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Home-Grown Islamic Terrorism No Threat

US Muslims well-integrated, 'devout capitalists'

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 12, 2009 8:14 AM CST
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(Newser) – Whatever place religious extremism occupied in the troubled mind of Nidal Hasan, the United States—unlike Europe—has no reason to fear terrorism from its own Muslim population, says Max Fisher. American Muslims are far less vulnerable to al-Qaeda recruitment than their brethren across the pond, Fisher writes in the Atlantic, because they're much better integrated—culturally and economically.

Terrorist groups find fertile ground for recruitment in Spain, where Muslim immigrants arrive poor and stay poor; in France, where a hijab ban fuels resentment; or in Germany, where anti-Muslim prejudice hinders mosque-building. In the US, a society much more comfortable with both immigration and religiosity, most Muslims are mainstream, middle-class, patriotic, and, in many cases, happy: 38% are satisfied with the state of the US, compared to 32% of the general population. So we must not "alienate or restrict" our Muslim population, writes Fisher. "To do so would more than just risk our greatest anti-terrorism weapon; it would threaten to incite the very violence we seek to quell."

A Muslim youth stands in front of a Turkish flag in the Fatih Mosque in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.
A Muslim youth stands in front of a Turkish flag in the Fatih Mosque in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ed Ou)
Sara Sayeed, InterChurch Center of New York; Zead Ramadan, Council on American-Islamic Relations; and Aliya Latif, CAIR civil rights director, watch President Obama's speech from Cairo, June 4, 2009.
Sara Sayeed, InterChurch Center of New York; Zead Ramadan, Council on American-Islamic Relations; and Aliya Latif, CAIR civil rights director, watch President Obama's speech from Cairo, June 4, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Muslims pray during Ramadan in the Fatih Mosque in New York, Sept. 3, 2008.
Muslims pray during Ramadan in the Fatih Mosque in New York, Sept. 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ed Ou)
A Muslim man prays during Ramadan in the Fatih Mosque in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.
A Muslim man prays during Ramadan in the Fatih Mosque in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Ed Ou)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
dax
Nov 13, 2009 5:28 AM CST
@citygirl - You need to further define the concept "terrorist / terrorism". ---- Is the act initiated by and connected to a larger framework of ideology and co-conspirators or is it the singular act of an individual driven by mental derangement. This IS an important distinction to be made as it will define the best and most rational response ---- At this point, it the dynamics of this particular case are not yet clear.
dax
Nov 13, 2009 5:17 AM CST
@bubblebee - No, nothing about "Muslims" in the Bible, as cochiserocks points out, there's a 700 yr chronological gap. But never the less, Christ in the New Testament is very clear about extending yourself to everyone.
cochiserocks
Nov 12, 2009 10:22 AM CST
er.....that and chronology @bubblebee.

 
immigration • Islam • Europe • American Muslims • Islamic terrorism • Fort Hood shooting • Nidal Malik Hasan

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