Misinformation Can Be Deadly

Misinformation Can Be Deadly

Dear Editor:

On Sept. 11 extremist Muslim terrorists savaged us. Unfortunately this act of war cast a shadow of suspicion over all Muslims of Middle Eastern extraction that live among us. No innocent person should be harassed, persecuted or harmed simply because of his ethnic background or religion. When angry, frustrated citizens attack innocent Middle Easterners they are engaging in their own little war of terrorism. Such cannot be tolerated.

Just as it is a mistake to assume that anyone with bronze skin, dark hair and eyes is a terrorist, so it is a mistake to convince all Americans that no Middle Easterner who lives among us could possibly betray and act against us. Our public officials and media have been presenting an unending series of public assurances that the Islamic faith is really a great peace-loving religion and that the terrorism of the present is only a temporary aberration. Historical facts simply do not square with these assurances.

Islam was born in a firestorm of war and expanded in a vast military sweep across North Africa and Asia Minor. Their westward invasion was finally blocked in fierce battles at Tours in France and at Vienna, Austria. Its spread among the Arab nations was no less violent. Today a militant variety of Islam dominates Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, and the Palestinians. It has a strong presence in Pakistan, Lebanon, Algeria, Egypt and Northern Nigeria and likely other nations. That is no small portion of the Islamic world. Regardless of what the Koran may say, many of the mullahs of Islam are urging their followers to violence against America.

Doubtless, most of those Muslims who live in America hold and practice a more peaceful variety of that faith. To live in freedom and prosperity is a gift not many would wish to destroy. But only a blind fool would assume that none of those who live among us would sympathize with Ben Laden and his terrorist army.

Such misleading propaganda is based on the mistaken assumptions and assertions of multiculturalism and pluralism. Adherents of this philosophy pronounce all religions to be equally benign and beneficent. They overlook that fact that many religions have a bloody and violent history. Some ancient religions called for human sacrifice; others for cannibalistic rites. For others wars of conquest and extermination against believers of other faiths were part of their creed.

We both want and need to treat our Muslim neighbors with fairness and respect. However, we must not be blinded to the reality that for some of them, their creed allows for violence against their religious enemies. Misinformation will leave us vulnerable and unprepared to deal with potential danger.

Back -- or go -- Home