Islamaphobia

Islamaphobia -- an unwarranted fear of Islam.  Unwarranted?  Really?

The problem is that few know what islam is.  Sure, women wearing burkas are generally Muslim.  Yes, and like very observant Jews, the men often wear skull caps and sport beards.  But are these people a threat?

Keith Ellison, the Representative from Minnesota exemplifies the problem of understanding what a Muslim is.  Although, he now soft pedals his entry into Islam -- he converted to Islam from Catholicism at an early age -- records make clear that it was the Nation of Islam (NOI) to which he converted.  Today, he doesn't talk much about the NOI and identifies himself more with Islam in general.  Is this relevant?

Well, yes.  NOI, now under the leadership of Rev. Louis Farrakhan, is an American version of Islam.  By that I mean, if you trace it's origins, it was created to serve the emotional and theological needs of African Americans.  A great many African Americans first encountered this form of Islam in prison.  And, indeed, in many cases it made the converts into better, more positively directed people.  However, in their theology they demonize white people and they have great hostility to Jews. It was when Malcolm X sought to find an Islamic path away from Farrakhan that he was murdered.  This is not a form of Islam that a non-African American would associate themselves with.  And, yet, NOI members seem to pose no threat to non-NOI Americans.

Over the years, Muslims like others have come to American seeking a better life.  And, with time many have drifted to secularism.  Catholics, Protestant and Jews have also drifted to a secular way of life.  They will show allegiance to their religion, but they become less observant of the theological requirements.  Catholics will practice birth control, Jews will often work on Saturday and enjoy Chinese cuisine, and Protestants will often remain unaffiliated with any Protestant Church.

Recent immigrants from Europe will generally bring their religious affiliation with them.  However, Europeans also have become more secular.  Among recent immigrants, it is the Muslims who largely believe that assimilation is something to be avoided. Over the years, a great Muslims immigrated to American from Lebanon.  There were also Christians, Chaldeans, and other groups from that part of the world.  The largest mosque in Dearborn, MI, is a Shia mosque.  The Sunnis also have a mosque in nearby.  There have been acts of vandalism between members of the two mosques, but that seems to have been something in the past.

The problem faced by Muslims who refuse assimilation, and the responsibilities that come with American citizenship is the continuation of Middle East practices that are illegal in the U.S.  Polygamy is one such practice.  Honor killings of noncompliant daughters, while infrequent, still crops up from time to time.

From what I have personally witnessed, Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims do not have a very high regard for one another.  Is that good or bad?  I don't know, but it's what I've observed.

There are further distinctions between Muslims.  Kurds, for example, are largely Sunni and yet they differ from Iraqi Sunnis.  To begin with they speak a Turkic language, not Arabic.  Also, their attitude towards women is more western that that of other Muslims.

Probably the most problematic Muslims, from an American point of view, are the Salafists.  These are Muslims who wish to live much as Mohammed lived.  That's a problem.  The cultural mores in today's American society have little in common with the mores found in the days of Mohammed.  Muslims, coming under the influence of Salafists, are the ones most likely to come under the influence of ISIS.  The Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia are essentially Salafists.  However, they have been kept in check by the rulers of Saudi Arabia, who realize that while Salafists might be countenanced in Saudi Arabia, it doesn't travel well outside the kingdom.

I should make mention of the Ahmadiyya, who refer to themselves as Muslims, but are not so regarded by other Muslims.  These are great people and  love American ways.

Then there are the Sufi.  I mention them only because they they should not be confused with Salafists.  Sufis strive to improve themselves through meditation.  I might add that what we refer to as whirling dervishes are in fact Sufis.

I don't with to end on a sour note, but except for the Kurds, the Ahmadiyya and very possible the Sufis, most Muslims don't think that Jews should have a country; at least not in the Middle East.

The careful reader will realize that I haven't mentioned the Quran.  Islam actually rests on three writings; namely the Quran, the Hadith and the Sunnah.  These books are the same for all Muslims.  Since we can see that there are different sorts of Muslims, it should be apparent that Muslims pay greater attention to some parts of these books than to other parts.  Yes, I understand that all parts of a book such as the Quran should be given equal weight.  But, when sections can be read differently, this becomes a problem.  In fact, a great deal of picking and choosing goes on.