by Jack Lee
Anti-Muslim backlash…where is it? The events after 9-11 should have convinced even the most hardcore skeptic that American people are rational, thoughtful and tolerant. We don’t react like mindless robots or bigots like people in some other countries. You know who they are, but in case you don’t, let me help you out: This would be just about every two-bit, 3rd world country that promotes anti-Americanism as a grand diversion for their own shortcomings! The list of characters ranges from poor Island nations in the Caribbean to the far corners of African and Asian continents But, before you go off calling me a bigot for telling the truth, you better read the rest of this first!
The instances of anti-Arab or anti-Muslim violence in the US were unremarkable. In fact hate crimes against Jews was slightly higher than hate crimes against Muslims and it continues to be that way, even after all the attempted attacks by Muslims living among us and this latest religious rampage by Hasan.
There is no rational justification for the fear Americans will turn on Muslims, discriminate against Muslims, throw Muslims out of the military or even shun Muslim businesses. We’re a good people and our record speaks for itself. Yet our politicians treat us like we can’t be trusted, like we are imbeciles incapable of handling the truth. They warn us against overreacting; they play down the news stories about Muslims conspiring against us. They back away from the obvious facts and play dumb saying ridiculous things like, “We have no idea why a disgruntled Muslim fanatic who hated the Army and US foreign policies would attack US servicemen and women.” And we’re supposed to think,”Golly, now that is a mystery alright!”
Early in Hasan’s military career, when his radical views about the military and wars were often openly expressed, his peers said they were very concerned and some thought that if he were to be sent to a combat area he might give classified information to the enemy. But, nobody…nobody ever came forward because they didn’t want to appear prejudiced! They were so invested in not appearing anti-Muslim they let Hasan’s extreme views slide. For some, they felt they were being tolerant and doing what their leaders expected of them. For others it was plain old moral cowardice.
So many of Hasan’s friends, co-workers and acquaintances have now come forward (when it’s too late to save anyone) to say what a radical nut job he was and what a threat he posed. They knew it all along and said nothing because they feared being seen as a bigot. They are all now talking about what a poor shrink he was, that he should not even been in the psychiatric profession, much less an officer in the US Army because it’s safe to do so…now. Unfortunately, all these people left it up to someone else to spot the red flags because they didn’t want to jeopardize their own careers by saying something negative against a Muslim and possibly being perceived in the wrong light. This is why Hasan was allowed his promotions and how he continued his underperformance, and how he got away with falsely decrying how Muslims were so mistreated by the military. This is how his views on America waging an unjust war on Muslims went unchecked. And that is how when he wanted out of the military they kept him in!
Over time, and thanks in part to the teachings from his Mosque, Hasan had created a mindset much like any other “soldier of Islam”. In his case, he was fighting against non-existent oppression within the military. He felt he was so oppressed and mistreated, but if there was any oppression it was being forced to work with infidels, like the young men and women he murdered.
Hasan’s views might have been extreme, but they are views shared by too many Muslims around the world and thousands of Muslims here in the US, however that still only represents a small fraction of the total Muslim population. We know that and we deal with it, just as we should. We do not overreact.
Hasan’s transformation from a devout Muslim into a radical “soldier of Islam” and all the red flags that popped up along the way, might have raised the concerns of his peers enough to act in time, except for one thing. They were too fearful of violating the liberal’s “tolerance” code and being labled as a racist.
If our soft headed, paternalistic, leaders should have learned anything from this tragedy by now, it is that we AMERICANS are adults and we can handle the truth! Be honest with us! We ARE tolerant and we don’t scare easily. Few of us wanted any of the expensive security that followed 9/11, but politicians felt we did. THEY WERE TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH! I think sometimes our leaders fear and misread us too much and their fears and misunderstanding generate far too many restrictive policies and laws that are completely misplaced and unwarranted…don’t you think that too?
This idiotic and all too pervasive attitude that says we can’t say anything against anyone for anything, except white males or Christians, has got to stop, it’s killing us!