RANGER AGAINST WAR: Muslim 2.0 <

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Muslim 2.0


 I'd like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves
--Coke commercial, The New Seekers 

Why can't we all just get a long neck,
And make a toast to peace and harmony? 
--Why Can't We All Just Get a Long Neck?
Hank Williams, Jr.

 Therefore I lie with her, and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flattered be 
--Sonnet 138, Shakespeare
 _________________________

President Obama recently forcefully rebuked the rise of "inexplicable political rhetoric" against Muslims, decrying the fact that the entire Muslim community was being blamed for the violent acts of a very few. Strange days indeed, as this was spoken by a president who has killed Muslims worldwide, both observant and secular.

Besides being hypocritical it is disingenuous, for the violence perpetrated by Muslims who have recently invaded Europe makes the anti- Muslim rhetoric very explicable. Saying the reaction to Muslims is "inexplicable" does not make it so, even if it perpetuates the finely-honed image of inclusion and liberalism which we have embraced as an American self-definition.

One thing is certain: devout Muslims do not share Western Enlightenment values. Muslims are homophobic and misogynistic (which is not to say that die-hard Christians are not, but to a lesser degree and in a less public castigation), among many other beliefs they hold which do not jibe with Western protocol.

Especially dissonant at the President's talk was the presence of women in hijabs and burkas gazing agog at this president, Lewinsky-like, while he argued for the inclusivity of Muslims into Western society.  Meanwhile their bodies were hidden beneath bag-like 13th century garb. How can these women pursue happiness and the American dream when their very exclusion violates the separate-but-equal clause of the U.S. Constitution?

Is importing such reactionary foreign behaviors into America really wise? Is not the United State's the great "melting pot", into which all newcomers throw themselves in order that they might emerge from that cauldron tempered and defined as a new entity, that of the "U.S.citizen"? The modern U.S. ideal is rational thought which promotes individualism, freedom of religion, and all associated freedoms, rights and responsibilities.

While no American can deny the use of controlled immigration as a national tool, should we allow immigration of peoples en masse whom opposes the very values of our national life. Creating Enlightenment values was a hard road to hoe, but it is precious and should be defended against those who would revel in its dissolution.

Islam is not the problem, because they are very clear. No, the problem is that we Judeo-Christian types extend charitable thoughts and actions to those who neither deserve nor want this largess. U.S. charity and immigration policy should address the welfare of our nation and apply only to those willing to integrate into our value system.

The U.S. government is clamping down on social benefits across the board for our own citizens, yet we espouse bringing people in to the country who can't say with a straight face that they want be Americans.

 And we say with a straight face that they will enrich our nation. 

"You lie with me, and I with you ..."

Labels: , , , ,

5 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Copuple quick thoughts: Too often, people who like to talk but don't understand what they're talking about treat Muslims - here and abroad- as if we are one monolithic and heterogeneous entity.

If only that were so! The Muslim world wouldn't be broken down into small pieces and fighting amongst ourselves so often.

I'm the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, and although I rarely wear a headscarf, I wear at least a dupatta when I attend mosque. There's nothing less comfortable or more oppressive about that than an American guy wearing one of those noose-like ties they wear.

Maybe it's my stone age, pre-Enlightenment understanding of the world that makes me see the Muslim community and Muslim American values as more varied and sophisticated than described here. Maybe I need to simplify things down to "Muslims are barbarians unable to appreciate the kindness of whites!"

It's true that we can't solve the problems in Syria by just throwing the door open over here. But I'm still a little clear on how the scattered incidents and discrimination against American Muslims is somehow justified or benath consideration because some immigrants are going nuts or because some Muslims I don't know have committed crimes.

But that's what happens when you treat 1.2 billion people from all around the world and of all different backgrouns with one broad brush.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 at 6:18:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

NI,
your points are well taken.
i'm talking about the specific of Obamas speech in Maryland. My eyes saw women, and pre-teen s in 13th century garb, and i'm then supposed to believe that they are integrating into US society.
Not likely.
I never said that whites are kind. Like all men they are self serving,and i oppose allwho hide behind bronze age sentiment and thought. Christians included.As for US men wearing ties. This is comparing apples and oranges.They are not hiding their necks because women will get sexually excited by baring their necks.
The US republican party and muslims are both backward looking, and the promise of America is tomorrow.
Not yesterday.
jim hruska

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 9:39:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger rangeragainstwar said...

NI,
i do feel that broad brush strokes can be applied when discussing Muslim religous practices.
Is freedom of religion a Muslim tenet?
Are there any churches in Saudi Arabia, Iran, iraq and the rest of the Muslim world?
Maybe Obama should find a church in these countries to visit.
jim hruska

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 10:31:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger FDChief said...

Damn, jim. Have you turned on "The 700 Club" lately? Fundamentalist bible-bangers less homophobic misogynistic, and more about freedom of religion than your bog-standard Muslim? Are you shittin' me? I normally figure that this is your joint and you can run it how you want. But I gotta go with Nasreen on this one. Just because fewer of us non-muslims take our religion seriously enough anymore to kill people over it doesn't make Christianity or Judiasm any less lethal when imbibed by assholes.

Sorry, man. But there's nothing specially awful about Islam. It's just an artifact of the politics of the modern Middle East and North Africa, just like vicious Catholicism was an artifact of European politics of the 16th and 17th Centuries.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 9:10:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Is not the United State's the great "melting pot", into which all newcomers throw themselves in order that they might emerge from that cauldron tempered and defined as a new entity, that of the "U.S.citizen"? "

Are you wearing your burka on backwards Jim ? Maybe 60 years ago the above was true, but truth be told the last thing this Country is today. Suggest you visit Msn.com and feast your eyes at the brave new world. Schisms and ism's, divide and conquer....the 'melting pot' today is an old school myth.

Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 11:50:00 AM GMT-5  

Post a Comment

<< Home