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Watching the American television news cycle, it is as though the country had been occupied by an army of Islamist radicals. The criminal actions of two young American men are derailing the sense and composure of the world's only superpower.

Rightwing pundits are exploiting Boston to revive their pet policies on immigration control, and fueling hatred of Islam. Ann Coulter demanded Tamerlan Tsarnaev's wife to be jailed for merely wearing a hijab, and Sean Hannity wanted to waterboard the suspect. Both wanted to kill, not arrest, try, and convict. No, do not dismiss them as "marginal" – they opine on prime-time television in America's largest cable television network, Fox News.

Many on the American left have an altogether different impulse: denial and deflection. Melissa Harris-Perry and her guests at MSNBC thought Islam had as much to do with Boston bombings as Ben Affleck movies. She was wrong.

Cooler heads must prevail. Between bigotry and denial, there is a sensible middle ground that offers ways forward...

Unlike any European country, American Muslims led by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) have twinned mosques and synagogues across the country. This robust partnership of Abrahamic religions in a pluralist America has given birth to refreshing Muslim religious leadership in a way that is absent in Europe. This is an American asset, a model for other nations.

American Muslims, in general, are much more integrated than their European counterparts: their patriotism, embrace of the US constitution, and ethic of hard work can be seen in most mosques. Why slander and suspect this community? Why risk isolating segments of this American populace, and minimize tip-offs to law enforcement agencies?

Finally, there is something to be learnt from the British government's handling of Muslim extremism. In Boston, the local Muslim community expelled Tsarnaev from the mosque when he rejected the imam holding up Martin Luther King as an example to emulate. This behavior, in part, is driven by the thinking that Muslims have to stamp out extremism, eradicate it from any mosque in which it raises its ugly head.

At times, the FBI is tipped off, which can then lead to sting operations. This is all very well, and yes, spy when necessary; but a far more effective method has been to introduce the extremist to a credible Muslim scholar who counsels and debates radical views based on scripture. When Muslims in Britain report extremism, the local authorities activate this network. Extremists are humans: they have doubts and uncertainties, too.

Pwns wrote:There's no question American Muslims are more assimilated overall than European Muslims. A lot of this has to do with level of education. American Muslims are more educated than the public at-large.

The radical elements are still out there and many of them are US citizens. One has to wonder though why Janet Napolireno and the DHC have seemed more concerned about right-wing tea party terrorism than Islamic terrorism.

CID1990 wrote:Indoor plumbing and toilet paper do wonders for people. Those things would have a moderating effect on anyone.


Sent from the center of the universe.

kalm wrote:

Pwns wrote:There's no question American Muslims are more assimilated overall than European Muslims. A lot of this has to do with level of education. American Muslims are more educated than the public at-large.

The radical elements are still out there and many of them are US citizens. One has to wonder though why Janet Napolireno and the DHC have seemed more concerned about right-wing tea party terrorism than Islamic terrorism.

Are they?

AZGrizFan wrote:

kalm wrote:
Are they?

Like that's even a question.

kalm wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
Like that's even a question.

Of course it's a question...if you don't get news through right wing filters.

Don't you have some shitty music do go listen to?

Ibanez wrote:

CID1990 wrote:Indoor plumbing and toilet paper do wonders for people. Those things would have a moderating effect on anyone.


Sent from the center of the universe.

True. You would be amazed at how less bitter you become when you no longer shit in a hole in the ground.

kalm wrote:

Pwns wrote:There's no question American Muslims are more assimilated overall than European Muslims. A lot of this has to do with level of education. American Muslims are more educated than the public at-large.

The radical elements are still out there and many of them are US citizens. One has to wonder though why Janet Napolireno and the DHC have seemed more concerned about right-wing tea party terrorism than Islamic terrorism.

Are they?

GannonFan wrote:

kalm wrote:
Are they?

Are you actually questioning if American muslims are more assimilated overall than European muslims? Or are you questioning something else?

AZGrizFan wrote:

kalm wrote:
Of course it's a question...if you don't get news through right wing filters.

Don't you have some shitty music do go listen to?

It's not a question if you get your news from any other source but MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, or Headline News.

edit: or Bill Mahar or Michael Moore.

Grizalltheway wrote:

GannonFan wrote:
Are you actually questioning if American muslims are more assimilated overall than European muslims? Or are you questioning something else?

I think he's questioning the assertion that DHS is more concerned with right-wing tea party terrorism than Islamic terrorism.

Grizalltheway wrote:

Ibanez wrote: True. You would be amazed at how less bitter you become when you no longer shit in a hole in the ground.

I, for one, enjoy dropping trough in the great outdoors.

kalm wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
It's not a question if you get your news from any other source but MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, or Headline News.

edit: or Bill Mahar or Michael Moore.

Conks...confusing infotainment and commentary with real news since 1995.

AZGrizFan wrote:

kalm wrote:
Conks...confusing infotainment and commentary with real news since 1995.

Says the guy who gets his "real news" from Rolling Stone.

kalm wrote:

AZGrizFan wrote:
It's not a question if you get your news from any other source but MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, or Headline News.

edit: or Bill Mahar or Michael Moore.

Conks...confusing infotainment and commentary with real news since 1995.

Ibanez wrote:

kalm wrote:
Conks...confusing infotainment and commentary with real news since 1995.

Left and right leaning individuals listen to the "entertainers" at Fox, NBC, MSNBC and take it as news and the facts. People believe Rush and Glenn Beck when they open their mouths.

kalm wrote:

Ibanez wrote: Left and right leaning individuals listen to the "entertainers" at Fox, NBC, MSNBC and take it as news and the facts. People believe Rush and Glenn Beck when they open their mouths.

True.

CAA Flagship wrote:

kalm wrote:
True.

89Hen is a big fan of Rush. He thinks they should be in the Rock n Roll HOF.

JohnStOnge wrote:It's islam people. If you think that the majority of US Muslims don't sympathize you're kidding yourselves. Yeah, they're smart enough not to say so. But if you don't think the overwhelming majority of their hearts aren't with the "cause" and they won't turn if and when they think the time is right I have some swampland down in Pointe a La Hache to sell you.

It's Islam. It's a religion based on conquest and violence. It's not a "Religion of Peace" at all. And it's a religion that believes in forcible conversion. Continue the egalitarian delusion at your own peril. Unfortunately it's also at mine.