Don't call it Islamic terrorism
Calling terrorism 'radical Islam' isn't productive in countering it
If you look at the teachings of Islam, a peaceful religion that many say worships the same god as Christians and Jews, you won't find much supporting violence. In fact, the fifth sura of the Quran says if someone commits a murder, "it shall be as if he had killed all mankind."
Given this, by saying these groups act in the name of radical Islam, people like Cruz give them legitimacy. Clearly, radical jihadis are out of step with the teachings of Islam. However, when American politicians refer to jihadis as Islamic terrorists, the politicians further instigate the jihadis by associating their terrorism with Islam — making it so that, no matter how radical they may be, they can justify their terrorism through by its flawed association with Islam.
There's a bigger problem with calling jihadis radical Islamic terrorists, too. There are Muslims in the U.S., and the idea that terrorists practice radical Islam creates anti-Islam prejudice among Americans. Associating benevolent and religious Americans with the Islamic State group, even through the words we use, can lead to American Muslims being judged for their beliefs. How else did we end up with Donald Trump, who advocates banning all Muslims from entering the U.S. and whose supporters berate Muslims at his events, as the GOP presidential front-runner?
Given this, by saying these groups act in the name of radical Islam, people like Cruz give them legitimacy. Clearly, radical jihadis are out of step with the teachings of Islam. However, when American politicians refer to jihadis as Islamic terrorists, the politicians further instigate the jihadis by associating their terrorism with Islam — making it so that, no matter how radical they may be, they can justify their terrorism through by its flawed association with Islam.
There's a bigger problem with calling jihadis radical Islamic terrorists, too. There are Muslims in the U.S., and the idea that terrorists practice radical Islam creates anti-Islam prejudice among Americans. Associating benevolent and religious Americans with the Islamic State group, even through the words we use, can lead to American Muslims being judged for their beliefs. How else did we end up with Donald Trump, who advocates banning all Muslims from entering the U.S. and whose supporters berate Muslims at his events, as the GOP presidential front-runner?
Let’s look at a comparable situation: The Westboro Baptist Church preaches hate against LGBT people, Jews, soldiers, celebrities and politicians, to name a few. The members claim to be Christians, and use that claim to justify their preachings, despite being classified as a hate group. However, Christians steer clear of any association with the church, as they don't want to associate Christianity with this hate. By this same logic, Christians like Cruz shouldn't want to associate Muslims with terrorism.
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"Those three words — radical Islamic terrorism — don't hold any magical power." |
At this point, there's a question to be addressed. If it's not radical Islamic terrorism, then what is it? Throughout this column, I've been using the term "radical jihadis." Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, noted for her extensive foreign policy experience as secretary of state in the first term of Obama's administration, refers to terrorism done by "jihadists." And Obama prefers to be blunt, calling members of the Islamic State group "thugs and killers" in his speeches instead.
Throwing around phrases like radical Islamic terrorism — and judging those who don't — can have serious consequences, both inside and outside politics. The next time you're talking about terrorism, or watching Ted Cruz in a presidential debate, remember that we're not fighting Islam. Maybe former GOP President George W. Bush said it best shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks: "We fight not a religion; ours is not a campaign against the Muslim faith. Ours is a campaign against evil."
Throwing around phrases like radical Islamic terrorism — and judging those who don't — can have serious consequences, both inside and outside politics. The next time you're talking about terrorism, or watching Ted Cruz in a presidential debate, remember that we're not fighting Islam. Maybe former GOP President George W. Bush said it best shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks: "We fight not a religion; ours is not a campaign against the Muslim faith. Ours is a campaign against evil."