A ‘window of opportunity’ for American Muslims

A few weeks ago a self described Muslim “Jihadist” randomly attacked two unarmed American soldiers standing outside of an Arkansas recruiting center. According to witnesses, Abdulhakim Muhammed walked up and without provocation shot the soldiers – killing one - as they stood smoking and chatting on the sidewalk in front of the center. This is the first, ever, terrorist attack on American soldiers on American soil. Although the cold-blooded killer didn’t even know his victims, he told arresting officers he shot them because, “of what they (American soldiers) had done in the past”.

The apparently lone Jihadist claimed the attack was “justified” and therefore was not “murder”. He stood calm and defiant in court earlier this week and pled “not guilty” to shooting the two Americans. He never suggested he was not the shooter. He just doesn’t consider his heinous act ‘murder’. “I don’t think it was murder, because murder is when a person kills another person without justified reason” he told an AP reporter during a collect phone call from jail. According to Abdulhakim, it wasn’t personal. “Yes, I did tell the police upon my arrest that this was an act of retaliation, and not a reaction to the soldiers personally”.

Decidedly non-obscure, Mr. Muhammed went on to point out the obvious proclivity of militant Islamists to view violence as admirable and an acceptable display of loyalty to Allah. He said it was “ an act for the sake of God, for the sake of Allah, the Lord of all the world, and also retaliation on U.S. military”. He left no doubt as to his personal commitment. He went on to say, “We believe that we have to strike back. We believe in an eye for an eye. We don’t believe in turning the other cheek” – an obvious reference to the Christian value of resisting the urge to respond to acts of violence with more violence.

Abdulhakim Muhammed couldn’t have been plainer. He should be the poster boy for Islamic terrorists. He didn’t even give the establishment media a chance to ‘spin’ his position. He told us all right where he was coming from and he was serious about his mission. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security reportedly searched his home and found maps to Jewish organizations, a Baptist church, a Post Office and other recruiting centers in several States. Abdulhakim wanted to kill Americans - as many as possible – and like so many fanatics before him, he believes they deserve to die and he will be blessed for making it happen.

However, there may be a silver lining – if you can call it that – to this unwarranted act of violence. It offers our American Muslim brothers and sisters a wonderful opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with their neighbors and friends and distance themselves from the radical militants using Islam as an excuse for targeting fellow Americans. Speaking out against, and condemning this unprovoked attack paradoxically offers the U. S. Muslim community a chance to clarify their opposition to such acts of terror and emphasize their commitment to their nation.

For the past eight years since 911, we have been assured that Muslims are a non-violent and peaceful people vexed by a small group of violent extremists. Americans have been repeatedly admonished by everyone from George Bush to Oprah that Islam is a religion of “peace”. Now is the time for Muslim Americans to stand up and be counted. This is their chance to separate themselves from domestic terrorists and clearly state their condemnation of ruthless murder and mayhem in the name of Allah.

There is no better time to declare themselves United States citizens and show unequivocal support for their fellow countrymen. There is very little middle ground on this one. Either justify Abdulhakim’s murderous attack or condemn it. Our Muslim fellow citizens should condemn this murderous random attack on American soil without prevarication. By declaring their loyalty to the United States they will let the world know that they are Muslim, but they are also Americans.

By condemning this act specifically they can dispel the notion, held by some, that they are unwilling to stand with their country against Islamist terrorists.  However, to do this they must make themselves clear. This is not the time for double talk and empty platitudes. This is the time to differentiate themselves from the extremists by distinctly claiming their allegiance to the United States of America and their willingness to fight all of its enemies - including radical Islam.

Please understand, to achieve real credibility our American Muslim brothers and sisters must blame Abdulhakim Muhammed and hold him accountable for murdering unarmed American citizens. They must decry his terrorist philosophy and hatred for America. Using the old stock terrorist lie, ”We condemn all violence no matter who commits it” won’t cut it. Blanket condemnations are often employed by terrorists to avoid blaming specific acts of violence. When confronted and asked to condemn a particular act the inevitable sidestep is to keep repeating, “We condemn all violence”. No matter how they are queried to comment on a certain terrorist act, the response is always, “all violence”, but never will they condemn a specific act. This is one of the identifying characteristics of militant Jihadists.

Millions of your fellow Americans are waiting to lock arms and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in defense of our Country. Don’t weasel out by using the old terrorist stock reply. Point out the differences between the Muslim extremists who believe they are on a mission from Allah and the alleged majority of Muslims who are peaceful and willing to live, work and play among people of other faiths. Say this violent act was wrong as plainly as Abdulhakim Muhammed says it is right. This is your chance, a window of opportunity – take it and make us all proud. We are ready to stand with you.