The facts also tell us that America's growing intolerance of diversity is real. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that hate groups in America have catapulted from roughly 600 just a decade ago, to over 1,000 by 2011.
Source/Credit: Islam Examiner
By Qasim Rashid | August 14, 2012
Illinois 8th District Rep. Joe Walsh is but the latest politician pushing the phantom "Islamic radicalization" threat. He joins the likes of Michele Bachmann and Allen West -- both of whom have faced unequivocal condemnation for their anti-Islam stance from leading political figures. As an American Muslim, one who has lived in Chicago for over 20 years, I felt compelled to respond to Rep. Walsh's attempt to promote intolerance.
Walsh's attempt to lambast American Muslims to garner votes is not new to American politics. His modern day McCarthyism was used previously to demonize American Catholics in the 1960s, American Jews in the 1930s, and American Mormons in the 1890s. In the 2010s, Walsh cites the Fort Hood atrocity and expects Illinoisans and indeed all Americans to believe that "Islamic radicalization" is the new threat to their livelihoods, having already "infiltrated Chicago suburbs." But rather than engaging in an equally vitriolic assumption based reply, my response to Rep Walsh is wholly based on verifiable facts.
What do the facts tell us? Yes, Major Nidal Malik Hasan was a Muslim and was influenced by extremist organizations claiming to follow Islam. But since when does the exception make the rule? The facts tell us that of the nearly 60 mass shootings in America over the last 30 years, 42 were by white men, radicalized by the right. I must have missed Rep. Walsh's warning that radicalized white men were infiltrating Chicago suburbs. As outrageous as such a warning would be, not too far north of Rep Walsh's district we just met Wade Michael Page. Page, a former U.S. soldier and white supremacist, killed six Sikh Americans as they peacefully worshiped. From Page's lyrics and writings we find that he had particular hatred for "blacks, Jews, and Paki scum." Walsh adds fuel to such intolerant fires.
The facts also tell us that America's growing intolerance of diversity is real. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that hate groups in America have catapulted from roughly 600 just a decade ago, to over 1,000 by 2011. Consequently, Americans annually suffer through over 190,000 hate crimes. Furthermore, Anti-government militia groups have surged from just 149 in 2008, to a staggering 1274 in 2011. Most frightening, this intolerant rise shows little sign of slowing.
The facts tell us that Americans are in denial that racism, intolerance, and hate crimes not only exist but also thrive. Few realize that while the present terrorist attack on Sikh's is the most vicious in American history, since 9/11, Sikh-Americans have suffered over 700 hate crimes -- a fact government agencies admit is due in substantive part to hate mongers ignorantly confusing Sikh's with Muslims. The facts tell us that Americans have an eight times higher likelihood of being shot and killed by a police officer, than by a terrorist.
And what do the facts tell us about Illinois and safety? Well, 700 Illinoisans are murdered each year, and roughly 40,000 have been murdered since 1960. Of those 40,000, how many can Rep Walsh cite were the result of "Islamic Radicalization infiltrating Chicago suburbs?" The facts tell us that in Summer 2010, more Chicagoans were killed in south side gang violence, than soldiers in Iraq in the middle of a war against "Islamic radicals." Where is Walsh's plan to curb already suburb-infiltrated gangs? Like the alleged "Islamic radicals," such a plan doesn't exist.
Rep. Walsh does more to harm peace and accord in Illinois, than any phantom "Islamic radical" ever could. He makes it OK to be intolerant. The facts tell us that but 48 hours after Walsh's Islamophobic tirade, a Morton Grove man opened fire at the local Morton Grove mosque. And now, we receive news that a Lombard, IL Muslim children's school suffered an acid bomb attack. To excuse these violent acts of terror as mere coincidence is exactly the political correctness Walsh claims he opposes. But, by yet refusing to apologize, Walsh tacitly endorses such violent behavior.
Fortunately, Illinois is the Land of Lincoln, a president who broke barriers of intolerance and race. This election is an opportunity for Illinoisans to take individual accountability and follow in Lincoln's footsteps. This election let us speak with our vote. Bigots and hate mongers have no place in elected office.
Follow Me on Twitter @MuslimIQ
Read original post here: Joe Walsh, Not Islamic Radicalization, Threatens Illinois' Safety
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