A Genuine Condemnation?

As Jews, we know what it is like to be blamed for the crimes committed by a single Jew.  Just look at the anti-semitic rants that came after we all learned about the destructive crimes of Bernie Madoff.  Whether we like it or not, the behavior of one Jew does indeed affect us all.

The Muslim-American community has been struggling with this issue for some time.  As a result of the horrific murders committed by a Muslim-American soldier at Fort Hood, there is much discussion about the role that radical Islamic individuals and teaching played in this massacre.  Many Islamic organizations, including one of the largest here in America – The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) – have condemned the shootings at Fort Hood.  But, my problem is, when we look closely at organizations like ISNA, we cannot help but question the sincerity of these condemnations.

In the sermon below, I ask: is ISNA’s condmenation genuine?  As a Jew, I do not like the idea of blaming Islam for the actions of one Muslim.  However, when the Islamic organizations that rush to condemn have quiet and not so quiet affiliations with extremist ideas and individuals, I have no choice but to question.

Please note, after the 2 videos, you will find “footnotes” that accompany the sermon.

“Footnotes”

The article I refer to at the beginning of the sermon about my experience after September 11, 2001: http://209.123.42.130/news/2002/020618_conference.asp

ISNA’s condemnation of Fort HoodsShooting and information on ISNA: http://www.isna.net/articles/News/Muslim-American-Organizations-Denounce-Shooting-Incident-at-Fort-Hood.aspx; http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6178; http://www.investigativeproject.org/1076/isnas-ties-to-terror; detailed article prepared by the “Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report” — an internet newsletter that monitors the fundamentalist Islamic group the Muslim Brotherhood: http://globalmbreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/20080127_extremism_and_isna.pdf

Fort Hood suspect’s terror ties: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/us/15hasan.html; http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/11/did-nidal-malik-hasan-shout-allah-akbar-before-opening-fire-at-fort-hood.html

Badawi’s online statement and information on him: http://www.islamonline.net/livedialogue/english/Browse.asp?hGuestID=ROEz8t; http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1009

Information on Dar-al-Hijrah Islamic Center and Anwar al-Awlaki: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/blogging-imam-who-knew-fort-hood-attacker-and-911-hijacker-goes-silent/; http://frontpagemag.com/2009/11/13/maj-hasan’s-attempted-romance-with-al-qaeda-by-jamie-glazov/; http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1109/p99s01-duts.html; http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-awlaki12-2009nov12,0,808357.story

Information on Wahhabism: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/wahhabi.htm; http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/saudi/analyses/wahhabism.html; http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ODgwMGNkNzM0MTNiMWMyZGM3ZWJlYTYxYzczNGNhMmU=

NY Times article on Mattson: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/us/09muslim.html