It was late last night, like 4 in the morning and I couldn't sleep. So I turned on Comedy Central and was amazed at what I saw. Two standups in a row, both people of Middle Eastern descent, talking about what it was like living in post 9/11 America. One of them commented that Arabs were the new Blacks when it came to racial profiling, prejudice, and general confusion, fear, mass hysteria and hatred. After thinking it over for awhile, I realized that he was right!
As a Black man I am familiar with the notion of Driving while Black, aka the only reason you're being pulled over is because of the color of your skin. But what about Muslims? Is it really a coincidence that they are always selected for so called random screenings at the airport? Do you tense up a bit when a tall arab looking man passes by in close proximity? What effect has the Patriot act really had on US security and constitutional rights?
Although its human nature, America in particular has a nasty habit of waging a very nasty and very effective public relations campaign of dehumanizing its enemies. Throughout history, Black have been defined as less than, savages, apes, animals only intersted in plundering White women, lazy, stupid, smelly, subhumans that needed to be controlled, subdued, put in their place. This kind of thinking fed white supremacy from colonial times up until the end of the civil right movement. Occasionally these images still occur, even in 2009 with the running of the controversial political cartoon in the New York Post.
But its not just Black people, During World War two, the Japanese were considered the lowest of the low, animals, brutes, stupid monkeys who couldn't think for themselves. Thats why they had to blindly follow Hirohito in attacking the sleeping gian that was America. They had no regard for human life, they flew their own planes into American ships, charged with bayonets drawn against brave United States marines. Ultimately what happened, they got two atomic bombs and millions of casualties for their trouble. But few people in this country at the time or even now batted an eye at this incredible slaughter. Why? Because the rhetoric of Japanese being non humans worked. After no one really cares about someone who isnt human right?
The tragedy doesn't end there. Jews, Irish and Italian immigrants, Catholics, and Latinos have all felt the sting of this "dehumanization" at some point or another in out nation's history. Its a painful thing to realize but don't take my word for it. Know your history and the history of this country. I love America but it has some serious historical issues when it comes to dealing with anyone who is of a different race, ethnicity, or culture other than White, Protestant and Anglo Saxon.
So what's my point? Its happenening again and no one cares. Because the general American public has subscribed to this warped idea that everyone in the middle east is an angry terrorist who will either hijak a plane or wear a bomb strapped vest at some point in their lifetime. Its incredible the impact that media and entertainment can have on an individual and collective subconscious level. Still think I'm making all this up? Listen to what your fellow Americans said in a blog about the latest statement from Iran's leader concerning Israel.....
"The entry "cancerous path" is not that bad. The West should start the surgical removing of the cancerous ideology of islam out of the flesh of mankind"
Intense radiation should be the method of choice. (Implying the use of nuclear weapons)
Yeah, we could call for the annihilation of Tehran and an end to the occupation of Persia by the genocidal muslims.
Iran is on record for having made enough threats against Israel to justify under international law Israel taking out Iran. With nukes if necessary. I would love to see a bunch of radioactive mullahs whining in their tea. The world wouldn't do much about it.
Yeah, if those evil Jews had such formidible powers one would think they would have removed the blight of the Koran from our midst long ago.
"knife or dagger plunged into the heart of the Arabs."
Do the muslims have a heart? I thought, that they have instead of a heart something like a green pudding, that tells them to love some graffiti-god written on the wall somewhere; that tells them to send their children into suicide bombing; to hate and oppress their women instead of loving them; and to hate everything that mankind created like beautiful arts, literature, painting, dancing, or intelligent innovations - everything except our weapons.
source: http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/025100.php
Is this what Americans really think? If so then I am afraid for the future of humanity. I thought that the world had finally reached a point where we could all recognize the humanity of our fellow brothers and sisters. And before you ask, no I don't support the very real and dangerous evil of extremist Islamic terrorism . But thats just it, extremist is the key word and problem, not Islam. The vast majority, like 99% of muslims are not the ones wreaking havok in theworld in the name of holy war or jihad. Truth be told, every social group has its own brand of extremists. Does anyone remember Timothy Mcveigh and the Oklahoma City bombing? I happen to be an extremist Ohio State football fan, I just don't kill people over it.
We must constantly refuse to succumb to racial or ethnic or any other kind of stereotype. Fear and ignorance are the tools of the enemy. It takes a conscious and concerted effort to combat the very real prejudices prevalent in the media and entertainment today. But it can be done. Want the solution to world peace. Tolerance and the recognition of the value of life and the reality of EVERYONE's humanity. It is the only way and it must happen now.
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