By Arthur Waskow
A new presidential policy on religiously defined terrorism should act in three directions: (1) Work to strengthen those in every religious community -- beginning with those in American mosques and Muslim organizations -- who oppose religious violence; (2) Treat terrorism as a crime to be policed and punished, not through "war' that breeds more terrorists by destroying civilian life; (3) Heal the political canker-sores (such as conflict over Kashmir and over Israel-Palestine) that have festered into motivations and excuses for terrorism
Right away -- not waiting till January 20 -- President-elect Obama should start visiting mosques, speaking in mosques. It is shameful that he did not do so even once during the entire election campaign. At these mosques, he should praise those Muslim organizations -- by name, including the Islamic Society of North America, CAIR, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council -- for their forthright and vigorous public statements denouncing the Mumbai attacks, and others in the past.
He should make clear that of course they were doing no more than is their responsibility, but it is especially incumbent on the American media to let the public know about these statements, and that he is mentioning them to to aid in that process.
He should be clear that the serious adherents of ALL religions should be condemning the use of violence in the name of their own as well as other religions, and that this should be true when Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists use violence in the name of their faith. He should praise the efforts at Jewish-Muslim inter-education by the Union for Reform Judaism and ISNA, and urge churches and mosques to pursue the same kind of efforts. Read more of this nonsense ...
A new presidential policy on religiously defined terrorism should act in three directions: (1) Work to strengthen those in every religious community -- beginning with those in American mosques and Muslim organizations -- who oppose religious violence; (2) Treat terrorism as a crime to be policed and punished, not through "war' that breeds more terrorists by destroying civilian life; (3) Heal the political canker-sores (such as conflict over Kashmir and over Israel-Palestine) that have festered into motivations and excuses for terrorism
Right away -- not waiting till January 20 -- President-elect Obama should start visiting mosques, speaking in mosques. It is shameful that he did not do so even once during the entire election campaign. At these mosques, he should praise those Muslim organizations -- by name, including the Islamic Society of North America, CAIR, and the Muslim Public Affairs Council -- for their forthright and vigorous public statements denouncing the Mumbai attacks, and others in the past.
He should make clear that of course they were doing no more than is their responsibility, but it is especially incumbent on the American media to let the public know about these statements, and that he is mentioning them to to aid in that process.
He should be clear that the serious adherents of ALL religions should be condemning the use of violence in the name of their own as well as other religions, and that this should be true when Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, or Buddhists use violence in the name of their faith. He should praise the efforts at Jewish-Muslim inter-education by the Union for Reform Judaism and ISNA, and urge churches and mosques to pursue the same kind of efforts. Read more of this nonsense ...
Source: Newsweek
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