“You could say that 80-85 percent of mosques in this country are controlled by Islamic fundamentalists… This is an enemy living amongst us.” Joe McCarthy could have said it. In fact, it was New York congressman Peter King who uttered these words in 2004.

In keeping with the spirit of this statement, King is using his position as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee to wage a war of bigotry against American citizens who follow the religion of Islam.

There are a growing number of American citizens who are resorting to terrorism. They often operate alone, though some have worked as the American wing of foreign terrorist groups; as about a dozen Americans who were arrested in Yemen last year did.

Domestic radicalization is an active threat, and there is no doubt that Islamic fundamentalists are largely responsible. Proof positive is the fact that nearly all of the 125 American citizens who have been convicted of terrorism since 2001 have been either Muslim, Muslim converts, or were working on behalf of Islamic organizations.

Indeed, it is worrisome that even 8% of American Muslims believe that suicide bombing is acceptable in the defense of Islam (13% if you include those who think suicide bombing is sometimes acceptable) – it only takes one, after all (Rand).

There is, however, something deeply troubling about the backlash against Muslim citizens. The issue of homegrown terrorism needs to be addressed – and soon – but surely we can find a better way to do it than by holding Red Scare style congressional hearings and ostracism.

The inquisitorial blade has been raised against the American Muslim community due to perceived threats which are as capable of harming Muslims as anyone.

Does anyone imagine that the terrorists on 9/11 believed that their Muslim American counterparts would have been spared the flaming jet fuel or falling buildings? A critical step we must take when dealing with homegrown terrorism, is to realize that American Muslims are at risk just as much as any American.

In other words, homegrown terrorism is a threat to the American community at large, not just the American Muslim community. The problem which Representative King has wrongly identified as the greater American Muslim community is in reality the much smaller radically religious individuals and groups who are from various backgrounds.

Paul Hill, a notable Christian abortion doctor murder, was assuredly not Muslim, yet went on to commit a rather gratuitous act of terrorism.

And if we want to take a global look at the state of things, we will notice that the Hindu Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka, who preformed suicide bombing operations over 200 times, were the first to use the tactic on a massive scale and actually invented the concealed suicide belt.

Terrorism is not merely a Muslim affair, and we risk isolating the American Muslim community when we act as if it is.

The New York police department put together a report on homegrown terrorism in 2007, and the following quote does justice to the reality we face today. “Radicalization in the West often starts with individuals who are frustrated with their lives or with the politics of their home governments.

These individuals ultimately seek other like-minded individuals and form a loose-knit group or social network.” We are threatened by people who believe the use of violence to threaten a civilian population (terrorism) is the surest way to effect change in the world, and we are actively pushing people to believe this.

Belief is the catalyst which brings about an action. Homegrown terrorists, who are often unremarkable people in most aspects, come to believe that they are in a situation so dire that there is no other choice besides terrorism. So as Representative King declares a siege on the American Muslim population, he is only pushing more and more people away from the mainstream.

So long as American Muslims have to fear the public’s reaction to their religion, radicalization is a likely result. You can only push people so far, and while terrorism is never justified, it always appears justified in the eyes of those committing it.

I have been careful to use the term “American Muslims” in this article for a reason. The people Representative King is targeting are not foreigners; they are our neighbors. Today American Muslims are facing discrimination for their faith because of the acts of a few radicals.

The American community – assuming such a thing exists – is responsible to ensure that the Muslims among us are not ostracized. We cannot allow American Muslims to suffer our collective bigotry and ignorance any longer. So as the insanity initiated by Representative King continues, we have a responsibility to counteract that force with positive pressure which encourages unity and communication.

We only leave ourselves at risk when we fail to integrate the American Muslim community within the larger American population – just as we would if we ostracized any population.

Homegrown terrorism is a real and present threat to our nation, and pushing each other apart, tearing our society to pieces, only does the job of the terrorists for them.

Source: albanystudentpress

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