Social Commentary: Peter King

Congressman Peter King (Rep./NY), powerful chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, has scheduled a series of meetings to begin on Thursday in Washington, to discuss the radicalization of American Muslims. Mr. King has titled the hearings The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and That Community's Response. Of course, this sparked outrage in, not only the Muslim community, but the interfaith one as well. Even the White House "cringed" when the hearings were announced, sending President Obama's deputy national security adviser, Denis McDonough, to speak at an interfaith meeting at a mosque in Virginia. At the mosque, Mr. McDonough attempted to reassure Muslims of the President's view that all Muslims should not stigmatized by the few. According the the NY Times, Mr. McDonough said that "we will not stigmatize or demonize entire communities because of the actions of a few".

Although most people did not think the idea of investigating so-called homegrown terrorism was improper, many thought that the singling out of a single group i.e. Muslims was not the best course of action. In fact, about 500 demonstrators in NY's Times Square shouted that it was down right inflammatory and called for King to expand his witness list to include other groups. King responded by saying, "That's absolute nonsense. The threat is coming from the Muslim community, the radicalization attempts are directed at the Muslim community. Why should I investigate other communities?" Rabbi's cried out that it was an injustice. Muslims expressed deep anxiety over the hearings. Politicians wondered how it all would be perceived.

However, after the initial outrage, many Muslim leaders, like Rizwan Jaka, are determined to take part in the testimony and, by doing so, help to shape its outcome. Mr. Jaka, a board member at the mosque in Virginia where Mr. McDonough spoke, said: "We're ready to dialogue. We feel that we want to make sure we are part of the solution."

Ah, bingo! Lights Flashing!!! Hurray!!!!!!

I never thought I'd say this but, in large part, I agree with Mr. King on this one. For followers of this blog, you know that I have been critical in my writing of the Muslim community for their failure as a COMMUNITY to quell the radicalism that breeds violence within TOO MANY Muslim communities; not ALL but TOO MANY. It DOES NOT happen with such shocking frequency in any other community that I know of. Therefore, why should he spend valuable resources on other communities which have no such track record. I have written that the lack of condemnation of deplorable acts, perpetrated particularly by Muslims, is virtually as vile as the acts themselves. Those who will not speak to stem the flow of nearly endless violence become evil themselves.

I wrote those things as a challenge to my Muslim brothers. I have asked those of true faith to step up and condemn those false prophets who preach only misery, death, and destruction. I have asked questions with an open mind and heart, trying to understand, WHY? Unfortunately, my entreaties went unanswered. In fact, the only response that I received were from people who sent me versus from the Quran (Koran) that seemingly promote the use of violence to achieve their religious goals. I received not a single retort by a Muslim who would dispel those notions and convince me that their ultimate goal is peace and good will to ALL.

Perhaps, in his own way, Mr. King has issued a similar challenge. We are not blind. We see on a daily basis the mayhem that is caused by radical Islam. Well, perhaps more like Mr. Jaka will step up, be heard, and be counted as those who will work with all people to achieve a common goal. And it must start as becoming part of a larger community that condemns ALL who commit heinous crimes in the name of god. This can be fostered by dialogue and ACTIVE participation in hearings like this one. Show the world that you have nothing to hide and will work together to abolish senseless violence.

In a bit of irony, Mr. McDonough offered the best quote to close with: "The bottom line is this. When it comes to preventing violent extremism and terrorism in the US, Muslim Americans are not part of the problem, you're part of the solution."

Well, with leaders like Mr. Jaka, indeed they will be.