Unnecessary provocation

I have repeatedly pointed out on this blog actions or events which I believe produce heightened hostility and tension between Muslims and the rest of America. There is no peace to be found by antagonizing the Muslim community in our nation, or elsewhere in the world. Here's just another example of a counter-productive demonstration from MSNBC.

Mock hanging of bin Laden held near mosque

Activists protesting radical Islam conducted a mock hanging of Osama bin Laden across the street from a mosque on the eve of the anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks. With a crowd of about 100 people shouting "Remember 9-11!" and "No more Jihad!" two men on the back of a pickup truck Sunday slipped a noose around the neck of a dummy wearing a bin Laden mask and strung it up, while the crowd pelted the effigy with shoes.

About 70 counter-protesters described the mosque as a peaceful center for area Muslims and yelled "Racists go home!" during the ritual. A group of clergy joined hands with some of the mosque's worshippers and stood in a circle in front of the mosque. "I think it's crazy," said mosque spokesman Usman Madha. "We have never encouraged extremism. We were the first mosque that condemned the Sept. 11 atrocities and we kicked out a few people that protested that condemnation."

Now I cannot corroborate the claims of the mosque spokesman about their position on terrorism, but I also have no evidence to the contrary. The article goes on to say that the 9/11 Commission believes that two of the highjackers 'visited' the mosque. Such a visit says absolutely nothing of whether they found support in the mosque- material or spiritual. Targeting this mosque with a protest seems completely without basis.

Furthermore, while some might argue that hanging effigies harkens back to the birth of our republic during the protests against Britain, I would argue that it calls to mind a more recent (and criminal) history- that of the lynching of African-Americans for nearly 100 years after the end of the Civil War. In that context, the mock hanging of bin Laden could easily be construed as threatening behavior, and likely racist as well.

I will continue to stress this point to all who may hear it: we will find greater security in reaching out to the Muslim community and drawing them in to the mainstream to the fullest extent possible than we will ever find by venting anger, encouraging stereotypes, and alienating people who could be our friends. I hope this is a message that will find an audience- and soon- so that we may be more likely to find peace in our communities.

GP