Like anything else in society, making generalizations about race and religion hide some truths that, when it comes to life and death, matter. So to say [American Muslims are NOT our enemy!] that an entire class of people are not our enemy is wishful thinking, and wreaks of naivete. Of course, it depends on what your definition of ‘enemy’ is. I think it is fair to say that most American Muslims are fine, peaceful, and productive citizens. It is also fair to say that some terrorist cells are already here in America.
The Pew Research Center did a survey of American Muslims. It shows that 1 in 4 American Muslims aged 18-29 actually support suicide bombings.
* More than one in four Muslims (or 26%), aged 18-29, said “Suicide Bombing is Justified.” 2% percent of them say it can often be justified, 13% say sometimes, and 11% say rarely. Add to that, the 5% don’t know/refused to answer this easy, instinctive question, and it’s even worse–for a total of 31%–almost a third of young American Muslims, who support homicide bombings. This younger group of Muslims is the most radical, the study found, and it’s the largest group of Muslims in America. It is also the future of “America’s” Islam.
A quadruple amputee can count on his toes and fingers the number of times local mosques in Pensacola have denounced radical Islam. Them not speaking up and getting out in front of this Islamofascist movement to denounce it doesn’t make them bad. But it doesn’t make make me feel safe to know that such a large group of people are getting a pass either.
American Muslims face a special challenge in this post 9/11 world. And their silence breeds bias which only they can assuade. It’s not the majority of Muslim Americans (69%) I’m concerned about. It’s the other 31%.
related links:
American Muslims Support Suicide Bombings | Muslim Silence Breeds Bias