It is not racist to demand that Muslims in the West, like their fellow countrymen, respect the laws and traditions of the land, and encourage other Muslims to do the same. It is racist to presume, however, that Muslims are fundamentally incapable of adopting liberalism along with their faith. Christians and Jews have managed to do so to a remarkable degree, even while their scriptures incite violence and their past remains bloody. Indeed, there are progressive voices originating from within the Muslim world, such as the Quilliam Foundation’s Maajid Nawaz, author Irshad Manji, and social activist Pervez Hoodbhoy, and we must stand shoulder to shoulder with those looking to bring positive change. We must also recognize that these shootings are ultimately not about Islam vs. the West, as the political Right would have you believe, nor are they about extremists vs. the rest of us, as many on the political Left cast the issue. This is about liberal tolerance vs. authoritarian censorship, and in that sense, it’s a fight freethinkers have fought before.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 21:04:56 +0000
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