Muslims: the Biggest Terrorists, or the Biggest Victims?
How many of us wonder about the openly racist rhetoric we hear these days? The news anchors constantly berating the rise of "islamic extremism". It seems the only thing one needs to do to make someone seem dangerous, is add the word "Islam".
With the way things are presented, one might be led to believe that the only people who have died recently were those in Boston. That Muslims have nothing better to do, except cause terror and outrage! double sided nature of the media. It seems that some lives are more valuable than others. This is the unfortunate one sided nature of our media. Most of society take their information from these government and their allied media sources. So our society is made to believe subconsciously, that some lives are more valuable than others.
Everyday civillians die in countries such as Burma, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Syria, Iraq and Chechnya. In fact, there are several other places around the world where Muslims are persecuted. We never get to hear about these places or their people unless we research via independent human rights groups. In the chance that we do hear about an atrocity committed against Muslims, it is often packaged in a way where it is "matter of fact." Something that just is meant to happen, "Sad", but routine. The world is desensitised to it.
If, however, anything happens to a white Westerner, even if a fingernail is chipped, this is considered the most terrible of crimes, and an outrage that must have justice delivered. What often follows is a media barrage, highlighting people's "Reactions" and "stories" about how it makes them feel and the impact it has had on their lives. They are garnering empathy. The same human empathetic values that makes us side with people. Which make us care, respect, feel connection to and ultimately, love people.
What we really see is selective empathy. Most Westerners are never given the chance to have empathy and compassion for the victims of US military aggression.
By analysing the use of language, we can see we are all being constantly manipulated by the international media. An example of which can be seen through the use of the word "terror", "terrorism" and "terrorist". We can not even mention the name of the Muslims who die in Western backed conflicts, in the same sentence as the Boston bombings. Doing so, raises eyebrows and we are given looks of disgust. Why? Nobody is saying that what happened in Boston is justified! Nor are we saying it is not "terrorism". However, if we are to use the word terrorism, then it should be used for all such acts of killing and destruction, including when it happens to Muslims at the behest of the Western armies. That would be true justice.
I wonder when any of this will be seen in context. Perhaps it will take another 50 years? or 100 years? A day will come when the truth will be taught to children in school history lessons. That the Muslims were the biggest victims, yet were treated as the biggest criminals. They were made fun of, victimised and often persecuted. They would realise that a few loose cannons, who were not always mentally stable, and might even have been egged along, encouraged or even aided by governmental agencies, were the ones responsible for any violence "in the name of Islam". That these individuals never represented Islam nor Muslims.
I would hope such a day was closer at hand, but we as Muslims can do nothing except live our lives as Allah has commanded. By following the authentic teachings of Islam, we make our lives better, and also show the world the beauty of our beliefs.
Please share and link back to this TurnToIslam article.
Wasalamu Alaykum
Amir
How many of us wonder about the openly racist rhetoric we hear these days? The news anchors constantly berating the rise of "islamic extremism". It seems the only thing one needs to do to make someone seem dangerous, is add the word "Islam".
With the way things are presented, one might be led to believe that the only people who have died recently were those in Boston. That Muslims have nothing better to do, except cause terror and outrage! double sided nature of the media. It seems that some lives are more valuable than others. This is the unfortunate one sided nature of our media. Most of society take their information from these government and their allied media sources. So our society is made to believe subconsciously, that some lives are more valuable than others.
Everyday civillians die in countries such as Burma, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Syria, Iraq and Chechnya. In fact, there are several other places around the world where Muslims are persecuted. We never get to hear about these places or their people unless we research via independent human rights groups. In the chance that we do hear about an atrocity committed against Muslims, it is often packaged in a way where it is "matter of fact." Something that just is meant to happen, "Sad", but routine. The world is desensitised to it.
If, however, anything happens to a white Westerner, even if a fingernail is chipped, this is considered the most terrible of crimes, and an outrage that must have justice delivered. What often follows is a media barrage, highlighting people's "Reactions" and "stories" about how it makes them feel and the impact it has had on their lives. They are garnering empathy. The same human empathetic values that makes us side with people. Which make us care, respect, feel connection to and ultimately, love people.
What we really see is selective empathy. Most Westerners are never given the chance to have empathy and compassion for the victims of US military aggression.
By analysing the use of language, we can see we are all being constantly manipulated by the international media. An example of which can be seen through the use of the word "terror", "terrorism" and "terrorist". We can not even mention the name of the Muslims who die in Western backed conflicts, in the same sentence as the Boston bombings. Doing so, raises eyebrows and we are given looks of disgust. Why? Nobody is saying that what happened in Boston is justified! Nor are we saying it is not "terrorism". However, if we are to use the word terrorism, then it should be used for all such acts of killing and destruction, including when it happens to Muslims at the behest of the Western armies. That would be true justice.
I wonder when any of this will be seen in context. Perhaps it will take another 50 years? or 100 years? A day will come when the truth will be taught to children in school history lessons. That the Muslims were the biggest victims, yet were treated as the biggest criminals. They were made fun of, victimised and often persecuted. They would realise that a few loose cannons, who were not always mentally stable, and might even have been egged along, encouraged or even aided by governmental agencies, were the ones responsible for any violence "in the name of Islam". That these individuals never represented Islam nor Muslims.
I would hope such a day was closer at hand, but we as Muslims can do nothing except live our lives as Allah has commanded. By following the authentic teachings of Islam, we make our lives better, and also show the world the beauty of our beliefs.
Please share and link back to this TurnToIslam article.
Wasalamu Alaykum
Amir
