[Peace-discuss] Islamophobia in DI

[David Green]

Quotes from three tough-talking DI columnists:

Chuck Prochaska, Sept. 1:

Like I wrote, and Merchant confirmed, leaders of the
Muslim community have the wrong mindset as well. The
best way to condemn terrorism is to take action within
your institution and make it stop. Show us that you
condemn terrorism by ratting out all the radicals in
the U.S., then making a trip back to the Middle East,
and forcing the jihadists and insurgents to knock it
off. Get results. As a Catholic, I've sat through many
a Sunday homily prescribing a fix for the priest sex
abuse scandals. But I've never heard of a cleric
scaling the steps of the Ka'ba and telling everyone
visiting Mecca to work against extremism. Why? He'd be
tossed faster than James Caviezel bearing a crucifix. 

If Merchant's invented "Islamaphobia" means that I'm
worried about Muslim terrorists, then she's damn right
I'm worried. There were days this summer I wondered,
after a day of work next to the Sears tower and a
Metra ride home, if my mother would return home safely
at night. How dare Shouger Merchant demand that
Americans live in fear instead of providing ourselves
with peace of mind? My opinion is not out of the
mainstream, and God forbid another attack befall our
nation, profiling will be the most tame response
offered as defense.

John Bambenek, Aug. 30:

Foreign nationals who are here by permission should
not be entitled to use the United States as a base to
spread terrorism. If you are here on an educational
visa, do your homework. If you are here on a work
visa, get to work. If you want to spread terror, go to
Baghdad. The United States Marines will deal with you.
We give visas with specific terms, and when people
violate those terms, they get sent home.

Elie Dvorin, Aug.22:

"Because of the mix of Islamic theology that - rightly
or wrongly - is interpreted to promote violence, added
to an organizational structure that allows violent
radicals to operate openly in Islam's name with
impunity, Islam has, sadly, become a terrorist
organization. It pains me to say it. But the good news
is it doesn't have to stay this way, if the vast
majority of Muslims who don't support terror will step
forward and reclaim their religion." 

Once the context of the statement is framed, it's
extremely difficult to refute anything (Michael)
Graham said, and he should be commended for taking a
controversial yet bold and painfully truthful
position. But that didn't keep him from being
suspended by Disney, the parent company of his
station, WMAL, after intense political pressure from
the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).



	
		
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