Islamo-fascists

So on the radio today I heard a self-professed right-wing nut speaking about the Islamo-fascists. He corrected a caller who used the term 'terrorist' to say 'Islamo-fascist' because well, "that's what they are". He and his callers were bitching about Muslims renting out Six Flags amusement park for an American-Muslim day. I guess you can't go if you're not a Muslim on that day. I can't be arsed to research the details, you have google. As far as I know Six Flags is a privately owned park, and is available for just about anyone to rent out - why are they complaining?

Anyway, so I'm Muslim. I grew up here in the lovely US of A but was born in a war-torn, poverty-ridden country in Asia and my parents came here when I was very young. The thing is, I want to say they came here to build a better life, but to be honest with you, neither of my parents' families were poor back in the motherland. By the grace of God, they are both well-situated. Neither are rich, mind, but they are happy and hard-working and well, living. My parents came here because my father's well-known employer wanted him here. My highly educated mother was also quickly employed and my youth was spent riding pink banana-seat bicycles and making snow angels.

Anyway, so I'm Muslim and I'm fairly young. Somewhere in the transition of being a socialist with a bleeding heart to a young, budding capitalist with a penchant for travel and German cars. For me, my religion is extremely personal. I don't discuss it because what I feel and believe to be true is something so dear to me, I guess I feel like I'm violating myself if I try to have a conversation about it. That doesn't mean I love all Muslims and hate non-Muslims. Actually, there are few Muslims I feel some sort of spiritual connection with, and probably do so with more non-Muslims. The total number is pretty small, I don't connect with many people. Getting to the point, yea so terrorism as the talking heads are defining it is perpetrated by Muslims. As I define terrorism, the majority of terrorism is being carried out by governments, many that are sanctioned by Bush and some that are not. It's all a sense of perspective, deciding for yourself what is worth fighting for and then if the means justify the ends.

What sends me through the roof is listening to these morons spouting about how 'they hate freedom, our way of life, everything we stand for' blah blah. Now wait a minute there chief, stop and think. Can you really honestly believe someone hates freedom? And I also suggest you ask what exactly you stand for. Freedom? Care to specify who's freedom? Since when does anyone have a monopoly on freedom? Maybe upon closer consideration, you might find it sensible to get off your high horse. These words, although real in an objective sense, have been twisted and turned into having these normative implications they end up meaning something almost entirely different than their initial intentions. The more I listen to the news, watch the news, read the news that is generated in this here United States, the more I realise this is a society controlled by fear. It's classic state-building theory - create a monster and internal divisions will dissolve and you will have unyielding support for whatever it is you want to pursue. Congrats GW, even though Yale was a loss on you, you have some heavy hitters in your closet. He knows what he needs to do to keep himself in place. This is the same tactic used by despots and tyrants all over the world. Create a bigger monster than yourself and you will be trusted.

Anyway, so the new buzz-word is Islamo-fascist. Even though I've been raised here and actually didn't know another Muslim outside my family until I went to University, I've never felt so not American as I have since September 11. I mean obviously there were subtle cultural differences and smells that separated my house from my friends but no one gave it much thought. Since 9/11, however, it's a completely different story. The more I listen to people speak about terrorism and Islam and Muslims and the Middle East, the more I want to scream at the top of my lungs. The scariest part is, I wonder if this is how the process begins.

For the record, I think the political system of this country is pretty brilliant. In theory, it supports equality and freedom for everyone and that's just too precious to discount. The level of accountability, though very far from adequate, is probably the best in the world but the sense of arrogance puts these great achievements in deep shadow.

This probably didn't make sense, I'm sure I'll get better as time goes on.