Though there are plenty of tests for bigotry, I’d like to add one more: being quick to demand that given members of group condemn wrong-doing by others in that group. Failure to do so is fuel for a “gotcha” scolding in particular and feeds into hatred in general.
We see this happen often in relation to Muslims and wrong-doing by al-Qaeda, Hamas, Boko Haram, and the so-called Islamic State. Here’s an example that bubbled up to the top of a Bing search:
“Neither [Illinois] Governor Pat Quinn nor his Muslim American Advisory Council have commented on, or condemned, ISIS’ beheading of American journalist James Foley.”
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To be fair, the post, dated August 21, doesn’t quite get to condemning for failure to condemn, but then, it didn’t need to. A reader self-identifying as “Marvin Fox” closed the loop for them: “The Muslims who failed to condemn the James Foley beheading are more favorable to the ISIL Caliphate and sharia law than they are the American way of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Why are they being coddled by the governor of Illinois?”
(For the sake of fairness, I must add that I have no particular animus against Illinois Review or anyone connected with it, only against their complaint. Like I said, I found this article in a web search; I never heard of them before. Also, I should clarify Mr. Fox’s question: the post dealt mostly with perceived failure on Quinn’s part to cater as much to Christian interests and organizations as to Muslim ones.)
Other examples appear on Answers.Yahoo.com in long threads starting with questions like, “Why aren’t the Muslims on here denouncing the beheading of the American journalist, minute by minute?” and more generally, “Why don’t the moderates in Muslims speak out against the extremist in Islam?”
Thing is, there is a moral failure at the core of demands for condemnation. That moral failure starts with an us/them divide. Non-Muslims (us) pronounce that Muslims (them) must condemn their own to be on the correct side of rectitude. But that very divide gives short shrift to the idea that we’re all equal as human beings.
The moral failure goes on to presume that some great part of humanity must always cleanse themselves of every stain imposed by wrong-doers on their side of the us/them divide. The problem there is that the stain is the work of wrong-doers on both sides. It’s easy and correct to trace the origin of a stain to a particular sin, in this case, the barbaric beheadings of Americans Steven Foley and Sotloff. But really, and to stretch the metaphor, that sin is only pigment, the raw material of a stain. It becomes a stain on all only when it is thrown onto something. So it goes when bigots in a fit of self-righteousness and ignorance demand that all Muslims condemn beheadings or anything else other Muslims do. Thus are the innocent tarred with the same brush as the guilty.
Why should that be? Are we truly supposed to think that a Muslim approves of beheadings until he or she says otherwise? Aren’t we as Americans supposed to presume someone is innocent until proven guilty? If we’re truly bent on being decent, we cannot set conditions for giving another human being the benefit of the doubt.
Those who have been paying attention know full well that very high-powered Muslims have indeed condemned the recent beheadings and self-proclaimed Muslim terrorism. Just in case PoliticusUSA readers find someone behind the curve, here are a few Web pages that mention notable instances:
Agence France Press “RIYADH: Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh today blasted Al-Qaeda and Islamic State jihadists as “enemy number one” of Islam, in a statement issued in Riyadh.
“The ideas of extremism, radicalism and terrorism… have nothing to do with Islam and (their proponents) are the enemy number one of Islam,” the kingdom’s top cleric said. . . .”
Egypt’s Top Muslim Leader Condemns Islamic State: Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam Denounces ‘Bloody Group
CAIRO, Aug 12 (Reuters) –
Egypt’s top religious authority condemned the armed group Islamic State which has taken over parts of Iraq and Syria, describing it on Tuesday as a corrupt, extremist organization that is damaging Islam.
“An extremist and bloody group such as this poses a danger to Islam and Muslims, tarnishing its image as well as shedding blood and spreading corruption,” said Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam, Egypt’s most influential Muslim cleric, the state news agency MENA reported. . . .
The grand mufti’s view represents the opinion of Al Azhar, one of the world’s oldest seats of Muslim learning, which influences the opinions of Muslims worldwide.
Council on American-Islamic Relations
‘CAIR Condemns Killing of Journalist Steven Sotloff by ‘Anti-Islamic’ Terror Group ISIS
No words can describe the horror, disgust and sorrow felt by Muslims in America and worldwide at the unconscionable and un-Islamic violence perpetrated by the terror group ISIS. The criminal actions of ISIS are antithetical to the faith of Islam.
“Such brutal acts must face redoubled efforts by people of all faiths and backgrounds to promote peace and justice and to reject the religious divisions these monstrous acts are designed to create.
“Our hearts go out to Mr. Sotloff’s loved ones and to all the loved ones of those murdered by ISIS.”
Another Anti-Muslim talking point bites the dust.
Image: Dearborn Patch
