Compassion In Short Supply
Albeit off-topic, I thought I’d post this all-too typical conversation I’m having with an acquaintance on Facebook. She posted a video of some ISIS people brutalizing their captives, and writes: This is Islam in the real world! NO FILTER NO BS!
Craig Shields: Does this seem like a fair generalization of 1.6 billion people to you? 26% of the world’s population?
Acquaintance: Hi Craig Shields, I would ask where are the Muslims? Why are they not coming out against this? They believe in this? It is true! Christianity is under attack! Our flag is under attack, our freedom is under attack! Our Constitution is under attack. If you look at Germany and what is happening from the refugee settlement it is already happening here! I fear for my children & grandchildren! To come to America someone who immigrated to this country was that you came here legally and you assimilated to the American culture and American values, you stood for the anthem, you pledged allegiance to our flag, you abided by American laws and you made America a better place! Everyone that is coming here now wants to change America and make it like where they came from. That can’t happen. Our Constitution doesn’t meld with their crazy views and it’s dangerous! The liberal left is pushing America off a cliff! God help us!
Craig Shields Here is what I would ask you to think about. Do you know any Muslims personally? I do. In the years I coached my kids’ soccer and basketball, I encountered lots of Muslim families. They had two important things in common: a) they were all fine people with amazing family values and fabulous work ethic, and b) they were all, each one, appalled at what was being done in the name of Islam. (Pictured above is Alif Marchi, one my favorite kids of all time. He comes from a devout Muslim family, currently a 4th year student in Theater Design and Production at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. I was very close with his little brother, and his mom and dad as well.)
My suggestion is that you relax. Contemplate how the world has plenty of hate in it; it doesn’t need more. Since you’re a Christian, ask yourself what Jesus would do in this circumstance. Deep inside you, you are a beacon of love, compassion and understanding.
Bonus pic from the same soccer team: My son Jake (left) and his buddy Luis Sanchez. Good times…..
@ Craig
Yes a different distinctly Geo – Socio – Political based topic, w some religion over tones backed in perhaps.
Its a Wonderful world if we would learn and practice tolerance and mutually practiced good humanity practices.
But the voices of Hate create divide and separation and conquer and strife and violence results. Same old broken record for sure.
The lack of real media coverage and a real examination of the issues is never done allowing the less informed and hate mongers to dominate the conversation and the results are a great Divide and more separation.
Its rampant and lots of gas being put on the flames to make it burn greater. And we think we are going to Green the World ???
Violence is taking more forms and the excesses of some governments beg the question why is Violence so excessively in use and growing Globally in many areas. Check out Philippines new fascist government and what is going on there . Paid hit squads are roaming taking out so called undesirables to appease the new rulers ???
Maybe there is a voice of reason out there but not in good sight Yet ?!
It is a particular type of mind and circumstances that overgeneralizes and discriminates out of paranoia.
Shock at their attitude will be taken as a form of attack and is likely to encourage further entrenchment. A personal example might be more effective.
… should we eliminate a person’s right to drive because of the smallest of parking violations. We make allowances even for traffic lights and speeding. Even if all Muslims were not always perfect Americans we would make allowances because otherwise we would be trying to hold them up to a standard any one else does not meet.
… we don’t put children in jail because they skipped a class in school or didn’t do their homework…
… if your child is rude and doesn’t say hello do we judge the family, the siblings…
There are absurd implications of a harsh attitude and most don’t look hard enough at their own thinking.
Craig,
While I applaud your compassion and reasoning, your acquaintance raises some uncomfortable issues and concerns that should be address without finger wagging from the terminally politically correct.
Every society is entitled to maintain and defend its core values and cultural identity. The dream of the “American melting pot” has a price and an element of danger.
While the idea that all Muslims are dangerous fundamentalist fanatics is absurd, and yet any community (including the migrant) must be aware of problems involving assimilation and modifications of cultural values to accommodate changing circumstance.
The issues are complex and made more difficult by overly emotive fears on the one hand and unrealistic “compassion” on the other.
Sectarian conflict among Muslim nations doesn’t necessarily produce migrants willing to accept western values and an eagerness to assimilate. Some migrants retain disapproval, even hatred, of the Western values and beliefs of the host nation.
If these issues are not recognized and appropriately addressed, the host nation can find itself harbouring an alien enemy in its midst.
Historically, Muhammad, the founder of Islam advocated spreading the Muslim faith by the sword and bloodshed. Although most Muslims no longer consider this acceptable, marginalized Muslims can find justification in the early teachings for isolation and fanaticism.
No sensible person expects migrants to abandon all traditions, or cultural diversity, but the host nation does have a right to expect new migrants to join the community and accept the core values of their new home and fellow citizens.
I think these are the sentiments your acquaintance is trying convey.
Just as her fears are exaggerated, it’s also true that simply saying no problems exist, is also unrealistic. In the UK and Australia, all the acts of Muslim related terrorism have not been committed by foreigners, but Muslim migrants, and the children of Muslim migrants.
Religious extremism very seldom has anything to do with the teachings of the religion, but a distorted interpretation that attracts misanthropes and others suffering from anti-social personality disorders.