I am struggling to even find a starting point for this blog post because when I think about the topic so much anger fills my brain. This past week has brought a lot of unfortunate circumstances that can make it very hard to see positively. Between the Boston Marathon, West Texas explosion, the Senate failing 90% of the country on gun background checks, and more…it is a very frustrating time. However, it seems to be made worse by just how people are choosing to take out their frustration, and the media is not helping.
The victims of the Boston Marathon have been on my mind, as they have been for most of the country’s I’m sure, constantly. Yet despite how awful we feel because of this violence and hatred that has been inflicted on innocent people, there are still those who turn around and add more violence to the picture in the name of it. Throughout the news coverage, I had been hoping that the suspects would not turn out to be Muslim because I knew it would reinforce stereotypes in this country that people fail to see past. Right off the bat it was assumed that they were Muslim and “non-white”, probably Arab even by members of our government and the media who plastered the name of an innocent Saudi student and another 17 year old who were also victims of the awful events that had just occurred. Within the same day of the attack there instances around the country of people who “look Muslim”, which is a completely ignorant thing to say, being violently attacked. In the Bronx a man was beaten up outside of a restaurant he was having dinner, a woman in Boston was shoved in front of her child just walking home. Rumors spread like wildfire that the Saudi who had been highlighted in the media was being secretly deported by some shady deal that Obama was making. The 17 year old who the New York Post put on their front page was getting threats via social media. Their names and faces tainted on top of the pain they were already feeling just like anyone else who was in or watching with Boston that day.
It infuriates me how irresponsible the media has become when they know the influence that they can have on people. Is getting the story out, being first, or even getting the highest ratings more important than a person’s safety? The reporting has been despicable and very difficult for me to watch. Before we even knew anything about the two suspects the focus of their identities rested on things such as their social media page saying Islam as world view, or the fact that Chechnya is primarily Muslim. These things were reported as if they were the true answer, when in fact there was absolutely nothing that said this was the reasoning behind the attacks. Therefore only causing people to spin into more ignorant comments about Muslims and people of Chechnya, that they really knew very little about. Was it worth it? Was it worth it to get that reporting out to cause people pain? I have friends who were in and around NYC who just “looked” Muslim, whether they were or not, who felt terrified to be in public due to the negative attention and even abuse toward their safety because people cannot see past this color blind vision that continues to be drilled into their minds. There has been no trial, we have not even heard directly from the suspect any details for a motive, everything is only speculation, yet it is being reported as though it is fact and therefore people are taking it as so. Even it does turn out that they did act in the name of Islam, it is a radicalization that is not a characteristic of the religion, but of their minds and demeanor. They are no different, and quite possibly may have even acted in similar unfathomable reasoning, as the recent mass shooters. All of these mass shooters were white male. Can you even think of one of their religions? Probably not, because the media did not report the information as they did the two Boston suspects.
I watched Bill Maher yesterday, where a point was brought up that of course not all Muslims are violent, but it is only fact that radical Muslims are the most violent today. This point was awful to hear because it will only reinforce what people are already thinking. I don’t see this as the case. There are terrible acts being done in the name of many religions that have been radicalized, or in some cases not. In Africa, groups based off of Christianity such as the LRA have abducted millions of children, murdered, raped, and maimed millions of African citizens using a perverted version of the 10 Commandments in their work and to brainwash others, for example. It can happen anywhere, it just depends on the person and the circumstances, NOT the religion itself. To bomb innocent people does not take one particular religion that billions of others follow as decent human beings, it takes a person whose brain has been tarnished for other reasons or an understanding of that religion that is coming from the results of that already tainted brain. Just how much of the Taliban are uneducated and deciphering the Quran in ways that the majority of other Muslims would never. Just like the Westboro Baptist Church translates the Bible into a tool of hatred. This translation of the Bible used in the name of much violence and death including toward the LGBT community. And now here we are disgusted with the violence in Boston on Monday, and in some cases acting out by creating more instances of violence and hatred.
We live in a country that is extremely diverse. I think that makes us fortunate. We can get to know and learn from people that have roots throughout the world without even leaving the United States. In fact, we all have roots, of course varying how far back these roots are, that stem to a different nationality. Diversity is a beautiful thing. So many different minds and views trying to make sense out of this world and bringing fun traditions (and food!) to our door steps. But yet, all we have is anger for people who don’t “look American”. Whatever that means. I’ve also seen some reports come out trying to get the similar points out that I am here, but use terms such as “white folks” are color blind. As someone who is white, this is just MORE labeling and assuming. It never seems to end.
Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier from Sierra Leonne and a Muslim himself tweeted an important reminder to the world.
“A person and/or a small group cannot represent a country, a nation nor a religion.”
Do Something also shared a thought that wraps this entire message up very well:
“Heads up: Saying Al-Qaeda is an accurate representation of all Muslims is as stupid as saying the Westboro Baptist “Church” is an accurate representation of all Christians.
There are 2.2 BILLION Muslims in the world. To think that an incredibly small group of fundamentalists is a fair representation of that many people isn’t right.
We’re all human, let’s start acting like it towards each other.”
Yes there are terrible things that have happened this week. Yes they may or may not have been committed in the name of something as seen through the killers head. But everyone, no matter where they are from, or what religion they are, as innocent decent people (as the majority of the world is) are feeling the hurt and sympathizing with the victims. Let’s not create even more hatred and violence because of something we do not understand or because of what is being drilled into our heads by the media. Open your eyes, think for yourself. If more prejudice and violence stems it is only the evil minded who are continuing to win this battle.
Global Thoughts 