Posted by Ilya Somin:
Who is the Real Anti-Muslim Here?
http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2006_07_23-2006_07_29.shtml#1154225140
New Zealand politician Don Brash has been [1]accused of making
"racist" and "anti-Muslim" remarks:
A prominent New Zealand politician was accused of racism on
Saturday after a speech in which he said immigrants who did not
accept the country's "bedrock values" should not be allowed to
stay.
Don Brash, leader of the conservative opposition National Party,
defined the values as "an acceptance of democracy and the rule of
law, religious and personal freedom and legal equality of the
sexes"....
Javed Khan, president of the Federation of Islamic Associations,
told Radio New Zealand the speech made it clear that Brash wanted
immigrants to fit his view of a mainstream New Zealander, and
therefore excluded people like Muslims.
Pancha Narayanan, president of the Federation of Ethnic Councils,
said a comment by Brash that immigrants should have a good command
of English, or quickly learn the language, was a sign that he would
prefer them to come from English-speaking countries.
He said the speech had an element of racism and an anti-Muslim
tone.
Brash's critics' remarks are far more anti-Muslim than anything he
said. The critics imply that Muslims inherently reject "democracy and
the rule of law, religious and personal freedom and legal equality of
the sexes." That is a far more severe indictment of Islam than
anything Brash said. Sadly, versions of Islam that do indeed reject
these values are all too common in many parts of the world. Hinting at
this fact, as Brash did, is not "anti-Muslim" unless one accepts the
premise that such views are embedded in the very nature of that
religion. Instead of attacking Brash, the leaders of New Zealand's
Muslim community would do better to devote their efforts to promoting
versions of Islam that embrace the values he listed. By claiming that
his statement is anti-Muslim, they merely strengthen the perception
that Islam and liberal democratic values are mutually exclusive.
It's also worth noting that Muslims are not a "race," anymore than
Christians are. Both religions include adherents of many different
races. Even if Brash's remarks really were anti-Muslim, that would not
also make them "racist."
Finally, I can personally testify (as can millions of other immigrants
in the US and, I presume, in New Zealand) that immigrants from
non-English speaking countries can indeed "quickly learn the
language." Learning the local language is an important prerequisite
for immigrants' economic and social success in any society.
None of these points are particularly profound or original. However,
they need to be made because claims that liberal democratic values are
"anti-Muslim" and that criticism of radical Islamist ideologies is
somehow "racist" are all too common. Those who make such arguments do
a disservice to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
References
1.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/muslims-feel-target-of-nz-politicians-speech/2006/07/29/1153816428148.html
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