Hatred of America and rampant anti-Semitism are fueling Islamic extremism in many parts of the world, but the official international voice of the U.S. government, the State Department, is showing a strange reluctance to tackle these issues forcefully. There is such a thing as being too diplomatic in the face religious fanaticism, race hatred, and the sickening concepts of terror and martyrdom.
Mindless hatred has become the hallmark of a fouled version of Islam that has percolated through many populations. It’s time our government stopped soft-soaping the issue and confronted it with strong condemnations.
I have a personal interest since I am both an American and a Jew. I will always be an American and, although I do not practice religion, I still consider myself Jewish because if you’re Jewish those who hate you define you by the blood that runs in your veins, not whether you go to the Synagogue. Even if I wanted to – and I don’t – I could not rid myself of my “Jewishness.” Therefore, hatred of America and anti-Semitism are a double problem for me.
The latest fiasco involving Egyptian “activist” Samira Ibrahim is a perfect case in point. The first lady and secretary of state were on the verge of presenting Ibrahim an International Woman of Courage Award for standing up to Egyptian military repression when it was brought to their attention that she had been sending out repulsive anti-America and anti-Semitic tweets, including this on September 11, “Today is the anniversary of 9/11. May every year come with America burning.”
Last year she posted a quote she attributed to Adolf Hitler as her philosophy: “I have discovered with the passage of days, that no act contrary to morality, no crime against society, takes place, except with the Jews having a hand in it.”
First Ibrahim denied it, claiming her twitter account had been hacked, but she quickly changed her tune blaming her problems on the American Jews – naturally – stating, “I refuse to apologize to the Zionist lobby in America regarding my previous anti-Zionist statements under pressure from American government therefore they withdrew the award.”
The State Department’s response to these outrageous insults was merely lukewarm. In a diplomatic whisper our spokesperson said: “We didn’t consider some of the public statements that she had made appropriate. They didn’t comport with our values.”
Appropriate? Values? That sounds more like a vegetarian scolding a kid for eating a hamburger than a representative the U.S. responding to an Al Qaeda cheerleader wishing for an annual 9/11.
This is a hearts and minds battle and we are losing because we are unwilling to define the alternative in strong terms that resonates with freedom-loving people.
Obviously, this does not mean that every Muslim is a fanatic anymore than the existence of German-American Bund prior to WWII meant that every German was a Nazi. Every nation and every group has its lunatic fringe, but at some point, even apologists have to admit that these attitudes permeate much of the Islamic world, not merely known extremists. When radical ideas start making major inroads in any society it’s often too late to turn things around.
I believe that a significant number of Muslims detest these attitudes, but they tolerate them for fear that if they speak out they and their families will become targets too. Serious condemnations by the U.S. State Department in no uncertain terms would help good people rid themselves of those fears and send a clear message to both our friends and our enemies.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident.
