“I feel embarrassed for the Muslim community, I like top think it was an individual, not the religion,” A Muslim, who also happens to be a U.S. soldier told ABC news on the shooting at Ft. Hood. The shooter was identified as a convert to Islam. *Sigh*. This incident reminded me of this entry I wrote just over a year ago:
Parents are leaving the ‘Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Cuddle and Coo’ doll off the Christmas list this year. The doll, sold at Target and Walmart, is being alleged to say the message “Islam is the light” according to those who have purchased the doll. Customers are in an uproar about the doll that supposedly “promotes Islam”. Target and Walmart are pulling the doll off the shelf.
This scares me, people.
Not the doll’s words, but the fact that in our country, a supposed enlightened and free country, we equate Islam with terrorism.
Islam, in its truest and oldest form, is a religion. A peaceful religion, based on values no different from Christianity and Judaism. Browsing through blogs and articles, the doll is accused of “spouting a message of hate” and the religion associated with suicide bombings.
This is a prejudice in its purest form.
The average Muslim is not an enemy of the Western world. In fact, the average Muslim will condemn terrorists actions. A select few, Islam Extremists, have tarnished the religion. What these terrorists do in the name of Islam does not represent the masses.
“I think it’s bad” said one girl on Fox News.
This scares me.
More than terrorist attacks and suicide bombers; our attitude, and complete and utter ignorance as a country, scares me.
And as a journalism major, it angers me that the media, the supposedly fair and objective gatekeepers of the news, are reporting the story in a way that supports this prejudice. The big news story is not that a doll may or may not have a religious preference, but that we are still so blind as a country to the racial and religious discrimination that we embrace.
Islam is not the enemy; ignorance is the enemy. And until we open our eyes to that truth, we are no better than those Extremists who hide behind religion in order to validate their hate.
I will say though, that at least from the coverage I’ve seen, the media appears to be making an effort to point out that “Muslim” is not a synonym for “terrorist”. “Do not jump to conclusions” President Obama stressed. I hope America takes this advice to heart.
