Quote:
Originally Posted by Sidd Finch
I don't think that saying that moderate Muslims should look at what is being said and taught as part of their religion, because that religion is so frequently being used to justify killing, as a suggestion that they are personally responsible for any killing. Apparently we disagree on that, and I'm content to disagree on that.
I also believe that, for example, white Americans have a particular responsibility to think carefully about what they say about race, about what messages they convey both explicitly and implicitly, because ultimately that is critical to evolving past our history of racism. Do my own actions, words, perceptions, things I teach, things that are taught where I send my kids to school, things said in my community.... do those things further the notion that black people matter less than white people? That black people are "other"? That stereotypes or prejudices are valid? If so, I need to change that -- because, while violent racist attacks are very, very far away from anything I can point to in myself or my community or my family, they are still on the same continuum. The same sentiments that led me, as a kid, to think that racist jokes were okay, led my uncle to think that talking about "niggers" was okay, and led people in my school think that beating up a black kid in response to something that other black kids had done was okay.
Believing that white Americans have that responsibility doesn't mean that I blame any particular white American for any particular incident or act in which they did not participate. It means that I believe that white Americans who are decent people need to always and ever further isolate those who are not -- not because that will necessarily change the thinking or behavior of those who have already crossed that line, but because it will make that line harder to cross in the future.
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Much of this I agree with, but there is an important distinction when the dominant, majority group tells the minority group they need to control their people - and, to be clear, this logic is applicable to Muslims in the US, but much less so to Muslims in Egypt, for example.
If you're a 13 year old Muslim kid in America, lots of people have a view on what you need to be explaining or apologizing for, but no one has an interest in what you have to say unless it fits their narrative. Sebby wants to know if you reject Islamic views on conversion and subjugation, but he's not going to ask you first what Islamic views on conversion and subjugation are. There's a different dynamic in each case. I note, though, that despite this different dynamic, there are lots and lots of Muslims speaking out on terrorism when people care to listen.
When talking with Middle Eastern countries, there is a different dynamic, and, of course, a second part to the conversation. Because when we talk to them about terrorism, we can expect a response along the lines of, yes, sure, legitimate concern, love to help you, but can we also talk about some American bombs that have been falling on Muslims here, whether delivered by drone or plane, American, Israeli, Saudi, Iraqi or others?
