War on Terrorism
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One Day an Ordinary American; the Next Day a Terrorist Abdul-Rashid Abdullah September 11, 1997 April 19, 1995 started out as just another ordinary day. I woke up, exercised, showered, dressed, and ate breakfast. I turned on the television. I became horrified when I heard the news. A bomb had exploded at the Oklahoma City federal building. The explosion destroyed the building, taking out a children's day care located inside. Preliminary reports linked the incident to Muslim terrorists. I drove to work with my ears glued to the radio. I walked in the office and asked if anyone had heard about the bombing. My supervisor said, "Oh yes, I heard. I think I am going to become a Muslim now, and blow up little children." I was shocked to hear that, but nevertheless, I understood his remarks. He was just reacting to the media's programming. How could he not think such a thing? The media propagates an image that Islam is a religion of terrorists. That image, reinforced by Hollywood, with movies like Not Without My Daughter and Delta Force, leads American people down the narrow street of the stereotype. Islam is a religion of peace, not terror, leaving Muslims around the world sickened by this distorted picture. Islam at its very essence detests all injustices and strives to right wrongs. So how is it, that the image of Islam is so distorted from the truth? We will explore this issue as we learn more about what Islam means and how terrorism is un-Islamic. We will then examine the effect of biased propaganda against Muslims and how Muslims are coping with this. Finally, solutions will be offered to minimize the effect of stereotyping and further the understanding of countries not well understood by Americans. "To begin with Islam is a word derived from the consonant root of the word Aslam which means to submit, to give one's self. The religious meaning of this word is to submit one's self to the will of Allah [1]" (Khouj 295). This literal meaning is not fully understood until we begin to digest it. Submitting to Allah's will means a total surrender to Allah's commands and prohibitions. "Total surrender and submission will occur only after total understanding and realisation of the whys and wherefores of creation" (FSA Majeed 17). It is through this submission that a Muslim arrives at a feeling of security and serenity. This peace is expressed inwardly and outwardly. The Muslim greeting of salam, means peace. This peace which is heaven is "called Dar Al Salam, the home of peace. In this sense, the meaning of the religion as well as the call to it are meant to be peace and to achieve peace" (Khouj 295). The question now becomes obvious: How is it, that a religion whose very name means peace, is so troubled by violence? The answer is not clear at first. It lies buried under several layers of misnomers. The biggest of which is that all Muslims are terrorists. About one year after the Oklahoma bombing, I was interviewed by two FBI agents. The reason they questioned me, is that an anonymous tip was called in to their office, accusing me of detonating bombs in a pineapple field somewhere along the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. The agents had already questioned my supervisor and commander. They had searched my home [2] and my work for any possible signs of bomb making materials. They had deduced that most likely the claim was false, but they still wanted to make sure. I submitted to taking a polygraph test. The answer was favorable: I was telling the truth and had no knowledge whatsoever of any terroristic activities on Oahu. The question on my mind was: How come I was accused? What profile did I fit? Why did the FBI pursue it to the point that I was asked to take a polygraph test? The reason is simply, I fit the number one criterion for a terrorist. I am a Muslim, and the number one supposition about Muslims is that they are all terrorists. Worse than that, I am an Islamic fundamentalist [3]. The "Green Peril": Creating the Islamic Fundamentalist Threat, akin Islamic fundamentalism to Nazism: "Islamic fundamentalism is an aggressive revolutionary movement as militant and violent as the Bolshevik, Fascist, and Nazi movements of the past, "According to Amos Perlmutter. It is "Authoritarian, anti-democratic, anti-secular," and cannot be reconciled with the "Christian-secular universe" and its goal is the establishment of a "totalitarian Islamic state" in the Middle East, he argues, suggesting that the United States should make sure the movement is "stifled at birth " (Hadar 2). This is not the true meaning of Islamic fundamentalism, but it is what the FBI agents believed. Of course, they are just victims of propaganda. In a hadith [4], a narration of the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) [5], we find the following in the authentic collection of Bukhari: "Narrated Abu Shuraih, may Allah be pleased with him: The Prophet, peace be upon him said, 'By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!' It was said, 'Who is that, O Allah's Messenger?' he said, 'That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil" (Bukhari 8:45). Sadly enough, this type of information does not reach the media or Hollywood. All of this does not belie the point: Americans generally regard Muslims as terrorists. Is this true? Are Muslims terrorists? To answer that you would have to search for a quantitative analysis of terrorism, domestically and internationally. According to the US State Department Report, 1996 Global Terrorism: Year In Review, 296 acts of international terrorism occurred; 11 in Africa, 11 in Asia, 24 in Eurasia, 121 in Europe, 84 in Latin America, 45 in the Middle East, and 0 in North America (Appendix C). If we look at the amount of those attacks aimed at US targets, we see that number significantly reduced. One fourth (73) of the attacks were anti-US (Year In Review); 50 from Latin America, 8 from Europe, 3 from the Middle East, 2 from Africa, 1 from Asia, and 1 from Eurasia (Appendix C). It is true that we find a few terrorist attacks being claimed by Muslim groups, but Ambassador Philip C. Wilcox, Jr., Coordinator for Counterterrorism stated in the State Department that just because an individual of a particular religious group contributes in terroristic activities does not imply that all members of that same group are terrorists. "Indeed, terrorists represent a small minority of dedicated, often fanatical, individuals in most such groups" (Introduction 2). We must also distinguish between Muslim and non-Muslim terrorist groups. I wish to emphasize that the term Islamic should not used to describe a terrorist group. Such a term would be an oxymoron. Islam does not condone the killing of innocent people. Abdul Rahim Alfahim in his selection of 200 sayings and doings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) translates from Bukhari's collection of hadith the following: On the authority of Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw a woman who had been killed in a battle, so the Prophet condemned the killing of women and children (158). On the authority of Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), said: A Muslim remains enjoying the safety and protection of his faith, so long as he does not commit murder (177). We are able to see from the above that Islam completely outlaws murdering of innocent people, especially women and children. It is puzzling why then so many terrorist groups are prefixed with the term Islamic or Muslim. Clearly they are acting in direct disobedience to this teaching. A further study into the profile of these groups is necessary to better understand this mis-labeling. Thirty-seven terrorist groups are listed in the State Department report; 17 of them are from the Middle East; 9 of them identify are identified by the prefix Islamic or Muslim; 7 of them do not include Islam as their main ideology; and 1 of them is totally anti-Islam (Appendix B). It is also interesting to note that the majority of the groups are actually splinters of another group. But what does all this mean to the average American? It means that there are a lot of terrorist group operations associated with the name of Islam. This is a problem for many American Muslims who have no connection to the Middle East based terrorism. As stated earlier, we must distinguish between Islam and those who claim to follow Islam. Furthermore, a group that call themselves Islamic while carrying out heinous acts of terrorism is clearly acting in contradiction to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Qur'an. Methods like suicide bombing or killing of civilians is prohibited: "And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely Allah is Most Merciful to you (Qur'an 4:29) [6]. It is also necessary to discuss some specific aspects of terrorism in Muslim dominated countries. The Muslims who are terrorists are generally from troubled areas in developing countries. To understand the significance of this point would mean introducing information extra topical to this discourse; however it is suffice to note, that terrorism is a phenomenon that generally occurs in nations of unstable and unjust governments. Most of the Middle East countries associated with terrorist groups suffer from this plague, due largely in part to a recent end of European imperialism in those regions. We can see countries such as Palestine, Lebanon, Libya, and Algeria troubled by despotic rulers and injustices. Of course this does not take away the blame of those who take lives of innocent people indiscriminately, but it does open the doorway to understanding the psyche of the terrorist. Most Muslims who are terrorists generally have a poor knowledge of Islam, even though they quote Qur'anic verses to substantiate their claims. Many of them blindly follow those who are politically motivated and cleverly deceptive. They are able to convince those who follow them that there is no other option available. If you were in their shoes, you just might react in the same manner. Withey in his Reaction to Uncertain Threat says: "If an individual can perceive no avenue of escape from a threat he develops a sense of helplessness and this sense increases his stress reaction" (qtd. in Molnar, Tinker, and LeNoir 181). This "stress reaction" is the realization that an individual, properly persuaded, will strap a bomb unto his own body and proceed into a crowded marketplace. From afar we look at this event as horrific and detestable, but we fail to understand the motivating factors. We realize that the terrorist really did not accomplish much by his action, but nevertheless many will follow in his footsteps. No war is won quickly with terrorism. Terrorism in the modern sense can be traced to Stepniak, the Russian terrorist who in 1892 popularized the theory that immediate victory may not be easily attainable. But another victory is more probable, that of the weak against the strong... In a struggle against an invisible, impalpable, omnipresent enemy [the terrorist], the strong is vanquished... by the continuos extension of his own strength, which ultimately exhausts him... Terrorists cannot [immediately] overthrow the government; but having compelled it, for so many years, to neglect everything and do nothing but struggle with them, they will render its position untenable (qtd. in Molnar, Tinker, and LeNoir 170). Therefore, it can be concluded, that circumstances and the time we live has bred such monstrosities. It does not excuse those who participate, but it does offer a level of understanding and at times a feeling of sympathy and compassion. The oppressed generally turn to terrorism when they see no other way. It is like a dog, when backed into a corner, snarls and bites at everyone who comes near, including the owner and children of the owner. Terrorism however is not confined to politically motivated acts of violence. "Terror may be described as a state of mind. Its effects upon individuals cannot always be determined from an objective description of the terrorist act... If the perception of threat leads to disorganized behavior such as hysteria or panic or the inability to take appropriate action, the individual is said to be in a state of terror" (Molnar, Tinker and LeNoir 169). Thus, it is in America where Muslims themselves have become victims of terroristic acts called hate crimes and biased media propaganda. CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, recently published in their Status of Muslim Civil Rights in the United States: 1997 an analysis of anti-Muslim incidents. The results excluded over 200 cases of anti-Muslim violence and harassment associated with the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995 because "those incidents happened due to unusual circumstances and can not be used as a baseline for comparison" (6). However, the 1997 report does show 240 reports of violence, verbal abuse, discrimination, and bias. Recently CAIR offered an award for "information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of an apparent bias crime against the family of a well-known Muslim community activist in Maryland" (CAIR Alert 146). According to the Washington Post, "Samira" of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was named "Outstanding Citizen of 1996" by the local chamber of Commerce. On September 4, 1997, a Nazi swastika and the word "pig" was found etched unto her car. Her tires were punctured and seats slashed. The report and incidents such as the above, clearly indicate a biased sentiment in America against Muslims. This is largely due in part to the propaganda and misconceptions about Islam. However, it turns an ordinary American, such as myself, into an innocent victim. By example, I will show you a self-profile to demonstrate the absurdity of stereotyping: I am of Italian-German heritage with brown hair and blue eyes; raised Roman Catholic, and at the age of 18 embraced Islam. I am a non-commissioned officer in the US Army, a parachute rigger, with no experience handling munitions or weapons except the hand grenade and M-16 rifle every soldier learns about in basic training. Indeed, I do not fit the typical "profile" save one characteristic; I am Muslim. It is ironic and absurd that a typical American such as myself, should find himself labeled as a terrorist. Of course it is unfair, but it is the reality of the situation. The questions arises, how do we reverse anti-Muslim sentiments? To begin with, we must rid ourselves of the notion that all Muslims are Arab. In fact, one third of Muslims in the world reside as minorities in non-Muslim countries. India's Muslim minority consists of over 120 million people, whereas 60 million Muslims are in China. Large Muslim minorities also exist in the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, and Sri Lanka (Sardar and Malik 150). Only 18% of Muslims are from the Arab World. In a report from the American Muslim Council in December 1992, estimates showed that 42% of Muslims in the United States are African-American [7], 24.4% are South Asians, 12.4% are Arabs, 5.2% are Africans, 3.6% are Iranians, 2.4% are Turks, 2.0% are South East Asians, 1.6% are American Whites, 0.8% are East Europeans, and 5.6% are all other groups. Next, we must learn, teach, and act in accordance with Islamic teachings. There are several misunderstanding amongst Muslims regarding the status of Women, the rights of non-Muslims, and the duties of a Muslim. This is due to a collapse in Islamic thought and introduction of the Western secular thought into Muslim lands. What follows is wrong ideas about how to practice Islam. Most of the practices that develop are outside the teachings of Islam. Immigrant Muslims generally carry this baggage, of un-Islamic cultural ideas that they believe is Islam to the United States. Additionally, they suffer from a phobia of standing up for their convictions, an act in their own countries that often results in torture and death. Also, many African-American Muslims are struggling with the dark cloud of slavery and the racist attitudes of such groups as the Nation of Islam. This conglomeration does little to further Islamic ideas and values in America. However, through all this, American Muslims are increasing recognizing their rights as American citizens, and are voicing their opinions in constructive ways. Organizations such as CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), AMC (American Muslim Council), IIO (Islamic Information Office), MMM (Muslim Military Members), AMILA (American Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism), ISNA (Islamic Society of North America, ICNA (Islamic Circle of North America) and every Islamic Center across the nation, are contributing to a better understanding of what Islam truly is. Programs generally target the press and organizations that violate civil rights of Muslims. Other means include open houses for Islamic Centers, local radio broadcasts, speaking on university and high school campuses, and community volunteer work. Islam is becoming a fixed part of American Society. As time goes on, and with further education, Muslims and many of those who today misunderstand Islam, will come together in a spirit of friendship and unity. It is my hope, that the readers of this paper, will take with them, a commitment to better understand that which they are not a part of. There is always two sides to a coin, and if you look deep enough, you may find that coin in your own pocket. Before we act, we must think and understand what we are hearing and saying about others. The world is a small place. We all share common beliefs and values. We are more alike than different. Perhaps one day, I will be just another ordinary American again.
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