Mythical cohesive Muslim community of USA

Submitted by Freidoon (United States), Jan 26, 2003 at 17:46

This mythical cohesive Muslim community of USA, it is just that - a myth.

Muslims are divided by National origin / Race with very little in common. For example, Iranians in USA do not celebrate any of the religious holidays or ceremonies of others such as people form Arab Nations or African Americans.

Therefore no Arab, Indian or African can speak for me or understand my position. The 8-year Iraq war between Iran had tremendous support among the Arabs. The street of Arab world was celebrating every blow was struck upon Iranian Population.

I can barely speak for Persian community of USA where majority our focus has been to change the Government in Iran (which we have failed so far). As we grow up under watchful eyes of Shah’s Savak, it did not seem to bother us (we kept our political views and carried on successful lives).

So If Dr. Pipes suggests we should be watched closely, please, by all means. However, human experience has proven, controlling spirits of people is a difficult chore. The next controlling steps are harsher. The painful stories and images of Europe of 1930’s and 1940’s is what come to my mind.

Over the past 28 years, I have encountered numerous people of eastern European and German background who have lived through the horrors of the 2nd war. They also did not see an abrupt and sudden change of their rights overnight. It was a gradual erosion, with a sudden ending. The Muslim Community or USA can be sent back to their origins overnight (they are only a few Million). This is perhaps a solution. Then who would be next?

The Muslims, Christians, Jews and Hindus will survive the zealous of their faiths. However, their behavior determines how they will be judged in History. Germans will always be guilty and Iranians will be remembered for Religious Zealous (hostage taking), and southern American men will always be remembered for the KKK, etc. How do we want the US and its constitution to be remembered?

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