| >Dear Colleague,
> >Our task, at least in part, is to assist one another in the construction of >reason which, we may hope, will lead to reasonable action. These are >difficult times for people who take up that task. > >The vile terrorist attack in New York and Washington DC has fomented a >hysterical response, a tide of irrationalism, in part rooted in racism. >Attacks on mosques and people who appear to attackers to be of Middle >Eastern descent, whatever that appearance may actually be, continue to rise. > >The New York Times (September 19) has a headline: "Victims of Mistaken >Identity, Sikhs Pay a > Price for Turbans," noting that a Sikh has been murdered. This follows: >"I'm a patriot," the suspect, Frank S. Roque, said as he was arrested. >"I'm a damn American all the way." > >The Times does not really get to the idea that it is not turbans on Sikhs, >but racism, that killed the Sikh gas station owner. This is the third such >murder in the Southwest in four days. > >Then, the Times (B3) quotes a security expert in an article about airports: >"Ethnicity is the single most important determinant of who is going to >cause a problem on an airliner...if you are going to give the same >attention because it is mandated to a little old lady with blue hair or to >a young African American male for that matter, as you would give to a >Middle Easterner, you are undermining the system already" > >These words connected with power are now part of acceptable, respectable, >discourse, and there is a not so jagged line from those words to the "damn >American" noted above. Perhaps it is correct, within the logic of the >security expert, that to oppose racism undermines an entire system. Perhaps >not. > >Reason and racism have only opposition in common. > >The Moslem people of the US, of whatever race may be assigned, have been >under severe strain, at least, since the horror of September 11. Mosques >have been attacked. Individuals have been threatened, hurt, and killed. > >While it is our job to oppose all forms of racism every day; the sharpest >form of racism is directed at people who are seen as Moslem people now. >Over time, it is reasonable to suspect that black people and all poor >people will pay a terrible price for what appears to be on the horizon. But >today, the sharpest forms of racism and racist practices are aimed at >people who others see as Moslem, Arabic, Afghan, Iraqi, Syrian-a bizarre >mix which would have to be defined in the mind of its author. > >I do not feel I can be a part of this community and allow this to continue >without my indicating, mind and body, that reason must prevail over racism. > >So, I have asked the Islamic Center of San Diego for permission to come >stand an evening vigil on Friday night, September 21, from dusk at 7:00 >p.m. to midnight, as a vigiliant witness against racism. I intend to hold a >sign: "Reason Not Racism." > >The reason to do this is simple: Anti-racist solidarity. Research >demonstrates that when people step forward and oppose racism, that action >provides a powerful counterbalance. > >The mosque is at Islamic Center of San Diego is in the Claremont area at >7050 Eckstrom.. > >North on I-805 >Take the CA-274/Balboa Avenue exit >Take Balboa ave going west >Take the first left which is Hathaway >Take a left onto Eckstrom > > >I hope you will choose to join me. Perhaps we can make some plans for the >future there. > >If you would forward this message to people of good will in the community, >that would help. > >All the best, > >Rich Gibson >San Diego State University >College of Education >Rgibson@pipeline.com |