Islamism may have shot to the top of the U.S. political agenda after 9/11, but government and private institutions continue to do a wretched job of keeping non-violent Islamists away from responsible and important positions. A few examples:
- Prisons: Militant Islamic chaplains dominate a number of chaplaincies; the best documented is that of the New York State prison system, where the Wall Street Journal exposed the 20-year career of Warith Deen Umar, who believes that the Koran does not condemn terrorism against non-Muslims who oppress Muslims, even if innocents die. Other chaplains under his tutelage went further: On Sept. 11, 2001, the chaplain at the prison in Cape Vincent, N.Y., announced that God had inflicted his punishment on the wicked and the victims got what they deserved.
- Military: At least seven Islamists in the U.S. armed forces have been arrested or convicted of criminal activity for jihad purposes.
- Politics: One presidential candidate has been photographed with Islamists later imprisoned for their support of terrorism; the wife of another donated money to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the leading Islamist organization in North America.
- Schools: Thanks to the Islamic Education and Information Center and the Council on Islamic Education, public schools in California have students pronounce militant Islam's war-cry, Allahu akbar ("God is great"), study the Koran, and act out Islam's Five Pillars of Faith.
- Media: The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress and receiving $378 million in taxpayer monies in fiscal 2004, funded a PBS documentary on Islam's prophet Muhammad that presents his going to heaven and entering the divine presence as plain historical fact.
When, I wonder, will be get serious? (September 30, 2003)
