By HOLLY HUFFMANEagle Staff Writer
Rather than condemn Islam, Americans instead should seek help from the group that probably best understands the minds of terrorists, a Lebanese-born doctor and humanitarian said Friday while speaking at Texas A&M University.
At the same time, Arab-Americans must realize the United States is not the enemy - a contagious, but lethal misconception touted in the Middle East for at least the past six decades, said Philip Salem, director of cancer research at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston and a member of A&M's International Board.
"How could it be possible that for the past thousands of years - since the dawn of history - we've spent most of our resources on killing each other and put little money in education and other peaceful endeavors?" Salem asked.
Salem spoke Friday as part of the Arabs in America: Communities and Identities after 9/11 conference, which is part of A&M's Celebrating Arab Cultures week. Salem was the featured speaker on the first day of a two-day workshop, and he gave a lecture.
The conference was put on by the Bush School of Government and Public Service, as well as A&M's Race and Ethnic Studies Institute and International Center.
Speaking to about 50 people - mostly students - at the Bush Library, Salem stressed Arab-Americans and other Ameircans needed to work with each other and not against each other.
After highlighting contributions made by successful Arab-Americans, Salem detailed for the crowd what Americans should know about the Middle East - and vice versa.
Arab-Americans are experiencing a "crisis of distrust and misconception," Salem said, and they have a moral and historical obligation to resolve the conflict and cultivate relationships with other Americans. The key, the doctor said, is education.
The terrorists who attacked New York and Washington, D.C., were Muslims, but that doesn't mean America should condemn all of Islam for their acts, Salem said. Islam is a religion of peace, and compassion and the overwhelming majority of Muslims don't condone such violence, he said.
The terrorists, he stressed, were members of al-Qaeida, a political organization that tried to hide behind a veil of Islam.
"That attack probably did more harm to Islam than it did to America," Salem said, pointing to how the religion's reputation has suffered after the attacks.
America also must realize that democracy can't be transplanted through the use of force, nor is it always the best solution for every place at every time, Salem said.
"Justice is far more powerful than military power," Salem said. "If peace is not just, it will not last."
Salem said Arab-Americans feel America has been unjustifiably hostile to them while providing unconditional support for Israel. Members of the faith also have a tendency to look at America as one unified entity, rather than a democracy with two competing political parties.
When Arab-Americans don't like America's foreign policy, they shouldn't alienate themselves, he said. Instead, they should join forces and lobby the political party that shares their concerns.
But the group also must remember that America is the world's sole remaining super power and, as such, it is in the best interest of the Middle East to work with the Western country, Salem said.
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Does the article contain any of the trite ideas of islam is a religion of peace, it has been hijacked, America is too friendly towards Israel and will the word justice be used in the piece?!?
- America is too friendly towards Israel, check...
- Islam is a religion of peace, check...
- Al Queda hijacked islam or used it to hide behind, check...
- Education of the stupid, ingnorant, red-necked Americans about how peaceful islam really is, check...
Yup, it appears to be the case...I guess there is no new insight, it is just repackaged for the minds full of mush...Go after the young, to have the right field to plow in the future...
Pertinent Links:
1) Doctor shares Islam insights
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