Is America Becoming Racist in its Thinking?
When most of us hear the word racism, we associate it with exclusion or ill feelings towards black Americans. In light of all the many terrorist activities that have surfaced in America, and for that matter around the world, many Muslims are being targeted as a group of individuals to whom hatred and ill will has been directed. As a Jew, Muslims, as a whole,have not necessarily been our friends. What I see, however, emerging today, in America and to some extent across the world is a new kind of racism directed against Muslims. The conclusion being, Muslims are terrorists, and they we should keep a watchful eye out for them.
One of my closest friends is a black woman, and she tells me the story of a situation where she was with a Muslim woman, who, after 9/11, was the target of much of the same kind of discrimination and ill will that had been directed towards blacks during the 1950s and 1960s, and beforehand, for that matter. The Muslim woman, as a twist of irony, started telling others that she was black so as not to be a target of hatred.
So here is the question of the day: Has the threat and occurrence of terrorism in this country and abroad produced a new kind of racism? Do we assume that all Muslims are terrorists and out to attack us here and abroad?
Thank you for your minds.
One of my closest friends is a black woman, and she tells me the story of a situation where she was with a Muslim woman, who, after 9/11, was the target of much of the same kind of discrimination and ill will that had been directed towards blacks during the 1950s and 1960s, and beforehand, for that matter. The Muslim woman, as a twist of irony, started telling others that she was black so as not to be a target of hatred.
So here is the question of the day: Has the threat and occurrence of terrorism in this country and abroad produced a new kind of racism? Do we assume that all Muslims are terrorists and out to attack us here and abroad?
Thank you for your minds.
41 Comments:
Becoming???
I was a professor at the University of Michigan when 9/11 happened. Ann Arbor is about 40 minutes away from Dearborn, a small city with a very dense Middle Eastern population. Dearborn has one of the highest concentrations of Arab Americans in the U.S. So we got lots of Muslim students, including women who wore veils.
One of my students and advisees, an incredibly smart pre-law kid who wore a veil, told me that the day after 9/11, she and another veil-wearing friend were verbally attacked as they walked through campus; someone even threw rocks at them. (Keep in mind, this was before we knew who was behind the attacks -- people just assumed.)
She held her head high and made it to law school (I wrote her a recommendation letter). She should be receiving her JD right about now. I hope she does something socially constructive with it.
I happened to grow up in Detroit in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and my father worked in Dearborn. Anti-Arab sentiment was apparent the whole time. I remember slurs like "camel jockeys" and jokes about Iroc-Zs being the cars of choice for muslim Arabs and christian Chaldeans alike. The bigotry wasn't so much about religion but about country of origin and skin color.
I think we've always been a racist country. We just look for new targets to keep it "fresh." What worries me more than anything is what kids are learning about muslims from the news. How do you undo fears -- however irrational -- that are deeply ingrained in childhood? It's hard work.
Winterwheat raises an excellent question: Has America always been a racist country, but with different targets?
Is it not racist to say that Muslims as a group are the worst, making a generalization based upon race, ethnicity or religion?
Another point:
I remember when country clubs in this country would exclude blacks AND Jews based on ethnicity and religion. Remember Henry Ford and his anti-semitism.
So there is a strong argument for this new target mentality. Do you think the old targets continue to be subjects of racist thinking and acting, only treated differently when the new targets surface?
Tabasamu,
I agree with your statements about blacks and Jews not blowing up people, but I think that most people, whether they accept it or not, do have racist feelings and tendencies towards groups. Racism is not a word people like to hear, but we all have our own prejudices, and it is eye-opening to see what they are, regardless of our religion or color of our skin. I am surely not excempt either, it is just a point that I bring up from comments I see and hear from the world today regrding Muslims as a group.
In my humble opinion the US long ago adopted the bully attitude. Within this bully attitude racism and sexism fester. A bully will pound down another to make themselves feel better, then having the upper hand will use that to control others.
Also, we Americans are spoiled, and that leads to believing whatever we want, we deserve. A spoiled child will deflate another's ego to gain the upper hand.
All in all, these attitudes lead to a culture of bigotry and sexism led by good ole boys with tiny penises.
Scott,
Right on, Mr! A man who finally understands the tiny penis mentality!
People have a right to think, believe and act how they choice, making generalizations about groups of people based on who they are constitutes racism, no matter what rationlazations are made. My own children taught me this, when I had made some remark about someone in my own neighborhood who is of Asian descent. And they were right! I may not like the conclusion, but the fact remains that it is racist, period.
I don't know if you can say that being 'spoiled' is a reason for being racist. And I also don't think racism is anything like it once was. In harder times, and earlier years, there was a great deal more racism and people were a great deal less spoiled than we are now.
I think TC/Tabasamu is right in this.
Racism is alive and well. All kinds of ill-will and hatred exist everywhere.
They always have, and always will. BUT, there is a huge difference between FEELING and ACTING. We must not ACT hatefully against anyone just because they are different from us.
I truly have a hard time believing that any group has ever been treated more horribly than blacks have been treated, worldwide.
Blacks are the only group that we in the USA OWNED as SLAVES. We actually OWNED human beings. Can't be any worse than that.
Tabasamu said...
"Well Barbara, blacks and jews never went about blowing up innocent civilians to promote their religion or achieve world domination."
This is true. But white Christians have done this (the KKK and others)... I don't see us racially profiling them!
In the USA, if you're not white, straight, Christian (and sometimes male), anything you do will be held against your GROUP.
Of course, there are many wonderful straight, white, male Christians. Everyone is their own person. We just tend to lump people into their group and judge them.
Tab,
Not all Muslims are Jihad, yet you say in your comments that the bad Muslims are exceed the good ones in numbers, the implication being that Muslims are not good people. To me, this sounds like a racist statement. As indicated above, no one wants to be labeled a racist, sexist or isolationist, but many of us are whether we realise it or not. How is this statement different from any other statement targeting a group of people based on race, religion or sexual orientation?
I'm really bothered by a lot of the comments here. How does Tabasamu know that "most" Muslims are supporters of what happened? You can speak for the approximately one billion Muslims of the world? I think this kind of racism against Muslims is becoming accepted in the U.S. (esp. post-9/11). And I think it's very scary.
tabasamu: i too have to take issue with your line that 'many' or 'most' muslims back the extremist positions of these terrorists
i have worked in anti-racism here in the UK and that is very much NOT the case over here (we have well over 1 million muslims)
i'd really appreciate some evidence from you that this is the case even in the US because i very much doubt you are right on this count
muslim groups here in the uk were quick to condemn thursday's atrocity (as they were after 9/11 and the madrid bombings) and they now fear retaliation because so many people associate them with these terrorists
just as an ordinary irish catholic living in ireland would have been horrified to be associated with the IRA's terrorism, so too it is with most muslims and extremist islamist terrorists
anytime something bad happens like that, people always point at the general group and say "You, Guilty"
...end of story, is that so hard to understand?
well, sadly, attacks on ordinary british muslims increased following 9/11 (as reported by a number of the different UK police forces) so UK muslims are becoming ever more familiar with what it is to be the target of racial and religious hatred, discrimination and violence
in the last couple of hours, i drove past a mosque in central london which is being guarded by a police officer - not something you would have seen on wednesday last week
"Becoming"? Yes, America is racist. Always has been, always will be.
Let us not forget classist, ageist, religionist, sexist...
I actually thought things were getting better in this regard, but maybe I just listen to too much NPR.
Since 9/11 - at least on NPR... I've heard much more from Muslim clerics than in the past, and a lot more talk - even from George Bush, in the aftermath of 9/11 - distinguishing fanatics from ordinary Muslims.
So I guess I've been hoping that the average American has been coming to see that Muslim terrorists are no more reprentative of Islam than, say, abortion clinic doctor shooters are of Christians.
More people should just read the Koran, or at least glance through it. It's a lot shorter than the Bible, but the content is so similar... In fact scholars are sure that Mohammed himself had read the Bible and was strongly influenced by it.
Is America becoming racist? When was it not?
Paul,
Islam is a "Children of Abraham" religion, meaning it is derived from Judaism, just as Christianity is. That's why the Torah, Bible, and Quran are very similar.
The confederate flag waving morons will never join the 21st century.
Um, Lazy Iguana, if you're referring to TC as being a flag waving moron, I can attest to the fact that she is black. She's just a rare black conservative, that's all. Many of us have known her for a while.
In fact, I agree with her posts. She's understandably upset, because the whole issue of racism has been one she's tackled for a while. I've seen her posts before.
I take her seriously. She's no idiot.
Saur & TC,
I do not think anyone is hurling insults nor taking what TC has to say seriously. She seems very passionate about the issue at hand. I respectfully believe, howerver, that some of her conclusions can be deemed to be racist. Racism is not just about blacks, but can be hurled at Jews, Muslims, Indians and other ethnic groups as well. Just because something walks and talks like a duck, does not make it so. There is nothing wrong with being conservative and a person of color.
Now, this brings up another issue that stirs my blood when we talk about the Honorable Clarance Thomas, Justice of the Supreme Court. Here is a Black justice, who is on record being against affirmative action. This is his right. But without such a program, as a black during his youth, I guarentee you that he would not even have been admitted to Yale law school where he attended. Forgetting one's roots, and being in a position to ignore them, is another issue, but one which I felt worthy of bringing up, especially in this context.
last post should read: we are taking what TC has to say seriously (first line)
TC,
If you look at my original post, it tells of how one of my closest friends, a black woman had an experience with a Muslim woman, and how she had felt it would be easier to say she was black than Muslim.
What I am saying is that some of your statements about Muslims do sound racist, meaning, that you are taking a group of people of a certain race and/or religion and making generalizations about them. Surely, if I did the same thing about anyone, I think my thinking, not necessarily me, would be labled as racist, according to the definition above as well.
My comments are not meant to offend you, but to shed light on what I think has become a very real problem here in America today and how Muslims are perceived. This comes rather strangely from myself, as a Jew, since Muslims, by nature have not been friendly to us, but I do not believe that all Muslims are bad, nor the worst kinds of people out their, and make every effort to judge people for who they are individually rather than as a group.
Tabasmu said: Because women are expendable in the Islamic faith. They're good for procreating and that's just about it.
Sounds about right /sarcasm
Christanity also devalues womyn in this manner.
A few bad apples seem to spoil the whole batch.
This way of thinking comes naturally to us, and I think we have to make a determination to fight against it.
Because of Muslim fanatics, Muslim non-fanatics are looked at with suspicion. Just like people who pass by a black man in a dark alley may think he is going to mug them, based on stereo-typical stories they've heard.
I just read that BTK's wife has been in seclusion and may even move away because she may be treated badly due to her husband's horrible deeds.
These kinds of things are sad but true of our society. We just have to commit ourselves to not allow ourselves to think like that.
I'm glad President Bush has repeatedly recognized that most Muslims are peaceful and not associated with the radical thinking of terrorists. He has mentioned this several times to try and curb the backlash towards Muslims here in America.
Niobium,
Actually, Christianity/Judaism does not denigrate women like that. Some groups calling themselves christian, or sects that are offshoots of christianity might do that. But did you know that in the Old Testament/Torah women were actually allowed to be property owners? At that time there were no other civilizations that allowed that. There are other examples, too...
Saur: sorry, you didn't convince me.
That's all right, Niobium. Why let facts get in the way?
Saur, that's why this blog is called women on the...verge...of thinking.
snicksnack!
By George, you got it! Three cheers!!!
*looking modest* I do have to say, though...my remark was supposed to be sarcastic. *ahem* But obviously I like it here or I wouldn't poke my head in so much.
*LOL* That's right, snicksnack. I like it here too. Good night, everyone. We're having quite the gusts of wind tonight. It's a heck of a storm, though nothing in comparison to our worst hurricanes.
As I write, the winds gust ferociously and the trees and plants are swaying. My neighbor next door lost a small tree (it just snapped in half). Anyone with pools has thrown their pool furniture in. Many of us have generators, just in case. We've been told that our power company isn't going to be working as hard to get power up again (as they did last year).
It's dark, the wind is howling, rain is splattering up against the windows, and it would be a great night for a ghost story.
Good night, everyone.
The WEST is as racist or even more Racist than at any other time in recorded history.
The Economic stranglehold we have on the developing world.. pure racism.
Flying Flags at half-mast for 80 dead Brits, and not for 611 dead Iranians in a recent Earthquake is blatant racism.
Tolerance of sweat-shops in Asia, Mexico, and even in the WEST is blatant racism.
Economic racism is just as bad or worse than name-calling, or getting crappy service at a restaurant. We should all be ashamed of ourselves. Racism was horrible before 9/11, I think the fact some of us even notice it, makes it just a little better. Those who are aware will fight against it. Those who are not, will forget about it!
Anonymous said The WEST is as racist or even more Racist than at any other time in recorded history.
Amen to that.
Oh, sorry, as I just learned from Saur, Christanity doesn't discriminate. I'll rephrase: I wholeheartedly agree with your post.
just a short note - I notice that at the time of your posting, it was still Shabbos. Even in CA....
I stand corrected.
I take most of your comments and posts to heart, and see that the word becoming was indeed misplaced.
Niobium,
Again, not all people who claim they're christians are Christians. My point being, there are many tolerant, loving Christians who do not discriminate. If we are not to lump all Muslims into one category, why is it that you wish to lump all Christians into one? Unless, of course, you wish to cause ill-feelings.
There's no doubt there are parts of the Bible that indicate different roles for women. But there is no where in the Bible that it sanctions killing, or harming them as a class.
Doug,
To be technical, when the Bible tells the Jews to commit genoicide, it was in a few and specific instances. It didn't tell the Jews to go off and just kill anyone who wasn't Jewish. It also didn't tell the Jewish people to continually make war on certain nationalities.
I also went to the website that Tabasamu mentioned, and their definition of Jihad is similar to hers, not yours.
Barbara,
I don't think the word 'becoming' was misplaced in a sense. I think racism has always been in every country, among every nationality and all people. I think if they question is "is racism increasing" then I would say no. Perhaps that's simply because my own feelings have not become racist. I don't know how objective I am to that. But I don't see any compelling evidence to make me believe otherwise.
Hi there,
Unfortunately, I agree that racism is alive and well.
It is also important to note that racism is not the sole property of any one religion, race or colour, as there are people from all sections of the community who are racist against others.
In my short life I have seen racism from whites against blacks and asians, blacks against whites and asians, asians against whites,blacks and chinese, and so it goes on.
In the UK, we have a large asian muslim population. Most of the population are very much part of our community, and have been born and raised as UK citizens. Most of the community are good decent people, and are appaulled at the muslim fundamentalist terrorists.
It is important to remember that those in quiet agreement with fundamentalists, are in the minority, and do not speak for the larger community.
The asian community have enriched the UK culture, they are a valuable part of our community.
And yes, every culture has characteristics to it which other cultures in the community will not agree with. I have always had many friends within the asian community, and always will, and speak a tiny smattering of urdu, but unfortunately no punjabi. I personally feel that women are not treated equally within the asian society, that is only my opinion, but it is not my business to
insist change. It is not my culture, and not my right to do so.
I have no illusions that there will be things within Scottish culture that other cultures also don`t like...but its all about accepting differences and living together as one community.
Education is the only way to defeat racism. Ignorance of each others cultures breeds suspicion.
terrorism = racism
Barbara,
When you remind people of racism directed against blacks in the 60's, please don't forget Malcolm X, Elija Muhammad and Louis Farakhan. In short, the blacks have turned their backs on the very Jews who stood by them throughtout the civil rights movement. In most metropolitan areas today, Jews are scared of blacks, scared because blacks have become the biggest Jew-haters out there.
It is not by mere chance that the biggest Jew-haters among the blacks are black-Muslims. Islam, in my mind, isn't a very tolerant faith. During the Middle Ages Jews weren't only persecuted by Christians. In Muslim countries, in North Africa and the Middle East, all infidels(Jews and Christians) had to pay taxes for living amongst the Muslims, didn't have the right to build their homes higher then the homes of their Muslim neighbors and didn't have the important(back then obviously) right of riding a horse.
Please don't fall into the trap many Left-wing Jews have fallen into here. Specifically, stop pittying the poor, defenseless Muslims. Pitty the victims and families of terror victims. They certainly deserve it more than any Mulsim. I'm not saying that Muslims in the U.S. should be harassed, attacked, and discriminated against. On, the contrary, I have respect for my Muslim neighbors. I just never talk politics with them. But this is in Israel. In the U.S. I feel people have the right to voice their anger against Islamic extemism. Just don't resort to violence or racism. Talk, think, look inside yourselves for answers.
tabasamu...I dont' have the time to look through all of your comments but I am totally behind you in most of what you say. Having an open minded doens't entail always defendign the minority. Sometimes one has to defiend the majority as well.
In Israel Arabs are a lot safer than Jews. Arab terrorists usually don't target their own partly because most Israeli Arabs support(if not openly) Arab Jihad(holy war) against Israel. Please don't ask me how I know this is the majority. I've lived here enough time to learn the ways of this place.
As you say, Whites, in the days of the civil rights movement were very racist. But this applies to a minority of whites. You also state that most Muslims approve of in not endorse Jihad. You don't even know how absolutely right you are. Thank you for having an open mind.
Be'tikva, Eitan.
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