As I have already said, I am outraged at what is happening to our missions in the Middle East. Measuring my words in the face of this barbarity is no easy task. Yet, we must exercise restraint here in the US. While we have a responsibility to inform our readers of what is happening-even when the mainstream media or our government will not- we must keep in mind that our Muslim population here should not be subject to retaliation.
To be sure, I do not consider many of the Islamic organizations in the US to be trustworthy. I have written enough about them, and I will continue to do so. Yet, in our anger, we must not be guilty of the same actions that are occurring in the Middle East. What that means is this:
Muslims here in the US must not be harmed or harassed, nor should their property and mosques be vandalized. The overwhelming majority are innocent.
I do feel that demonstrations in front of the Egyptian and Libyan embassies are entirely appropriate, but they should be peaceful and orderly. Storming embassies and killing their occupants is not what Americans do.
The truth is that most Americans will react in anger, but as civilized human beings, who are able to separate the guilty from the innocent, just as we have done since 9-11.
I feel that we can and should have an open and serious discussion about the Middle East as well as Islam. We must not bend to intimidation nor allow this force to encroach upon our freedoms. I still say that if certain immigrants to the West cannot assimilate to our values and customs, then they have no business being here. I feel now more than ever that we have to closely scrutinize anyone who tries to enter our country. I still feel more than ever that we have no business trying to instill our values of freedom in that part of the world. It would be a great thing if we could succeed, but how many more Americans of good will like Ambassador Stevens to we have to sacrifice to this altar? It is a losing cause.
However, we still have a moral and legal responsibility to protect everyone who is here in this country.
After all, we are civilized people.
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4 comments:
I don't see Muslims in the US, or Europe rioting. In fact, there are no protests.
This protest over a film is BS. It is their leaders that rile the people up with pseudo-truths and outright lies.
I'm waiting for the Embassy in Cairo to be stormed and part of the ransom will be the release of the Blind Sheik.
"Trust, but verify"
Squid
Will the Blind Sheikh be Obama's Sudentenland?
Generally well said Gary. Credit where credit is due.
Findalis: most mobs are instigated. The film provided the material for the instigation. That is probably what the makers intended, considering they went to the trouble to translate it into Arabic and re-post on YouTube, just to make sure it got to the masses.
That movie was the moral equivalent of the old black-and-white showing rats running through sewers with the voice over "Germans, beware! Don't buy from Jews!"
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