A few weeks ago in a Homeland Security Committee meeting chairperson Peter King called out the Muslim religion as a threat to American’s safety. While he didn’t say that all Muslim’s are a threat, he voiced concern over "Muslim radicalization". This meeting started a backlash from Muslim’s and first amendment right supporters. Since 9/11, a dark shadow has been cast over the Muslim community. According to Tom Perez, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, even though Muslim-Americans make up only 1% of the population they have more than 14 percent of religious discrimination cases and 25 percent of workplace discrimination cases. Isn’t it irresponsible to equate the Muslim religion with acts of terror? There have been plenty of terrorist acts carried out on U.S. soil by people of other religious connection. So, it really has nothing to do with religion at all. Using the word Muslim in these hearings feels like a violation of these people’s rights to me. Politicians are looked up to and counted on to act responsibly and thoughtfully in their posts. This man’s words can cause those who already have fear to cast a more doubtful eye on their Muslim neighbors. During the hearing Rep. Keith Ellison told the story of a paramedic who died trying to save lives at the Towers on 9/11. Stories circulated after that he was somehow tied to the terrorist who carried out the attacks because he was Muslim. Fear and suspicion because of his religion were the root cause of doubt being shined on his noble death. What a shame. Still Peter King vows to forgo what he calls "political correctness", in the name of security. Would he feel the same way if these attacks had been carried out by a western religion? Say by Christians?
I'd have to agree with the fact that we shouldn't ostracize one part of our community. Prejudice and hate only fuels more hate and further fear in our country.
ReplyDeleteTerrorism is generally defined with some aspect of fear backing it. Are you not instilling fear within your own people by calling them out and discriminating against them for their religious choices? Would that not be considered domestic terroism in a sense? I'd say it's safe to assume we'll just continue to combat terrorism by being completely hypocrytical and cynical about one branch of people.
On to the Actual critique. You have stong pathos (Emotionally touching) arguments and your Ethos (an application of authoritym in this case Tom Perez) helps strengthen your pathos. The logos (logical sides of the argument) are interconnected in the emotional argument and they work well together. I would say that theres no real 'fence' attitude toward this. In reality people will feel how they want to feel, but it's a strong argument against discrimination nontheless.
I agree with your post, particularly the outrage of being titled Muslims in an official manner, especially in a courtroom. I think that when it comes to ignorance, this topic is one first prizewinner. Americans will refer to their neighbors, who could be of any Middle Eastern religion, even Christianity, Muslims. The misconceptions and false accusations of people from the Middle East is unjust. While it is easy to point fingers and racially profile an individual when emotions are involved, such as September 11th, it does not mean that it is in any way a solution or problem-solving tactic. People of any religious background should be addressed on a case-to-case, personal history basis, rather than being lumped into one huge generalized category of people. To question a man's nobility after death is terrible, and to accuse a man of a terrorist act with no evidence to back it up dehumanizes and shines a negative light upon their death. The Muslim religion is one of beauty and deep-rooted traditions that could influence the way we look at art, architecture, and morality. Even if a person claims no religion to be their own, like me, they can still enjoy the complexities of the Islam world. But, people remain to blinded by hatred, blame, and guilt to see into a world completely different than their own and know how they can learn or be impacted from it. This country needs to learn one thing, and that is tolerance, something we don't have to great of a record of in our past, but can hopefully progress in a positive way in the future.
ReplyDelete