“I write to understand as much as to be understood” - Elie Wiesel
Occasionally I’m baffled by my own world view and far more often baffle others with it. I’m writing this in hopes of clarifying to myself, and maybe to others who, for some reason, care where I stand on issues.
Currently, there's an awful lot of noise being made in and about our society and politics. The loudest voices come from the extremes on either side; the progressive left and the alt-right. I want to believe the overwhelming majority of individuals fall somewhere in the middle with moderate, rational ideals. The media would lead us to believe that we are on the brink of civil war, but I still have a strong faith in the freethinkers of our society. I am worried, however, that moderate individuals may be compelled by an emotional response to arguments on either side to join a team. I think it is the responsibility of myself and other rational individuals to speak up and reclaim the dialogue that is currently a tug-of-war between extremists on both sides.
The most glaring example I can think of at the moment is the topic of Muslim immigration. The rhetoric of the far right would have you to believe that all Muslim immigrants pose a threat and that the most prudent course of action is a nation wide Muslim ban. The far left narrative dismisses this argument calling any concerns about welcoming large numbers of immigrants into the US as racist and bigoted. The immensity of middle ground in this argument, like most arguments, is staggering.
The only way to effectively examine this issue is no different than the vast majority of the matters we face today; with logic and objective evidence devoid of emotional bias. As an individual I am empathetic to the struggle of my fellow human beings, and there is certainly no lack of hardship for the sweeping majority of my fellow human beings amid the conflict in the middle east. And I am not blind to the fact that considerable credit for this conflict falls at the feet of the United States’s policy of foreign intervention. No rational person can deny that this foreign policy has left blood on our hands. We have helped create a mess and it is our responsibility to help clean it up.
The controversy lies in the incompatibility with a conservative Islam ideology and liberal western society. The fact is that acts of jihad are exclusively committed by followers of Islam and that a frightening percent of the Muslim world would be happy to see sharia law implemented as the law of the land (source). I am not saying in any way that most Muslims want nothing more than to peacefully integrate into western society. I’m only pointing out that, as we welcome our friends from overseas, we must also be aware of the cultural differences.
I agree that a thorough screening process is prudent and necessary in these tumultuous times, but anything beyond, any sort of ban is wildly counterproductive and deeply un-American. Set aside the fact that we are a nation of immigrants, any sort of Muslim ban only gives strength to the radical Islamic agenda.
Welcoming those of different beliefs has never been more important, not only for the people suffering overseas, but for the future of a peaceful world. We have a great opportunity not only to save suffering people, but also to give them a platform to redefine Islam as a religion compatible with modern, liberal society.
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