As I scroll through Facebook over the last 36 hours, I have seen most change their profile picture to either a picture they took in Paris or a picture from the app that adds the French Flag to their picture. I have also seen posts along the lines of “when are the refugees in the US going to attack us” and “Islam is not a religion of peace.” As someone with a degree in Religious Studies who took a few classes on Islam, I am pissed off at my fellow Americans and their thoughts. No matter what your viewpoint is, this article from the Huffington Post is a great read, as it shows how Muslim Scholars are sick of Terrorist acting in the name of their religion (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/24/muslim-scholars-islamic-state_n_5878038.html)
What happened in Paris Friday evening is exactly what the refugees are trying to escape. Refugees are seeking a life of safety and not fearing when their home will be invaded and their family killed or raped because they don’t agree with the Terrorists. There is a huge crisis in the middle east right now, in part to ISIS but also in part to hundreds of years of history and fighting between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims. This crisis has grown in the past couple of years due to the actions of ISIS. But going back 15 years, it was the Taliban that people were running from.
World wide, there are approximately 1.5 billion Muslims and it is the fastest growing Religion. Now the critics of Islam, want to say this number and growth is due to Terrorists and not consider anything else.
For a second let’s look at two events from the 90’s that took place on American Soil
Oklahoma City Bombing of the Alfred P Murrah Frederal Building. Bombed by Timothy McVeigh. One of his reasons for this bombing was revenge for the raid the Federal Government had on the Branch Davidians Compound in Waco, TX. Branch Davidian’s broke off from the Seventh Day Adventists, a sect of Christianity. The Branch Davidian’s had stock piled firearms in preparation from an attack by the US government. McVeigh is a homegrown terrorist who was raised Catholic and has no known relation to Islam.
Centennial Olympic Park bombing during the 1996 Olympics. Bombed by Eric Rudolph. This and the other bombings he committed were due to his anti abortion and homophobic opinions. As a young adult, he spent time at a Christian Identity compound. Christian Identity is a Christian sect found in the US and has been linked to various acts of violence throughout the US.
While the Olympic Park bombing only killed one person, the Oklahoma City bombing has the highest death doll of an Act of Terrorism on US soil aside from the attacks on 9/11. Let’s think about that, until September 2001 the highest death toll from an act of terrorism on US soil was committed by an American. Yet, I see American’s calling to close the American borders like they think France has done (border security has increased but no borders have closed). I see American’s boasting their hatred and complete misunderstanding of Islam.
I currently live near one of the largest Army bases in the US, therefore I have a good number of active duty and former military friends. My best friend is in the air force and has been to Iraq and Afghanistan more than I would have liked. Last night I posted a clarification on Facebook, to remind people that extremists do not define all Muslims and that we need to stop acting like all Muslims are extremists and out to kill every citizen of the western world. The comment I got from an active duty military friend, is that comments like I made never come from people who have been shot at by Muslims. That pissed me off even more. While, I have never and will never serve in the military that doesn’t mean that I don’t understand how religion and the world works. Citizens of the middle east who are opposed to the extremists and just want to live a peaceful and safe life, are the citizens who were happy to see the powers that were come out of power. These are the citizens who still live in fear because there is no way to wipe out terrorism.
There are extremists in all religions. But extremists should never define a whole religion. Just because there are some bad eggs, that doesn’t mean we need to toss a truck full of eggs. If the simple fact that extremists exist should result of a religion being banished, then Christianity would have been banished from Europe a long time ago. Christianity would have been banished from the US as well. No one goes around calling for Christianity to be banished even though for centuries Christian’s sentenced non-Christians to death in a variety of methods.
I have known more than one Muslim in my life and have never once felt unsafe around them. I thought it was crazy, that when 40 of us traveled to Australia in college that the only person who Australia contacted after our visa paper work was submitted was a Naturalized US Citizen who was born in the middle east. Proof that racial profiling happens world wide. A guy, who sat next to me in rehearsal for 2 years that followed the teachings of his religion and never once thought that those teachings meant for him to kill those who didn’t believe exactly what he believed.
There are bad people in every religion. Any one who wants to say that isn’t true needs to open up a History book. Religion has been used as the reason behind some of the darkest times in world history. Does every believer need to be punished because there are bad people?
Not all Muslims are terrorists and not all terrorists are Muslims. This concept seems to be impossible for half the people I know to understand.
Yes, lets support France and Paris as they work on moving past what happened Friday night. But let’s not forget that the world faces the risk of acts of terrorism daily from people in a variety of walks in life, nationalities, and religious beliefs.
Let’s work on finding a way for those from all religions, sitting down and finding ways to get a long with each other and ways to accomplish peace in this world. Until those from all religions can get a long, we will not have peace in this world. The end line for all religions, is being rewarded in the afterlife but there are little things that are different to reach that reward. But to be rewarded in the afterlife, one must live a good life.
Life Happens 