do this so they can uphold their way of life, their beliefs and customs. It also serves to become a source of “Us and Them” syndrome, though. Since they do not integrate into our society, they see themselves on the outskirts, and feel rejected. Many refuse to learn the language, their children have trouble in school, and they don’t identity themselves as American, but rather just living in America. Because of this, they feel no loyalty to America, no patriotism. They are angered by inequality, and feel marginalized (even if it is by their own doing), and they are easily swayed by zealots selling extremism. They see themselves as SO different from the American population who heralds shows such as, “Sex and the City,” and, “the Sopranos,” and regale a woman’s right to choose, and support wars waged against Muslim nations. They are happy to stand up for what they believe, and youth are often talked into a suicide mission that promises honor for their family, and happiness in the afterlife. Ali mentions how common it is for Muslims to profess their beliefs even door to door, and win people over with good works and charity just to later spoon feed them a load of propaganda to inspire them to jihad. This cycle of events is sure to continue, and will be detrimental to the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. Every security measure, no matter how necessary, will remove some of the freedom we have to travel, to communicate, even how we live in our own homes.
So what can we do? America is an awesome place of diversity and freedom. While we should continue to celebrate that diversity, we should also be wary of people seeking to infringe upon the freedoms of others. Just because it is done in a side of town that we are not familiar with, does not mean we can turn our backs on it. We have a responsiblity as Americans to ensure that ALL people living within our borders are being treated in a humane, safe manner, regardless of color, sex or religion. We need to shove religious tolerance to the side when it conflicts with basic human rights. We cannot allow religious law to supersede the laws of our country, or the rights provided for us under the Constitution. We need to help immigrants integrate fully into our society, and show them the value of assimilation. Most importantly, we need to show them the good side of America. We need to show love, compassion, and the idea of a loving God, a God who doesn’t ask us to give our lives, but gave the life of His Son for us. People who are connected and empathetic to those around them will not be as willing to kill the innocent.
Great writing! Good points. It’s interesting how in pseudo-intelligent statements from liberals I interact with, a couple of abortion clinic attacks somehow equal the actions of thousands of Muslims hellbent on destroying our way of life. Burning the Koran? Stupid. The reaction to it here and abroad? Quite telling. The goofball pastor is questioned by the press about if he feels blame for the people who will die. We’re supposed to just accept that there will be killing and violence and burning of the American flag- all justified by the notion of a Koran burning.
P.S. and unrelated footnote- What is going on with the Ft. Hood shooter? The Federal government has officially lost its backbone.
Nate, thanks for your comment. The Ft. Hood shooter will face the military’s equivalent of a grand jury in October to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with the case. He will most likely be found guilty at a lengthy, expensive trial, but here’s an interesting fact for you: the President himself has to sign off on the death penalty in military tribunals, and we’re not likely to see that from Obama. (Although to someone who thinks he will get a truckload of virgins upon entrance to Heaven, life in prison may be the harshest sentence.) Sadly, the Ft. Hood case is another prime example of how religious tolerance can blind us from danger in our midst.