We Must Overcome

Racism and discrimination is often a conflict between what we perceive and what is real. In our post-September eleventh world much has changed in America. Anyone waiting in line to board an airplane can testify to enormous changes that have occurred in the last decade since that tragic event and American foreign policy has undergone drastic changes as well as our nation and allies struggle to fight a new type of enemy, terrorism. There is no doubt that terrorism is a legitimate threat and one group that has utilized these tactics is the numerous fundamentalist Islamic militia cells scattered across.

However, we must acknowledge that this is not our only threat we face and we must strive to rise above our initial reactions. Recently news broke out that the New York Police Department had shown the film “The Third Jihad” to at approximately fifteen-hundred officers during their training. This film depicts an America which is under constant attack from an internal threat, Muslim terrorists hiding in wait.

Now while one could exclaim that the police are promoting racism it is better to ask why such a film was shown. Clearly, the police believe there is a legitimate risk which we face. Unfortunately, the scars of September eleventh have permeated and many of the immediate feelings of fear and anger are still present. In race relations there are many factors which influence how different ethnic groups interact. One such factor is timing of contact. This factor relates to the greater events occurring in the world during the time in which two groups come into contact with one another. In the case of Muslim Americans and immigrants from the Near East America has experienced an attack from a small group of people proclaiming the ideals of their own perverted vision of Islam. Unfortunately, this has significantly shaped how many Americans view the religion and its adherents, a religion that most new next to nothing about before the attack.

One thing I believe needs asking is whether this is what the terrorists want. Indeed to stir up feelings of mistrust and hatred among Americans would be in the best interest of its enemies, both fundamentalist Islamists and other threats. Homegrown and foreign terrorists of all ethnic backgrounds are intent on the destruction or reshaping of America and by dividing and turning against each other simply plays into their interest.

Instead we must stand firm and united against the threats we face. We must not give into our fears and then use those fears top legitimize racial, ethnic, and religious profiling. Once we acknowledge that the legitimate dangers our nation faces come from a diverse collection of dangerous individuals and groups we can become better equipped to address them.

The article can be found here.