Adding to anti-Muslim Hysteria
By Kaleem Kawaja
Washington , DC
Recently Juan Williams, a well-known African-American journalist, made an outrageous anti-Muslim caricature on the prominent FOX TV channel. He said that in an airplane when he sees anyone dressed in Muslim dress, e.g. hijab or turban or Muslim gown (abaya or jubba) he gets perturbed and nervous. Yet the same Juan Williams also worked for the prominent liberal NPR radio channel. When NPR terminated his employment the rightwing lobby raised a nationwide hue and cry against NPR, the voice for diversity and tolerance in America.
It is amazing that Juan Williams is adding to the current anti-Muslim hysteria in America without being mindful of the fact that in many parts of America some White people also say that when they come across an African-American they become nervous for fear of violence.
In US many African-Americans wear African style printed shirts that some right wingers consider odd. By making this outrageous anti-Muslim statement, Juan Williams is pandering to the irrational fear and prejudice of the White Americans who think that any person dressed in other- than- western dress is sending a negative message of violence or is not a suitable American.
America is a nation of immigrants that has brought in people from various parts of the world with a variety of cultures, dress styles, etc. Many of the non-European immigrants have contributed much to the growth of science, technology, economics and the infrastructure in America over the last 50 years. US has integrated these people with diverse lifestyles into the composite American nation. But now some right wingers, e.g. the Tea Party folks, some Republicans et al. are propagating that such rich diversity is not suited for White Americans and makes them nervous.
Being a successful African-American journalist, who succeeded with the spread of diversity at various levels in US society, it is unfair that Juan Williams now wants to shut the same door to opportunities in the US to other minorities, who happen to be Muslims. He is dishing out the Islamophobic and stereotypical image of the nation's 5 million Muslims as misfits and potentially harmful.
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