Sunday, May 23, 2010

Questions That'll Never Be Asked on Television

While it's possible some commentators have wondered aloud on television why Muslims don't openly protest against Islamic terrorism, I don't recall any specific examples. It's likely a Sean Hannity or Bill O'Reilly has posited such questions, but when it comes to the majority of the media and straight news programs, it's one area they'll rarely if ever touch.

So let's give Phil Mushnick of the New York Post some credit for broaching this subject.
Even before 9/11, Muslim-American spokespersons appeared on local and national newscasts, as well as news forum programs, to explain Islam in the aftermath of the latest terror attacks and murders — attacks in the name of Islam, here, there and everywhere.

And these spokespersons say the much the same thing: “We do not condone such activities. Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Genuine Islam is a religion of peace.”

Okey dokey. And then that’s that.

It’s a TV drill that’s reproduced after every known successful and unsuccessful act of domestic and international terrorism attached to Muslim perpetrators who credit God with their working knowledge of detonation devices.

But, perhaps because the interviewers don’t want to seem impolite and impolitic, they never ask any version of the question that begs to be asked next:

“Sounds good, but if murderous attacks by Islamic extremists are antithetical to the beliefs of American Muslims, and if there are nearly three million Muslims living here, why is it that not once, down any Main Street in any city, have Muslim-Americans gathered — rallied or marched as a group of the concerned and like-minded — to demonstrate their repudiation of Muslim terrorism?

“Why aren’t Muslim-Americans eager to convey their great and group regard for American principals, diversity and freedoms — especially freedom from fear and religious freedom?”

In other words, after the same spokespersons condemn the latest episode, why not ask why we’re only told that but never shown; why doesn’t Muslim America ever walk the walk?
There are two possible answers why they don't: Fear or they tacitly approve of terrorism.
Yet, the only Muslim demonstrations seen in the U.S. since 9/11 have been staged by flag-burning radicals calling for “Death To America,” as per Allah’s instructions.

So where are the counter-demonstrations from Muslim-Americans?

If they’re afraid of being targeted for murder by jihadists, why not combat such a perversion of Islam rather than shrink from it?

Final question: Why are such questions never asked?
And there are two possible answers for that: Cowardice and political correctness.

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