Islamophobia
February 5th 2008 09:44
Islamophobia is a fear of all things Islamic. It is a new term in political and social theory but in the last four or five years it has become a term common to politics itself.
Relations between the ‘west’ and the ‘east’ have always been relationships of command and resistance but post September the 11th the divide between the west and the east has grown into a gargantuan chasm. Islamophobia, is one of the many products of this hateful relationship.
In Australia, England and the US racism towards Islam is the last remaining pure form of racial hatred. To be an anti Arab racist, whilst not condoned by all westerns, is the last excepted form of racism. In urban Australia it is now unacceptable to call an Aboriginal person a ‘boong’. In England it is unacceptable to be anti Semitic towards Jewish people and in urban America it is now racist to call an African American a ‘nigger’. Racial comments, thoughts and prejudices are now only acceptable when they are aimed and directed towards Muslims.
In the Wall Street journal in 2005 the self proclaimed Islamic reformist, Tawfik Hamid, wrote that ‘Muslims must ask what prompts this "phobia" in the first place. When we in the West examine the worldwide atrocities perpetrated daily in the name of Islam, it is vital to question if we – Muslims - should lay the blame on others for Islamophobia or if we should first look hard at ourselves.’
Western ignorance of Islam as a religion and the prejudicial anti-Muslim picture that the western media sprawls across our screens is what is responsible for the phenomenon of Islamophobia – not Muslim people themselves. How can Muslims be responsible for Islamophobia when the atrocities that Mr. Hamid is referring to are more than matched on a daily basis by the governments of the west.
The western media appeals to our fears and demons every single day of the week, saturating our minds with negative images of Islam and the fanaticism of its followers. Terrorism, war, dictators, oppression and anger are all that Muslims seem to be involved with. We are not exposed or informed about the pacifist values and beliefs that the Koran preaches. Neither are we shown images of the ‘civilized’ wealthier areas of the Arab world. In the west we focus on the negative and we discuss the horrific - the Koran’s strictness, oppression of women and teachings of violence.
I am not denying that the Koran is a very dangerous book. I am simply saying that the Bible and Torah are just as commanding and just as dangerous yet, the media does not seem to pigeon hole all Christians as bloodthirsty or all Jews as merciless. It only seems to be Muslims who are responsible for atrocities caused in the name of religion.
Followers at the Holy site of Mecca
In Australia, England and the US racism towards Islam is the last remaining pure form of racial hatred. To be an anti Arab racist, whilst not condoned by all westerns, is the last excepted form of racism. In urban Australia it is now unacceptable to call an Aboriginal person a ‘boong’. In England it is unacceptable to be anti Semitic towards Jewish people and in urban America it is now racist to call an African American a ‘nigger’. Racial comments, thoughts and prejudices are now only acceptable when they are aimed and directed towards Muslims.
a propaganda poster of Osama Bin Laden
Western ignorance of Islam as a religion and the prejudicial anti-Muslim picture that the western media sprawls across our screens is what is responsible for the phenomenon of Islamophobia – not Muslim people themselves. How can Muslims be responsible for Islamophobia when the atrocities that Mr. Hamid is referring to are more than matched on a daily basis by the governments of the west.
The western media appeals to our fears and demons every single day of the week, saturating our minds with negative images of Islam and the fanaticism of its followers. Terrorism, war, dictators, oppression and anger are all that Muslims seem to be involved with. We are not exposed or informed about the pacifist values and beliefs that the Koran preaches. Neither are we shown images of the ‘civilized’ wealthier areas of the Arab world. In the west we focus on the negative and we discuss the horrific - the Koran’s strictness, oppression of women and teachings of violence.
I am not denying that the Koran is a very dangerous book. I am simply saying that the Bible and Torah are just as commanding and just as dangerous yet, the media does not seem to pigeon hole all Christians as bloodthirsty or all Jews as merciless. It only seems to be Muslims who are responsible for atrocities caused in the name of religion.
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