Responding to Intolerance with Intolerance Needs to Stop
I went to a seminar with Dr. Jackson a couple of weeks ago and he highlighted something that has been bothering me for so long. He was talking about when Muslims respond to intolerance with intolerance. One person asked a question about Thanksgiving and the person said that Thanksgiving does not contradict Islamic values at all and that it’s not a religious holiday etc., so what do we say to those Muslims that deem it haram? Most of us agreed with this person, most Muslims I know don’t have a problem with Thanksgiving, traditional or non-traditional Muslims, so people were expecting Dr. Jackson to tell us why it was okay. Instead he started talking about responding to intolerance with intolerance. If someone thinks Thanksgiving is haram, leave them alone.
Something that has often bothered me is when Muslims say, Oh Muslims that are conservative* are so intolerant. Oh such and such Muslim doesn’t tolerate me because I don’t wear such and such type of clothing. But often what these people do is deem so-called conervative Muslims as extremists and start being just as intolerant. When you do that, you’re just as intolerant as the Muslim you just called an extremist.
So now we have Muslims that will mock a girl who wears the hijab or mock a man that rolls up his pants thinking that they are the tolerant, rational, democracy-loving ones. Sorry! That’s intolerance too! Real tolerance is really respecting people’s opinions. So if someone tell you they think they’re obligated to do xyz in Islam and you don’t- don’t scoff and call them an extremist, irrational, living in the stone age. That’s not tolerance. It goes the other way around too. If someone has a more lax opinion than you, don’t scoff at them.
It truly scares me to see how mockery of conservative* Muslims is ok to people especially on these so-called progressive websites. If someone’s more outwardly practicing then we are, we should admire them even.
Being truly tolerant is a test to the ego. The ego doesn’t like it. Let’s try it out.
N.B. By the way I’m not talking about Islamists with violent tendencies.
*I hate using the words conservative and liberal. I just use them for lack of better terms.
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Khadija, this is an important post you’ve written. I agree with this part completely:
But how would you react if someone’s opinion was hateful or if they undermined your rights in any way? Would you still tolerate it? Or would you disagree so much to the point of it being considered an “intolerant reaction”?
We have the same problem in suburban Chicago where Imams preach that Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Sweetest Day (just some of the mainstream secular American holidays) are “haram.” When you challenge the view, they slander and ostracize you. The Muslims involved in this are only a small minority but the larger Muslim community which is very moderate and progressive, is afraid to stand up to the fanatics. So it always appears as if the silent majority supports the screaming minority.
Speaking out against this has gotten me in huge trouble with the Arab Muslims in Chicago who loved me when I “bashed” Israel and never criticized the Palestinians or Muslims … apparently, Christians like me are only good when we are needed by some.
The most depressing part is not that the extremists scream about dumb things, but rather than the majority is just too cowardly and afraid to stand up for their rights. Watching them wallow in self-imposed oppression is a real tragedy.
Still, being on the outside of this disease has actually freed me
… and I can be more open, principled and I can embrace justice more freely without worrying about “what the neighbors” have to say any more. And that is the only realization for those who try to speak out against injustice.
So, thanks fanatics! I am free!
Ray Hanania
Ray, are they from MCC? If so, that explains it.
The MCC is a well-known Wahhabi masjid in Chicago.