Courtesy Facebook
The nation is still reeling from shock after Monday’s attack on the Boston Marathon. Gun violence notwithstanding, this is perhaps the first real terrorist attack on US soil after 9/11. Understandably emotions have been running high; no surprise then, that as the events unfolded many people, including the media, jumped on the “Blame the Muslims” bandwagon. The New York Post famously inflated casualty numbers and reported that a Saudi man was apprehended as a suspect by the police. Social media was inundated by predictions of guilt and accusations of violent jihad, at the same time as the Muslim community mobilized to condemn the attacks.
The fact that Muslims have to defend themselves even before any culprit has been found or motive determined is a sad reality. Having lived through 9/11, the Fort Hood shootings and the American Consulate killings in Libya, the American Muslim community has learned the hard way that every act of violence is another public relations crisis for us. As Huffington Post reported, it has become second nature for us to be immediately vocal about the peaceful teachings of Islam in a way that no other religion has cause to be. Perhaps it’s the one positive we have gained in the wake of violence in this decade.
More than an experiment in American Muslim PR, however, the Boston Marathon attack has proven to be a test case of interfaith relations. While Islamophobia is still raging rampant in the country, many known religious Islam-bashers have keep prudently silent and refrained from making any predictions about the culprit’s religious affiliations. A Fox News guest recommended killing all Muslims, but that’s the level of journalistic integrity routinely displayed by Fox News. What was pleasantly surprising, however, was the fact that the general public wasn’t listening to the media this time. The average Joe – Christian, Jewish, even atheist – was refusing to give in to the Islamophobia.
The tolerant attitudes and overwhelming response of Americans was nowhere as obvious as on social media. Case in point: Twitter user @MuslimIQ tweeted on 15 April: “RT if you are non-Muslim & condemn those ignorantly blaming Muslims for the horrific #BostonMarathon.”
Within a day the retweets rose to more than 3,000 in response. Among the replies:
“Our great religions came from the same roots after all. I cannot comprehend Islamophobia.”
“I condemn ALL mass blaming of ANY group. I just blame individual idiots, as it should be.”
“There are just as many extreme Christians as Muslims. Every Muslim I have met has been friendly, peaceful and considerate.”
“People need to learn that peace and hate will come from all colors and religions.”
“I favorited and retweeted and I am an atheist. Assalaam alaikum, friend.”
That people of other faiths are standing up for their Muslim neighbors is an amazing display of interfaith unity. It seems to me that Americans have truly been making an effort to bridge the gap, learn about each other and stick together in trying times. The message across the social media world is that violence and hate is not taught by Islam or any other religion, and those who hide behind a faith to further their agendas have got to be exposed. Regardless of who the perpetrator of the Boston Marathon attack turns out to be, we as Americans have finally passed the real test of interfaith relationships. As an interfaith activist, I couldn’t be more proud.
it is so wonderful and heart warming to see people make a deliberate effort to reach across false boundries and stand up together against ignorance and hate.
Thanks so much for sharing this, Saadia! I have read many reports about the “Blame the Muslims” hatemongering but had not yet heard about this interfaith twitter campaign.
We as Americans do a lot better than most societies with regard of tolerance. There have ben societies in the not too distant to past that have used incidents, actual or fictionalized initiate a campaign against minorities. Think of Turkey in 1915 when the Armenians were blamed for siding with the Russians in
WW 1. They were deported for their homes and massacred to the tune of over 1 million. The survivors were left to starve in the desert.Think of the Holocaust and the countless pogroms against us as Jews.
I am sorry. Muslims have a very good life here. They are protected by the the very constitutional rights we all enjoy. There was no vendetta en-mas against Muslims in the US after 911. In fact the president called for calm and tolerance. He made it an an important point.
No one is wringing their hands and blaming Muslims after this recent bomb attack Everyone seems to be in a wait and see mode. The public wants to know who and why.
IN the mean time, there were celebrations in Gaza in the aftermath of the bombing. I do not hear you or Saadia condemning it..
In the mean time, I suggest you express some compassionate for the victims of this attack, no matter who was behind it. There may have only been 3 deaths, but there are multiple amputees. YOU, Alana, are a staff member of the magazine shod be ashamed for not mentioning the victims. Shame on you!
Jerry, I have expressed my sympathies with the victims of not only the Boston bombing this week but with the victims of all terrorist attacks in the US and worldwide, whether they were a result of so-called Muslims or US drones. I vocally express my emotions on Twitter. This article was an exploration of interfaith relationships, so I didn’t mention anything else here. But if you and perhaps other readers of Tikkun Daily feel strongly about it, then I will go on record as saying that I, as every American, is feeling devastated right now, praying for the victims, and fearful of what the future holds for peace in this world.
My comments were directed more at Alana, who failed in the regard. She is a member of the Tikkun staff,
I’m confused as to why my simple expression of appreciation for Saadia’s inspiring story of interfaith solidarity and relationship-building has led Jerry to jump to the conclusion that I feel no compassion for the people killed, injured, and tramatized by the bomb in Boston. My heart aches for all of the Boston residents and their loved ones who are mourning losses, nursing injuries, and dealing with the fear and trauma caused by this violent attack. Like Saadia, I dream of a day when no one in the U.S. or elsewhere will have to experience the fear and horror of violent attacks such as these.
“There have ben societies in the not too distant to past that have used incidents, actual or fictionalized initiate a campaign against minorities. Think of Turkey in 1915 when the Armenians were blamed for siding with the Russians in WW 1.”
Jerry, think of the USA in 1942 when Japanese Americans were deprived of their homes, property, and liberty, imprisoned in concentration camps throughout the war years and beyond (ironically, by the authority of progressive hero Franklin Roosevelt, with an official apology coming decades later from Ronald Reagan). We ourselves are one of those societies you rightly lament.
I join Alana in thanking Saadia for his uplifting account of one way that solidarity and compassion have grown among us, often unseen and uncelebrated.
Well said, Saadia. We are not all the same, but it’s our differences that make life interesting. We should make it our business to learn and respect what others believe. We should not let our edification depend on the media! Then, perhaps, we wouldn’t jump to wrong conclusions. There is evil in the world and it’s not relegated to one group of people. How hard is that to understand?
Thank you Saadia for your positive comments. We all should stand together as Americans and respect one another’s faiths.The Spring Interfaith Dialogues are helping us all to get to know each other and your blogs are a great assist as well. With warmest wishes for all!
There are 3 dad and over a 100 casualties, including amputees. I see NO compassion for them.
Alana has left the building. She feels no compassion for those who were nit by this bomb.
Of course, Alana stated that she feels sad for the victims.
My own heart is sick over this, another reminder of the totally insane violence of our world.
When will we stop?
jerryRunyan
I have not seen you express any compassion for the millions left homeless because of u.S. wars, the babies that are being born deformed in Falluja today—even as we speak— because of the Use of Depleted Uranium—the mines left by the U.S. that are still exploding in Cambodia after the vietnam war—the drone attacks that kill innocent men women and children—–If you are an American—please take this opportunity to express your compassion and condolences to the victims of U.S. aggression……………
There is no such animal as depleted “uranium mines.” in Cambodia. many of the mines now left over were placed in western Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge. Anyone who has been to Cambodia knows this. You no, the ones who are responsible for e loss of over 1 million lives and whose members have never been brought to justice.
The people of Falluja and within the region of the Drone attacks were held hostage by outside Islamic terrorist who were taking advantage of a towns and villages unable to resist then. For the record, we should never have invaded Iraq to remove the genocidal dictator, Saddam Hussein. It unleashed the pent up hatred between between Shia and Sunnis
Anon, you’re out of your league.
The past and ongoing atrocities are strongly condemnded by every rightminded citizen of the world.The blame game has never solved problems, in fact it is often the start of another vandetta. May good sense prevail in our responses to attacks on humanity.
Well said. As a Muslim, after the initial shock and horror of the news, my second dread was that I hope it is not the act of another Faisal Shazad. No matter who the perpetrator is, it does not take away or add to the insanity of this heinous act. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May God have mercy on this planet!