by Jack
I was having dinner out last night and I happened to grab a News and Review to pass the time until my order arrived. In the opinion page I noted a former city council candidate’s name, so I read his comment, titled, “Proud of his heritage.”
He writes, “I am a Muslim. I am not ashamed of it. On the contrary, I am proud to be a Muslim. There are a billion and a half Muslims in the world. I am responsible for only the things I say and do. I like to think that normal people understand that. I do not feel that I have to apologize to stupid people who think that I should apologize for what other stupid people do. I am a man, but I do not apologize every time a man does a stupid thing. If some people do not understand that, they can kiss my a__. Ali S. Chico”
Mr. S. is obviously feeling frustrated over his faith coming under criticism. The criticism being caused the relentless acts of savage terrorism in the name of Islam, done by those he calls “stupid people” and we call terrorists. And he’s upset by the other “stupid people” who seem to think he ought to take some personal responsibility for the terrorism. I get it and I can empathize with his position, it has to be tough to be a law abiding Muslim in a country that finds itself at war with radical Islam. He’s not part of that bloody violence and therefore he bears no personal responsibility.
Now let’s look at this from another angle. Say I’m a Christian and [radical Christians] are doing the same thing that has Mr. S. on the defensive. For sure I would be angry at the “idiots,” just like him. They placed me in a very uncomfortable position thanks only to one thing we have in common, our shared faith. Our interpretation of the faith is presumably miles apart. However, I think I would try harder to understand where this global anger against radical Islam is coming from and have a little compassion for the victims before becoming defensive.
Am I personally obligated to take on the role of denouncing every act of terrorism done in the name of my faith? No, of course not, nobody is who is not part of that violence and nobody has a right to demand they be either. This ought to be entirely up to me and how I see [my] responsibility as a pious person and as a citizen of this country. Whatever I do or do not do, should be a free choice, just like changing one’s religion if it doesn’t fit one’s values. Then again, we’re talking about Christianity here and Christians don’t believe in apostasy do they? So the latter is easy for me to say.
Awww, you missed the J.K. Rowling tweet. Let me catch you up:
“I was born Christian. If that makes Rupert Murdoch my responsibility, I’ll auto-excommunicate.”
You need to think harder.
If ol Rupert commanded an army of hundreds of thousands of fanatical thugs killing innocent men, women and children on three continents you would have a much stronger case, as it reads now its just sniping for the sake of sniping. Good thing you were not born a Muslim, cause anyone who leaves that faith gets a free beheadectomy.
Sorry off topic, but must read open letter from former FBI agent to our nation’s top cop attorney general Eric Holder.
EX-FBI AGENT’S EPIC OPEN LETTER TO ERIC HOLDER STUNS ADMINISTRATION:
http://www.politicalears.com/blog/exfbi-agents-epic-open-letter-to-eric-holder-stuns-administration/?utm_content=buffer6c7ee&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Thanks Peggy!
A version of the proud Muslim’s letter also appears in the Enterprise-Record —
http://www.chicoer.com/opinion/20150114/letter-good-moslems-arent-responsible-for-stupid-ones
Good Moslems aren’t responsible for stupid ones
I am a Moslem. I am not ashamed of it. On the contrary, I am proud of it .
There are 1.5 billion Moslems in this world. I am responsible for only the things I say and do. I like to think that normal people understand that. I do not feel that I have to apologize to stupid people who think that I should apologize for what other stupid people do.
I am a man. I do not apologize every time a stupid man does a stupid thing. And if some people do not understand that, it is their problem.
— Ali Sarsour, Chico
I think this was a very fair article.
I liked that Rowling tweet a lot, Libby, but I think Jack’s article mostly comes down on the side of Rowling’s argument over Murdoch’s. Jack came right out and said that no one should demand every Muslim denounce every terrorist act, which seems more in line with Rowling’s argument.
Speaking of, have you read about the study that found children who were exposed to Harry Potter were actually more tolerant of minority groups than others? JK Rowling rocks.
http://theweek.com/speedreads/449053/study-finds-kids-read-harry-potter-books-become-more-tolerant-minority-groups
“I am a man. I do not apologize every time a stupid man does a stupid thing.”
This is actually brilliant, but who makes it an issue more than the left nuts that ask all of us to tip-toe around talking about the “stupid” enemy or naming them. Do those who demand that we tip-toe have any idea how prejudiced that extreme over-sensitivity suggests? No, as a matter of fact they don’t get that every time they object they suggest that the enemy IS every Muslim. They suggest that we Americans don’t have the ability or the sensitivity to be tolerant and accepting of those who do not fall int the “stupid” camp. Crazy!
I’m glad this Muslim is proud to be a Muslim. I agree he need not “apologize” for what “stupid” others do, the very suggestion is absurd.
I’m not sure he’s entirely correct when he says he has no responsibility in what “stupid” Muslims are doing. This enemy is a big threat to his religion and many millions of Muslims are being severely and adversely affected by these “stupid” radical Islamists. I would think he would embrace the responsibility of joining with others of the faith to demand universal reforms. Muslims are the most obvious candidates to fight against “stupid” Muslims and rid the religion of radical elements and tyrannical oppressive views and practices.
I suggest he look into the work of Dr. Zuhdi Jasser:
We have got to move America back in the direction of individuality and personal responsibility. “Group think” causes division and unnecessary friction. People who think as individuals know every Muslim is not responsible for the terrorism being waged by “stupid” Muslims. If Chris and Libby understood the value of individual freedom and responsibility they could get it.
Pigs are growing wings. Never in a million years would I expect Bill Maher to get onto a conservative bandwagon and support Rush Limbaugh’s free speech right’s.
Bill Maher Mocks All the Liberal ‘Bab[ies]‘ That Protest Free Speech:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/01/17/bill-maher-mocks-all-the-liberal-babies-that-protest-free-speech/
What has the number of Moslems got to do with it? Is he saying might makes right? Or is he saying because there are many Moslems there is bound to be a few troublemakers? Here’s a thought, he might like being a completely non-violent Lutheran a lot more, I do. They are very open-minded too.
Ellen, Ali is an nice, older gentleman, and its unlikely he’s going to change religions now, even if it was allowed, which it isn’t.
I feel bad for him in the sense that he’s catching a lot of misdirected anger only because he’s a Muslim. However, that being said, there are whole nations run by Muslims and they are all bigoted, brutal, oppressive and bloodthirsty (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, etc.). They’re all like that. So, outside these mean countries we have the mean individuals that are committing vile acts of terrorism over cartoons! This whole religion definitely has some PR problems. For the sake of nice people like Ali S. I hope they reform because the world is growing tired of their crap!
Ellen: “What has the number of Moslems got to do with it? Is he saying might makes right? Or is he saying because there are many Moslems there is bound to be a few troublemakers?”
I’m pretty sure the second one.
“Here’s a thought, he might like being a completely non-violent Lutheran a lot more, I do. They are very open-minded too.”
Yeah, nothing says open-minded like implying a complete stranger should convert to your particular religious denomination!
Unless it’s a regular intolerantly stomping all over a newcomers comment
Welcome to Post Scripts, Ellen, We welcome all opinions here. Please don’t let bad mannered participants stop you from posting a comment again. We are definitely in favor of free speech!
I think I responded to gentle sarcasm with gentle sarcasm. Welcome, Ellen. I hope the point of my comment was clear and that I didn’t offend you or scare you away. Here at Post Scripts you have to be willing to take as much as you dish out.
Another opinion, expressed by Asra Q. Nomani, a Muslim woman whose written a book, “Standing Alone: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam,” is posted in The Washington Post.
Sharing some of her own experiences as background she writes about an organization called the “ghairat brigade,” whose purpose is “to silence debate on extremist ideology in order to protect the image of Islam.” One paragraph stuck out as particularly appropriate to our discussion:
It’s only when we attach the emotion of guilt that we run from responsibility. Problems cannot be solved unless people own them. Muslims, joined together in common cause, could rid the world of the problem. It would take tremendous courage and strength. It would not mean that Muslims must bear the guilt of terrorists; it would mean they would share in the honor and dignity of reform.
Kudos to this brave woman.
Nomani has written about needed reforms and been criticized for her writings.
My response to Ali Sarsour’s —
http://www.chicoer.com/opinion/20150114/letter-good-moslems-arent-responsible-for-stupid-ones
Can be read here —
http://www.chicoer.com/opinion/20150122/letter-no-need-to-apologize-for-stupid-people-but