Northridge, California

  As a Muslim, I condemn the horrific tragedy that occurred at Fort Hood last Thursday. My heart goes out to the families of American service members who were killed and wounded in the shooting. I am afraid that this incident will disrupt the collective interests of all human beings due to a new wave of distrust and cynicism.

Islam does not condone such killings. The Qur'an clearly states that deliberate killing of an innocent human being constitutes crimes against humanity. Incidents like this can shatter the composure of hundreds of millions of Muslims who want peace and work every day for peace within themselves and their societies.

Who are the victims of this tragic and shameless act? It is not only the victims and their families. Our whole world is victimized by this hatred, anger, and violence. As a result of these events, churches may turn against mosques and media groups may stereotype minorities. People may eye one another more suspiciously and pundits may grow angrier in tone. Vested interests may also manipulate these societal divisions in order to pursue their own ends.

How can we save societies from such abhorrent events? Criminals and crime exist in every community. However, against a larger context of antagonism between cultures, an event like this breeds an ever-increasing cycle of hatred. Given the current confrontational attitude between the West and the Muslim world, any single event like this can victimize countless people through guilt by association.

Strangely enough, these events resemble modern Indian history. Within India, Hindus and Muslims lived side by side for over a millennium until the British colonized both communities, utilizing the dreaded policy of “divide and conquer.” With instigation from several vested interests, a small band of lunatics started several communal riots and led the sub-continent to disorder.

In order to prevent such destructive and divisive behavior, we need to bridge the gap and build trust across cultures and nations. Transnational citizen activism can serve as an inspiring catalyst towards transformational diplomacy. And who can promote peace and reconciliation between cultures more effectively than the common denominator between cultures? American Muslims have a compelling need and a great opportunity to promote constructive engagement between the West and the Muslim world right now.

The confrontational standoff between the United States and the Muslim world remains a failure in our era. Violent conflicts for the last several decades have become tragic liabilities for all parties involved. Two wars in two countries have left hundreds of thousands people dead, hundreds of billions of dollars spent, nothing measurable achieved, and no end in sight. If we want to change our future, we should learn from our past.

I believe that nonviolence has enormous potential to bring about positive social change. While war is sometimes necessary to prevent massive injustice, war cannot rebuild a nation. Many recent wars have maintained little capacity to foster long-term solutions. Prominent military generals all across the Atlantic readily admit this fact. Long-term solutions can only occur through diplomatic engagement.

In other times in history, America has succeeded with flying colors when it promoted constructive engagements in periods of conflict. The Marshall Plan rebuilt devastated and defeated enemy nations after World War II, setting a new paradigm for international diplomacy. After the repressive and closed-door Cultural Revolution, America reached out to China and helped the nation to become a global partner. Regarding the Soviet Union, the abandonment of proxy wars of “containment” led to a more constructive policy of “détente” and a transformation that culminated with the end of the Cold War. These endeavors are giant leaps in the pursuit of global cooperation and collective welfare.

In these times, however, we have fallen profoundly short of our goals. America has failed to pursue a similar approach for the Muslim world, even though this region constitutes roughly 20% of humanity and possesses 75% of the world’s oil reserves. But American Muslims can still step up to the plate and call for change. They can initiate a civil discourse within America, and they can spearhead transnational activism to bring about a win-win agenda in our time.

A recent Pew Research survey stated that 65% of American Muslims were born in foreign lands. They have close ties with more than fifty countries around the world, and many of them are the cream of the crop from these lands. Many of the other 35% of Muslim Americans are African Americans, and this community has a stunning history of leadership in American social movements such as abolitionism and civil rights. In other words, American Muslims have enormous political capital if they unite to form a movement for diplomacy between East and West.

This incident at Fort Hood was only a symptom of a larger disease that exists between our civilizations. For the sake of our common welfare, American Muslims need to stand up for peace, justice, and progress.

>> Within India, Hindus and Muslims lived side by side for over a millennium until the British colonized both communities, utilizing the dreaded policy of “divide and conquer.” <<

Hindus and Muslims did not exactly live side by side for a millenium. The history of Islam in India is full of brutalities against Hindus. To say "Hindus and Muslims lived side by side" is to misrepresent history.

And I have been watching Muslim arguments over these issues on this website and elsewhere for some time now and it appears that Muslims can't argue anything without making gross misrepresentations. That is necessitated when one has to whitewash unspeakable atrocities for more than one millenium over a large part of the world's population.

Ruby >>> In other words, American Muslims have enormous political capital if they unite to form a movement for diplomacy between East and West.

Wow. Inspiring perspective. But the good is only going to be realised if the positive is facilitated by collective action. We're currently building on the efforts of marginal individuals.

>>> Two wars in two countries have left hundreds of thousands people dead, hundreds of billions of dollars spent, nothing measurable achieved, and no end in sight.

Its hard to reconcile extremists, whether republicans, nationalists or islamists, to serve any any measurable and objective good. Because like Sanjay would assert, some groups are just not entitled to being treated with humanity. At least, its not a priority for them. AND most of them are reconciled to protecting the present day evil, because once upon a time some Muslims somewhere did something.

Sanjay >>> And I have been watching Muslim arguments over these issues on this website and elsewhere for some time now and it appears that Muslims can't argue anything without making gross misrepresentations.

I don't remeber this being a Hindu Nationalist forum, and I don't care much to make it revisionist history site either. Using racist propoganda doesn't really make your arguments credible on a Muslim site. "Gross misrepresentations"? .. from the very same person who contrary to factual evidence asserts that Muslims in India have victimised themselves!?

"I am afraid that this incident will disrupt the collective interests of all human beings due to a new wave of distrust and cynicism. Islam does not condone such killings. The Qur'an clearly states that deliberate killing of an innocent human being constitutes crimes against humanity."

Which is it, that the killing was wrong because of the "wave of distrust and cynicism" it may inspire or because those shot - soldiers who were being deployed to maybe kill Muslims in their line of duty - were innocent human beings?

Not a word in the article about what Muslims consider the punishment should be for the perpetrator, changes in religious education, or about identifying and reporting such ill-adjusted members of the Muslim community in the future.

The author stresses the importance of Muslims issuing soothing words to non-Muslims instead, and blaming America for failing to perform as well as he thinks it should.

The flaw in the author's India narrative has already been addressed. The flaw in the Marshall Plan comparison is that the U.S. was less engaged in developing Europe than in helping Europe rebuild itself after a devastating war. The mission was clear: to provide U.S. capital and goods (U.S. economy was 50% of world GDP) to restore raw materials and agricultural production back to pre-WWII levels, with the assumption that regional trade and life quality would follow. Europe's "human capital", legal foundations, and will to cooperate in the endeavor was present in abundance.

The MP enjoyed spectacular success, mainly because the West Europeans were competent enough to run it themselves and knew what they had to do. The situation of developing countries has not been nearly as favorable.

***

P.S.: Ghulam, I think your perspective could be of value here.

@Soloman2: THe Marshall Plan's intent was to have economic development lure post-war Europe away from Communism. There was nothing altruistic about it and the road to that plan was fraught with nay-sayers. It worked, however.

Nonetheless, you seem to imply some racial comparison that Europeans can make a Plan work, but Muslim-majority countries could not?? What's the deal with that kind of jab?

Also, this article was not a cry-fest about fallen soldiers. It was about how Muslim Americans / American-Muslims can constructively provide a diplomatic bridge (I prefer the latter since my american culture shapes my outlook far more than a non-developed and alien Muslim culture could ever do).

Its a great idea, but she leaves to us to discuss how to make it happen.

Racial comparison? I have no idea what you are talking about, and I apologize if I left such an impression.

The facts are that the Western Europeans (1) were already skilled in everything from economics to mining, (2) were sufficiently civic-minded not to be so corrupt as to rob the country blind (note that Italy took a lot longer to recover), and (3) uniquely, knew what production targets to reach for because they had pre-war data as a resource.

Yes, its purpose was to keep out Communism, but the meat of the Marshall Plan was economic recovery, not development. The administration of the MP was mostly handled through the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) and remaining production frictions through the European Coal & Steel Community - the precursors of the OECD and EC respectively.

"Its a great idea, but she leaves to us to discuss how to make it happen."

I knew I wouldn't have to mention that flaw myself. :)

"In order to prevent such destructive and divisive behavior, we need to bridge the gap and build trust across cultures and nations. Transnational citizen activism can serve as an inspiring catalyst towards transformational diplomacy."

"I believe that nonviolence has enormous potential to bring about positive social change."

I agree that nonviolence is the only solution IF people can be disciplined enough to not resort to violence. That's a big if to say the least. In the context within which this non-violent "transnational citizen activism" is to take place, namely within the paradigm of multiculturalism and to a large extent the Oprah style feel good type which tends to ignore the fierce politics of the situation the activism will be dealing with - I wouldn't count on it.

I don't know enough yet about the motives of Maj. Nidal Hassan, but what ever it is (insane rage or mental issues or an alqaeda style operation) I think we really need to start theorizing it as an instance of the general powerlessness that muslims all over the world feel (no matter how poor, rich or powerful) to fashion the world as they like and project power onto the rest of the world so that they can take hold of their own lives, fortunes (or misfortunes) and political, economic and cultural expression. When as a collectivity people can't do this their powerlessness carries them to a destructive state - which is where muslims are at right now and have been for a very very long time.

Incidentally the very acts that could bring back the world to a non-violent state are those taken by the Obama Administration to try the 9/11 suspects in civilian courts. This will give legitimacy to their trial, sentencing and punishment.

Also lets not use general statements such as:

"Strangely enough, these events resemble modern Indian history. Within India, Hindus and Muslims lived side by side for over a millennium until the British colonized both communities, utilizing the dreaded policy of “divide and conquer.”"

which may be categorized as apologetics but is a result of the same multicultural, PC environment that I was referring to earlier. Perhaps many negative reactions to Obama's refrain of "no faith justifies such actions" etc. is in reality a reaction to the PC environment. Not that as some would argue that Muslims murdered Hindus throughout history or vice versa :).

President Obama visited the Fort Hood Memorial while sending his delegate, Rahm Emanuel, to attend the annual United Jewish Communities (UJC) conference on the President’s behalf. We alluded to the obvious irony. As Obama attended the memorial honoring the men and women who died at Fort Hood, after an army psychiatrist, Nidal Malik Hasan, a Muslim son of Palestinian parents, allegedly shot and killed 13 and wounded dozens more, Mighty Mouse Emanuel was telling his brethren, that the U.S. Israel bond is unbreakable.

It occurred to us that not everyone caught the irony. So allow us to explain. First of all, we had already learned that Hasan was being watched before the shooting. We know that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is still investigating Hasan. We knew early on that Federal authorities were aware that Hasan had been in direct contact with an Islamic cleric that was “sympathetic to al-Qaeda” and a “radical”. But no one is calling Hasan a terrorist or officially calling the Fort Hood murders an act of terrorism. And to be clear, neither am I.

The irony is and should be the fact that on the very same day that the U.S. Government, via the “The Second-Most Powerful Man in Washington”, told a room full of Jews that the U.S. is and always will be “Israel’s one true friend.” Going on and on from there, even saying Israel is a “beacon of democracy in a region too often defined by strife.” We have been talking about the absurdity of that premise for weeks now; Years in fact...........

http://ncoal.com/blog/?p=748

Going on and on from there, even saying Israel is a “beacon of democracy in a region too often defined by strife.” We have been talking about the absurdity of that premise for weeks now; Years in fact...........
>>>

Well all of this is why the quality and value of that "one true friend" is already beginning to diminish. Hilary Clinton going to the region stamping her foot like a housewife and telling people how angry she is is laughable! And increasingly people are laughing, if sardonically. Before long though, the US won't be able to do anything without asking China's permission and I don't think China lays awake at night worrying about Israel. It's actually becoming a very interesting game of Risk, for those familiar with that board game. The relative geographical isolation of the US and the complete cultural isolation of the US from all other Western nations is really causing a big split. Most europeans already view the US as just a nation os Sarah Palins anyway.

Solomon >>> Not a word in the article about what Muslims consider the punishment should be for the perpetrator, changes in religious education, or about identifying and reporting such ill-adjusted members of the Muslim community in the future.

OmarG >> Also, this article was not a cry-fest about fallen soldiers. It was about how Muslim Americans / American-Muslims can constructively provide a diplomatic bridge (I prefer the latter since my american culture shapes my outlook far more than a non-developed and alien Muslim culture could ever do).

Just to repeat OmarG's assertion. THis article actually does walk the road. You're obviously just pointing in the wrong direction.

Thanks for the link Solomon2. You can't share ideas with people who aren't willing to listen. Not going to go there. I don't have the time or energy to encourage a literate person to consider an education, or to discuss Pakistan with a Pakistani religio-patriot. I choose life!

>> Before long though, the US won't be able to do anything without asking China's permission and I don't think China lays awake at night worrying about Israel.

Does it matter if I use Microsoft watch American movies, use American drugs, like Stephen King novels.. and post on this site?

Just testing. My posts aren't going through and I need to find out why.

Does it matter if I use Microsoft watch American movies, use American drugs, like Stephen King novels.. and post on this site?
>>>

Does it matter to who or in what context? You lost me. But wait a minute, you watch American movies? eeessh. My condolences. What's your genre? Ugly guy gets impossibly hot babe? Slash 'em up blood fest? Fifty car chases in 96 minutes? Tragic Mom prevails against all odds and finds doltish man of her dreams? End of the world but Yanks save the day, usually lead by tragically flawed single dad with a spunky kid and a struggling heart of gold? Or the Disneyworld version of history with the latest kids on the Hollywood street and really bad costumes? If you are seeing something else, please let me know as I'd love to see it!

>>> But wait a minute, you watch American movies? eeessh. My condolences.

Lol .. please don't hate me. I agree. The pickings are very slim currently. I hear the "EARTH" documentary is beautiful to watch and stirring. I like certain directors though, but can't say I love ALL their movies. I like the Coen brothers and I enjoy spike lees movies, though sometimes explicit. I think steven spielbergs and oliver stones early movies were excellent. This is the country of Death of a salesman, Capote, To kill a mockingbird ..? I'd go on but I'm just trying to make a point. Muslims shouldn't feel daunted at the challenge of dialgoue.

"I don't have the time or energy to encourage a literate person to consider an education, or to discuss Pakistan with a Pakistani religio-patriot."

A pity. I think your outlook as a S. African Muslim and socialist is valuable because I see S.A. as having successfully fought some of the same issues Pakistanis are contesting now - possibly more useful than my outlook as an über-democrat.

Sol2 >>> A pity. I think your outlook as a S. African Muslim and socialist is valuable because I see S.A. as having successfully fought some of the same issues Pakistanis are contesting now - possibly more useful than my outlook as an über-democrat.

I'm not a socialist. I'm justs opposed to present day applications of the free market. I registered on the site though. I'll try to contribute, but I don't think Pakistan is similar to SA at all. Thanks again. Very interesting.