9/11: Five
Years Later
By Prof. John L. Esposito
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
When I grew up in Brooklyn,
Islam and Muslims were invisible to me. When the
department chair in graduate school suggested
I take a course in Islam in the late 1960s, I
thought “Why should I do that; how would
I ever get a job?”
Today, Islam and Middle East often dominate the
headlines. American Muslims are an integral part
of the American mosaic: Islam is now the third
largest and fastest growing religion in America.
At the turn of the century, given the explosion
of information on Islam and its growing presence
in the American public square (Islamic centers,
Muslim social and educational organizations, and
the greater numbers of Muslims in our schools
and universities, and professions), I was writing
a new book, The Future of Islam: Muslims in the
21st Century. But, all of this changed on September
11, 2001 with the devastating national tragedy
that took the lives of so many innocent Americans,
including American Muslims. Instead, I wrote Unholy
War: Terror in the Name of Islam as well as What
Everyone Needs to Know About Islam in order to
respond to a series of never-ending questions:
“Why do they hate us?,” “What
are the causes of Muslim extremism and terrorism?,”
“Is Islam a violent religion?”
In the aftermath of September 11, President George
Walker Bush emphasized that America was waging
a war against global terrorism, not against Islam.
However, the continued acts of a terrorist minority,
coupled with statements by preachers of hate (Muslim
and Christian) as well as anti-Muslim talk show
hosts and political commentators have obscured
our understanding of the second largest of the
world’s religions and of the mainstream
Muslim majority. The result is reflected in a
recent USA Today/Gallup Poll which found substantial
minorities of Americans admitting to negative
feelings or prejudice against Muslims and favor
heightened security measures with Muslims to help
prevent terrorism. 44% say Muslims are too extreme
in their religious beliefs. Nearly one quarter
of Americans, 22%, say they would not want a Muslim
as a neighbor; fewer than half believe US Muslims
are loyal to the United States.
Today, while many Americans see a war against
global terrorism, many in the Muslim world see
a war against Islam and Muslims. How do Muslims
from Morocco to Indonesia view America? Is there
a blind hatred of our way of life? A recent Gallup
World Poll indicates the opposite. Muslims in
10 countries polled (Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon,
Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Indonesia) said that what they
most admired about America, after technology and
scientific advancement, was its value system,
hard work, liberty, freedom of choice, rule of
law, fair political systems and gender equality.
Overwhelming majorities in every Muslim country
polled support freedom of speech and majorities
in virtually every country also felt women should
have the same legal rights as men.
What do Muslims believe would improve relations
with the West? Respondents’ most frequent
replies were "demonstrate more understanding
and respect for Islam"; help with "economic
development/jobs"; and "stop interfering
in our affairs." Most did not believe that
the US was serious about promoting real self-determination
and democracy in the region. The conclusion? Anti-Western
feelings result from our policies and actions,
not from our way of life, culture or religion.
Five years after 9/11, both growing anti-Americanism
in the Muslim world and Islamophobia, discrimination
against or hostility towards Islam or Muslims
in our multireligious and multicultural West,
are growing threats. Muslims and non-Muslims alike
have all been victims of global terrorism. Both
must be part of the solution rather the problem.
Both must hold political leaders accountable for
failed policies and combat their preachers and
theologies of hate: militant religious and political
leaders, ideologues, and media commentators who
engage in mutual demonization. If America is to
play a role in building a new Middle East, a new
debate in America must take place to recapture
those principles and values that made America
great and which many Muslims have admired.
(John L. Esposito is University Professor of Religion
& International Affairs, Director of the Prince
Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian
Understanding, Georgetown University and author
of Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam and
co-author with Dalia Mogahed of Can You Hear Me
Now? Listening to the Voices of One Billion Muslims
(forthcoming)
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