It seems like when ANY terrorist act takes place, people are quick to blame Muslims. Even in 1993, when the Murrah Federal Building was bombed in OKC, people initially wanted to blame the "Muslim bogeyman" for the tragedy. It turned out in that case, at it far too often is, to be a case of a domestic homegrown terrorist.
I am surprised of two things: one, that we have not suffered a major attack like European cities, and not in the manner which is being done over there (e.g., by a rampaging madman in a car, truck, SUV, or semi). I guess weapons like guns are easier to access, or those who seek to attack innocents like in the Orlando, FL PULSE nightclub shooting, or San Bernardino Christmas party gathering shooting, just have easier access to them.
There are, unfortunately, MANY locations where such an action as what took place in London could take place here, but FORTUNATELY, those who would seek to harm the United States have not managed to figure them out. Or if they have, our intelligence services have intercepted them.
Anyways, when a terrorist act takes place, Muslims are vilified-- or worse-- by those in the media. Or those who see an innocent young woman, who had just helped victims of the attack, appear to be "indifferent" to the suffering of someone else.
And of course, there's more to the story than one picture tells. The picture of the young Muslimah on the bridge, walking with her hand to her head, appearing to some to be indifferent, and to others to be traumatized, HAD helped some other victims. She was trying to contact her own family, to let them know SHE was okay, and because of the busy cell traffic at the time, was unable to initially contact them, according to another London paper. Imagine you've just witnessed some madman mowing down fellow pedestrians. If nothing happened to YOU, you'd want to call someone, maybe to report it to emergency services, maybe to call your family to let them know you were unscathed. Imagine someone catches your image, just as you manage to hear the dreaded words, "we're sorry, but all circuits are busy, try your call again later." I doubt ANY of us would look particularly thrilled.
Muslims are vilified for one simple fact: being Muslim. I'm Catholic, but I stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters. I don't like how their faith is OFTEN hijacked and twisted by groups like Daesh, who damage the religion that they claim to follow. I don't like how when a terrorist group does something, they're literally FORCED to apologize for something that they had NO PART in perpetuating. It's sad to me.
No Muslim should find it necessary, but in today's world, if ANY Muslim ANYWHERE does anything heinous, ALL Muslims are EXPECTED to condemn it immediately, or they're treated with suspicion. They constantly fight an uphill battle, in other words.
When things like this happen, it's even more crucial we come together and build a bridge, instead of letting those who rampage across a bridge WIN by destroying our connections with each other. Then and only then can we stop evildoers from succeeding in their goals: to destroy us. Because their destruction is not solely in lives lost, or lives left terrorized. Their destruction also lies in ripping apart our connections, and making it less possible to come together.
And that, to me, is the true tragedy.
I am surprised of two things: one, that we have not suffered a major attack like European cities, and not in the manner which is being done over there (e.g., by a rampaging madman in a car, truck, SUV, or semi). I guess weapons like guns are easier to access, or those who seek to attack innocents like in the Orlando, FL PULSE nightclub shooting, or San Bernardino Christmas party gathering shooting, just have easier access to them.
There are, unfortunately, MANY locations where such an action as what took place in London could take place here, but FORTUNATELY, those who would seek to harm the United States have not managed to figure them out. Or if they have, our intelligence services have intercepted them.
Anyways, when a terrorist act takes place, Muslims are vilified-- or worse-- by those in the media. Or those who see an innocent young woman, who had just helped victims of the attack, appear to be "indifferent" to the suffering of someone else.
And of course, there's more to the story than one picture tells. The picture of the young Muslimah on the bridge, walking with her hand to her head, appearing to some to be indifferent, and to others to be traumatized, HAD helped some other victims. She was trying to contact her own family, to let them know SHE was okay, and because of the busy cell traffic at the time, was unable to initially contact them, according to another London paper. Imagine you've just witnessed some madman mowing down fellow pedestrians. If nothing happened to YOU, you'd want to call someone, maybe to report it to emergency services, maybe to call your family to let them know you were unscathed. Imagine someone catches your image, just as you manage to hear the dreaded words, "we're sorry, but all circuits are busy, try your call again later." I doubt ANY of us would look particularly thrilled.
Muslims are vilified for one simple fact: being Muslim. I'm Catholic, but I stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters. I don't like how their faith is OFTEN hijacked and twisted by groups like Daesh, who damage the religion that they claim to follow. I don't like how when a terrorist group does something, they're literally FORCED to apologize for something that they had NO PART in perpetuating. It's sad to me.
No Muslim should find it necessary, but in today's world, if ANY Muslim ANYWHERE does anything heinous, ALL Muslims are EXPECTED to condemn it immediately, or they're treated with suspicion. They constantly fight an uphill battle, in other words.
When things like this happen, it's even more crucial we come together and build a bridge, instead of letting those who rampage across a bridge WIN by destroying our connections with each other. Then and only then can we stop evildoers from succeeding in their goals: to destroy us. Because their destruction is not solely in lives lost, or lives left terrorized. Their destruction also lies in ripping apart our connections, and making it less possible to come together.
And that, to me, is the true tragedy.
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