The Enemy Within

Submitted by Nasheed (United States), Sep 19, 2007 at 22:28

If we used human intelligence instead of fear, supposition, racism, and broad generalization, what we would find, in fact, is that American Muslims, both indigenous and born abroad, are actually America's strongest asset and defense against radical Islam. Why?

Because we can demonstrate to the world what the future of Islam looks like. American muslims are fully integrated into the broad society and not "marginalized" as one would find in ANY European metropolis. While we have suffered much discrimination in this society, it (the injustices) have acted as a change agent for educating and exposing the rank and file American to Islam AND the dis-enfranchisement that many muslims in muslims countries are rebelling against (ie. Egypt - which is an excellent example of this) is which non-exsistent here.

Additionally, American Muslims should be leveraged by the political community to better understand Islam. More often than not I hear Americans (mostly caucasian) refer to muslims as "MOZ-LIMS" and our Beloved Prophet as "MO-HAM-MAD" to which my skin curls. Sometimes I believe they do it deliberately but then I remember our teachings and differ to it being ignorance. The point being, Ameican politicians need to

1. Get the names and places of people and things right

2. Actually READ the Quran instead of hunting for a paragraph or two that makes their point and allows them to justifiy marginalizing "ALL MOZ-LIMS" based on their limited understanding

3. Actually take the time to TALK to real, live American Muslims of ALL religious and political persuasions

4. Learn about our religion and learn about how our beliefs have influenced SOME of the politics

5. Be open, clear and honest about your position with Israel. No request to modify, just help the muslim world to UNDERSTAND your position (try to promote a more impartial image)

In short, learn more about what it is you seem to fear and hate so much. It's pretty fundamental. If we did these few things as a society, things would be better over night; BOTH at home and abroad.

Yes, the enemy IS within, but it's not Islam and it's not the Muslims. The enemy is FEAR, GREED, RACISM and IGNORANCE - which just so happens to play into the favor of the politicians.

Is America a Christian nation? What would Jesus the Messiah, Son of Mary, say about ant to the America of today? Is the message he taught reflected in our domestic and international policies towards weaker nations?

I think these are fair questions.

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