American Muslims struggling to find their place

Living as a Muslim in America in the past few weeks has been sobering and depressing.

Muslim and Arab families when they get together share their nightmares of seeing scores of dead babies wrapped in white shrouds, recite Alareer’s poem “If I must die”.

The public does not seem to be outraged that a genocide is in progress. Muslims look at the large protests in many major cities but see very few non-Arab, non-Brown or non-Muslims join them.

I hear many Muslims wondering that when the violence against Palestinians is so egregious and is being live streamed how can anyone turn their eyes away from it? With Hospitals attacked and thousands of children killed where is the outcry from pediatricians and medical societies. How can media create a false equivalence and buy into the crude manufacture of consent by Israeli spokesmen? How can politicians be so reluctant to say there should be no more killing? It is fascinating that the handful of congressmen who called for cease fire, with one exception, are people of color. Protests by UAW and Teacher’s unions brings a modicum of hope.

The argument heard often is, Hamas started it and as Hamas was elected by people in Gaza, they deserve it. What a stunningly spurious argument for collective punishment. Anyone conversant with international rules of war would effectively put this argument to bed.

I hear Muslims blame themselves. We haven’t stood for the rights of others. We have been self-centered so why should others join us they ask themselves.

Do we even belong in this country, when we are so powerless, is a question being asked?

Muslims see attempts at promoting the Palestinian cause turned into antisemitism. Antisemitism is real, and with the Gaza massacre is increasing. Muslims have been careful in not making antisemitic statements. But often it feels like the charge of antisemitism is a cudgel to suppress legitimate protest.

“This is a country where Nazis could march in Skokie”, would be a statement made in the past with awe. This would be followed by an admiring “what a country.” Muslims no longer feel the same. The examples of attempts to limit free speech are all too numerous.

Cases in point. Doxing of students at Ivy League schools that are temples of debate and discussion, where nothing is sacrosanct, and the highest accolade earned would be of a gadfly. It includes college presidents and administrations coming out with rules to limit expression that they define as unacceptable and antisemitic. On the other hand brazen intimidation like the “canarymisson” that documents data with pictures and copies of tweets and other statements a pro-Palestinian, pro-human rights student may have made, is ignored.

Muslim students at many of these colleges and universities are going through a gamut of emotions. Most due to an instinct of self-preservation have become silent. Others have become more defiant.

Were Muslims simply pollyannish in earlier assessment of free speech as a cardinal value of our nation? Or has the country changed? Or it is a unique situation because it involves Palestinians and Israelis?

All three are correct. African Americans and Native Americans activists were always called extremists (this is before the word terrorist gained traction) and their speech vilified. Sentences and phrases were twisted like that of Malcolm X. The country has become more right of center and less tolerant. As John Mearsheimer notes, the U.S. and Israel relationship is unique in giving support without restrictions.

There are “what-if” scenarios discussed. What if Bosnia happened in the U.S., Christian neighbors in Bosnia turned on Muslims. The memories of the massacre of Srebrenica, the siege of Sarajevo and the rape camps come up. The Muslims in Bosnia were caught unawares. The ongoing violence, and festering ethnic cleansing in India that seemed unimaginable till recently is now reality. The Hindu majority has turned its eyes away. Can Bosnia and India happen in the U.S. Are Muslims safe.

Some Muslims talk about forming an AIPAC like lobbying group. But many recoil at the idea because they think AIPAC is bribing politicians albeit legally. Although it is an effective lobby, people wonder if it is a morally sound example to imitate.

We must become outward looking and much more proactive, others say. We should make concrete contributions by sponsoring shelters, food pantries, tutoring and mentoring kids in need, build medical centers and above all stand against injustice wherever we see it. In short, we must integrate.

Maybe that will secure the future of Muslims in the U.S. But then, Jews in Germany were well integrated into the society before the holocaust.

* Javeed Akhter is a physician and free-lance writer from Oak Brook.