I read an article this afternoon that stated “Nearly one-half of Americans believe the U.S. government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim-Americans“. The article tells of a poll that found 44% of Americans believe this openly racist policy should be followed.
“The survey showed 27 per cent of respondents supported requiring all Muslim-Americans to register where they live with the U.S. government. Twenty-two per cent favoured racial profiling to identify potential terrorist threats. And 29 per cent thought undercover agents should infiltrate Muslim civic and volunteer organizations to keep tabs on their activities and fund-raising.” (AP)
This leads me to ponder, as did Matthew Good in “ Poison In The Water“,
“if, in the years to come, Muslim Americans will be forced to wear the Crescent on their jackets and find themselves restricted to certain trades. Perhaps Muslim intellectuals will be forced to resign their positions or, perhaps, Muslim Americans will simply disappear to some location from which they will never return.
In a nation that purports to exist to guarantee the rights of its citizens from persecution, to protect their right to a public voice and the freedom of faith, how can any one American believe that another’s liberties should be restricted?” (MG)
In a nation that purports to exist to guarantee the rights of its citizens from persecution, to protect their right to a public voice and the freedom of faith, how can any one American believe that another’s liberties should be restricted?” (MG)
America, where is you defence of liberty? Where are the ideals you once held dear? Have you truly fallen so very far?
15 comments on “Racism In The Open”
When someone you love is killed by a terrorist, you'll realize the Constitution is not a suicide pact.
When someone you love loses their rights because of their race alone, you realize that human rights are essential to a free and safe society.
What rights are you talking about? Like the right to go to the airport and see people that obviously aren't terrorists, like 90 year old women, searched so you can feel like you're not be discriminated against.
Is it any better for that 90 year old woman to be Muslim?
You clearly haven't answered my point. Should we be searching people at airports that clearly aren't terrorists?
I think it is difficult for everyone to cope with the terror and threats without wanting to point finger at who caused it. But is it really fair to point at an entire group? So just because you are muslim you should be regarded as a possible threat? That doesn't sound right to me, but then I'm not an American either.
Just shows Americans have stopped standing for any real causes. They talk of freedom and democracy, they just don't like to have to practice it.
Jett,
Have you ever been to America?
It isn't about assign blame. Is about preventing this from happening again. Another question you might consider is: Is it fair to waste peoples time while making us less secure so a certain group won't feel like it is the target? Notice, they are the target either way no matter what people say, but only of those ways distracts resources so we can all feel better.
Excellent blog. I like your deconstruction of modern culture as it relates to racial differences. I will definitely be back.
Mark, we don't know who might cause harm. How can I tell if a white person is not a Christian fundamentalist off to bomb an abortion clinic, a terrorist act? We can't blanket people as criminals or potential criminals by race. It's against any proper standard of human rights.
There are surely ways to prevent terrorism other than resorting to racism and we should be working to build such means.
Memphis Word Nerd, thanks for your kind comment. Racial issues aren't something I tend to focus on often, it just seems that it's been in the open a lot lately and I felt compelled to comment on this poll and Le Guin's work being altered to be white-friendly.
Hey Apollo, check out this link: http://www.renaissance-art.com — they make handmade leather journals. Very neat looking, seems like a “you” thing.
interesting read-and comments!
also like the layout
happy new year
In my 8 years on in the military I've lived in 4 different countries. This is the best country I've experienced. I love america, but considering its very racially biased history, the statistics should NOT surprise anyone.