Friday

Like all of you, I was deeply disturbed yesterday afternoon by the rampage at Fort Hood. Throughout the day and night, it was troubling to hear the descriptions of what happened and the profile of the suspect who (as many of us were shocked to learn late last night) is still alive and in custody.

 A new wave of anti-Muslim sentiment in this country seems almost inevitable if the posts I read on other blogs and news sites are any indication. And I'm sure that the video of the suspect buying coffee in traditional Muslim garb on the day of the shootings pushed some people over the edge -- even though we don't know enough about him yet to fully grasp how significant (or insignificant) that was.

 Since September 11, 2001 this country has needed some prominent American Muslims to step forward and become part of the cultural landscape; to speak to all of us regularly on any number of issues and, in the process, to defuse the US vs. THEM mentality that has festered in the wake of the 2001 attacks.

 At the moment, what little we know about the Fort Hood suspect suggests he was an ongoing victim of this mentality and that he eventually succumbed to the very disorder he was treating in the military. 

 On Friday, the president reminded us that we still don't have enough information to understand what happened or why it happened. He's right, of course. But, in the meantime, it would be helpful if there were some familiar Muslim faces on the news to reassure those who need it that the majority of American Muslims condemn this act of madness.

 Such condemnations are on the news wires now from Muslim organizations I've never heard of. This is somewhat helpful. But, it's hard not feel that we need more from this community; specifically: representatives and leaders who can bridge the cultural divide that has allowed so many Americans to view Muslims with suspicion and scorn.

 Perhaps this is the media's fault -- for only seeking out Muslim spokespersons when something awful happens. But, whatever the reasons, it needs to change. Going online this morning and reading so many anti-Muslim statements -- from all around the country -- was unsettling. 

 At the moment, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan -- still referred to as "the alleged gunman" -- remains an enigma. I think most of us realize that he is not representative of an entire religion. But, some feel differently about that. This has to change. And I believe it depends on the emergence of Muslim-American leaders who can successfully represent the majority and create a true social and cultural bridge that, eight years after 9/11, is still severely lacking in this country.

 

 

Comments

[Debbie from Lyndhurst]

just heard that 1 person was killed & 7 critically wounded in a shooting in a high-rise building in Orlando, Florida...WTF is goin on???

[lwt]

it is comforting to hear that law enforcement does not think this is the work of a terrorist plot, but rather an ordinary individual that snapped. either way, it is very sad.
in the job i held before working for northjersey, one of my sweetest co-workers was a young muslim man. he came here from egypt and eventually became an american citizen. he was intensely curious about american culture and wanted to learn everything he could about it. he got a crash course in the down side after 9-11. the shunning he experienced from many co-workers was appalling.

[nan]

of course it's a horrible event - I wonder - hearing some items on the news - if there really were signs that this guy was going to do something awful - it seems that, after the fact, people start describing the early signs --If what's being reported --that's a big IF - is true - we have lessons yet again to learn.