Beware of
Rand Robots and Muslim Neo-Cons
By Shayan Elahi, Esquire
Via Email
Mr.
Ali’s rant against think tanks and Progressive
Muslims seems to argue that the Muslim community
is not facing any real issues within itself. It
is disturbing that reasonable people such as Mr.
Ali even after 9/11 are still willing to ignore
the violent evidence of what has become a clear
demarcation line between those Muslims who seek
to live and practice their religion in peace and
those who see it as a vehicle to some vainglorious
ends. Labeling Muslims who demand a return to
Ijtehad and an open discourse regarding essential
Islamic thought and law as “Rand Robots”
or “Muslim Neo-cons” is as disingenuous
and ridiculous as xenophobes and racists perceiving
all Muslims as “terrorists.”
Also, as a lawyer I must point out that the First
amendment only applies to situations where the
State is the actor. Rand is an independent think
tank free to conduct and publish research papers
on variety of subjects. So no First amendment
issues arise with Ms. Bernard’s publication.
Even if Rand is seen as a “semi-autonomous”
body as Mr. Ali suggests, the Lemon Test used
by the courts in such cases is not being met here,
due to the very absence of any legislation to
the effect to begin with. To see a First Amendment
issue in a Rand report is crying wolf and giving
in to the much practiced conspiratorial paranoia
that plagues our community to no rational end.
Mr. Ali raises some good points as well: there
is, and always will be, a possibility that such
studies will also be put into application by those
who are “anti-Islam” in general, but
I fail to understand why Mr. Ali is so convinced
that somehow the Muslims are so weak in their
faith that such moves would succeed in breaking
them as a “community.” I am afraid
that Mr. Ali and those who may be in agreement
with him see any form of open discussion or questioning
of the traditionally dogmatic positions as the
breaking down of the community. To the contrary
such introspection is exactly what is needed from
all thinking Muslims who care about their religion.
As Muslim Americans, we live in modern days within
secular societies who see the role of religion
a little differently then it was seen in the 7th
century. Millions of Muslims agree with this limited
role of religion in government that is why they
live in secular society accepting the wall between
“church & state” proving that
secular government and practice of Islam are not
mutually exclusive.
Progressive Muslims everywhere in the East and
West see this transformation to democratic rule
as inevitable and healthy for the prosperity of
their communities, individual identity and basic
human rights. Progressive Muslims do not need
Rand Corporation or the nudging of the US Government
to reach such conclusions. These are based on
common sense and a foundational understanding
of geo-political realities of the age.
Lastly, Islam does not negate individuality and
therefore allows for such secular views to prosper
as well. Mr. Ali should not be so fearful of differing
points of view; after all his own view is rather
quaint itself.
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