Unsurprising Contrasts
In the United States, Islamic charities are under deep suspicion for channelling funds to jihadists. The U.S. Department of Justice is in the process of proving through a court trial that the Holy Land Foundation charity funneled charitable funds to Hamas. Other Islamic charities also feel the heat of burning suspicion. There are legitimate charitable Muslim institutions but it is those under suspicion that are being targeted.Just as there are majority Muslim moderates whose peaceful co-existence with their neighbours are interrupted by the actions of fundamentalist fascist-Islamists who prey both on moderate Muslims and on "infidels". But the separation, vast though it is between the groups, is often difficult to detect since those who have nothing to hide are always hidden behind the violently disruptive acts of devoted fundamentalists.
There can be no question that Muslims, and Arabs in particular are viewed generally with suspicion. Violently murderous actions on the part of committed Islamists have created an understandable backlash against those who resemble them physically and in religious affiliation. Little wonder that 75% of young Arab Americans feel targeted.
Whose fault is it? The indictment in the Holy Land charity maintains three of the accused met with Hamas activists to discuss ways in which they could support the movement materially and in the process deliberately oppose Israeli-Palestinian peace initiatives. "The attendees acknowledged the need to avoid scrutiny by law enforcement officials in the United States by masquerading their operations under the cloak of charitable exercise", according to files.
In the United Kingdom there is a backlash against plans to build a huge mosque in London, one capable of hosting well over ten thousand of the faithful at any one time, and which is purported to come with a price tag ranging between 50M pounds to 100M pounds. A petition containing 275,000 protest signatories has been posted on the Prime Minister's Web site. Out of that huge numbers of protest signers, one was seen to contain a racial slur.
At a time when England has experienced a number of terrorist attacks, some of which have been deadly serious, killing a significant number of innocent people, it is more than understandable that people fear an influx of additional Islamists with, they fear, predictable results. Not only that their country's traditions and values are being diluted to too great an extent, but that the risk of further violence will be inevitable.
The burden that violent Islamists have placed upon moderate Muslims is intolerably difficult. Since moderate Muslims represent by far the greatest number in total Muslim membership it is also incumbent upon them to become more aggressively protective of their religion. To be emphatically less tolerant of those among them who bring ill favour and fearful regard to Islam, to lend themselves to the routing and eventual discouragement of Islamists among them.
In Toronto, Canada, a grand architectural marvel of a Hindu temple, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir has just opened to a marching band and children dancing down the aisle behind a delegation of Canadian and international leaders, led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The temple, located in Etobicoke, was designed, carved and shipped in pieces from India, using traditional Vedic principles.
The high commissioner of India was present, along with the premier of Ontario, the mayor of Toronto, and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the faith's spiritual leader. Canada's Prime Minister spoke of the temple reflecting Canadian diversity. "Located in the country's most ethnically diverse city, the facility stands as a testament to Canada and India's proud tradition of pluralism. Canada's accommodation of diversity is not without precedent. There have been forerunners, and of these perhaps none is as noteworthy as India."
Quite the contrast; the existence of a large and peaceful religious minority in a country delighted to share its bounty of life and freedom with them. The existence of another religious minority, said to be peaceful, but increasingly fractious and prone to violent outbursts and attacks against others with whom they share geography.
Labels: Canada, Justice, Political Realities
posted by Pieface @ Monday, July 23, 2007
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