American Muslims and Prejudice

Mr. Walied Shater, a former Secret Service agent whose past assignments includes serving at the US Secret Service’s most important division, the Presidential Protective Division, in a Washington Post op-ed piece today pleads for a better treatment for his fellow American Muslims. He argues that because of an anti-Muslim rhetoric that “has reached epic proportions in broader U.S. society -- largely tolerated, rarely condemned,” American Muslims feel under siege.

This siege mentality, he says, is caused by many factors: toxic rhetoric from fringe hate groups, the demonization of Muslims by Hollywood, questions of loyalty by conservative commentators, etc. He goes on to say that . . . “Nothing is more debilitating to the psyche of American Muslims than to have those positions in authority remain silent after such comments or, worse, contribute to the hostility.” He then urges U.S. leaders to do much more to help bring American Muslims into the mainstream.”

I think, though, that Mr. Shater is barking at the wrong tree. For one, where ethnic interpersonal relations in America are concerned, Americans nurture their friendships and personal dealings with other people not in accordance with what their leaders ask them to do but in what take place at community settings (say, in a soccer game, or at a church potluck party, or during a picnic in the community park). It is in these places where strangers become friends as each tries to bring out the best in him for the other. It is also there where prejudices and stereotypes fade away. Neighborliness feeds on kindness even as it builds communities.

Mr. Shater is raising the wrong issue, one that may even make the Muslim community in America separate and isolated. The right issue to raise is to ask what American Muslims (and, for that matter, the rest of the immigrant community) can bring to this country that will make it even more enriched and accommodating as it already is. To do so is to provide opportunities for immigrants to turn themselves into vibrant, strong, and useful citizens.

Indeed, in order to combat prejudices and stereotypes, we have only to prove ourselves otherwise.