A recent CNN article lists the names of American citizens who have tried to take America down via terrorism and atrocious acts. Focusing on recent times, every single person listed on that article was a devotee of Islam. As I read the article, I began to question: were there other notable acts of homecountry sabotage that had occured in recent years that were NOT perpetrated by a Muslim? If so, was there a reason why they were not included in the article? Or perhaps the author just wanted to be biased?
However, it is not just one CNN author who seems to agree that to be a terrorist means also to be a Muslim: the two words are nearly synonymous, it seems, in many people’s opinion. Ask anyone what a terrorist is, and they will probably throw in the word “Islam” or “Muslim” somewhere at some point. This is disturbing. I know that here, in America, many (even most) terroists have been Muslims hell-bent on teaching our country a lesson as they decry our lack of morality (a tad ironic, a mon avis) but the two words should not be synonymous.
I made a google search by typing in the word “terrorist.” What did I find?
- Wikipedia listed “Definitions of terrorism”-History of Terrorism-Islamic Terrorism and Jewish (!) on it’s link blurb
- Merriam-Webster’s definition of terrorism: “the systematic use of terror especially as a means for coercion” (Islam is not mentioned!)
- Many images for terrorism mostly showing Osama bin Laden and the Twin towers
- A link to an article from Boston.com about two young men of Middle Eastern descent, who were falsely accused of terrorism and accosted by the FBI why? Because they drove a car with alternative fuel tanks inside.
This last find (along with the many images) only enhanced the CNN article’s take that “all terrorists are Muslims.” Perhaps the police were right to investigate, but if these men had not been Arab they would most likely not have bothered. The same goes for the Muslim woman who is suing Southwest Airlines for being removed from her flight for allegedly saying the words “It’s a go.” If a stewardess had heard me, a white American, say those words, they would not have blinked twice.
Unfortunately, it takes just a few people to give a bad name to any group, organization, religion, etc. However, we must combat this. If we teach the younger generation that “All terrorists are Muslims” what will that do for our world? It will spread prejudice as these children believe that anyone believing in Allah also hates the USA and wants to bring it down. It will spread fear–just what the terrorists want.
Cartoon from India Talkies.com website
The photo above, taken from the India Talkies website (link below), sums it up best. A terrorist can be anybody from any religion. As is the case with many countries in Europe (look at the people who tried to blow up the embassies in Greece) a terrorist can be someone fighting against their very nation, their very neighbors. Thus, it is time to stop associating the word “Islam” with “terrorism”!
S-L-M
Links:
- http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/15/world/americans-us-plots/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 : “US Citizens who’ve plotted Terror in “America” by Ashley Fantz
- http://www.indiatalkies.com/2010/12/pm-warns-terror-modules-internal-terrorism.html : “PM Warns of Terrorism Modules, internal terrorism” by Shipla
- http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/10/17/alternative_fuel_experiment_by_college_students_triggers_terrorism_response_in_tewksbury/
- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrorism : “Vans fuel sparks Terrorism Response” by John M. Guilfoil
