Why Are Arab And Muslim Organizations So Quick To Condemn?
It almost seems appropriate that since I’m a Palestinian-American Muslim from Northern Virginia who also happens to be from the same hometown in Palestine (El-Bireh) as Ft. Hood shooter suspect Nidal Hasan, I should issue a press release expressing my outrage and condemnation along with every other Arab-American and Muslim-American organization. But I won’t. I won’t because Nidal Hasan’s actions aren’t representative of me. They’re not representative of Palestinian-Americans, Arab-Americans or American Muslims. While I personally was shocked to hear about this incident, I wasn’t overcome with a sense of shame about it. And why should I? It had absolutely nothing to do with me or who I am. Hasan is an individual who, for reasons yet unknown, went postal and decided to kill his fellow soldiers.
Even before I had heard the news about the shooting, I noticed an email in my inbox from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) with a statement condemning the attack and saying they were “appalled” by it. Later on, the late local news covered a press conference held by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that joined in with statements of condemnation. Why are these organizations so quick to issue such statements? Of course, anyone in their right mind would be disturbed to hear about an incident like this one. But when these organizations are quick to put out condemnations they automatically link the incident with the respective communities they represent. Such statements are uncalled for and unnecessary.
Sure, there will inevitably be the usual Arab and Muslim bashing from ignorant, hateful people. Unfortunately, some will probably even commit violent acts on those they believe are Arab and/or Muslim. And I know that ADC and CAIR claim to put out these statements in order to curb such sentiments and attacks. But I can’t help but think that if these organizations stop immediately putting these statements out, especially before any motive has even been reached, then incidents like this will be begin to be viewed in the same light as any another violent attack. Certainly, all are tragic events but ones where the individuals who commit them would be scrutinized and/or vilified and not the communities they are from.
This is a sad story. But I won’t feel guilty, afraid or ashamed just because the suspect happens to be an Arab and a Muslim like me. That would be ridiculous.
