February 27, 2008
Offending statements from western media are biased
The letter published on the 21st of February titled ‘Liberals too passive when it comes to terrorism’ deeply offended me and many other Muslims in Missoula. Poor research by its author and ignorance of world issues has led to such sweeping statements in the letter, which had little truth in it.
Living in a beautiful and resourceful country like the US, people here tend to ignore certain questions. Do people in Iraq enjoy the bomb blasts and suicide bombs? Do Muslims like to kill fellow Muslims? Are the terrorist cases we see on TV really a true representation of Muslims?
Instead of giving political statements, I want to correct all the offending statements put forward. The term “Islamic terrorism” caught my eye. Not many people know that the word ‘Islam’ is derived from the word ‘peace’. Added to that, suicide is strongly forbidden in Islam. Hence, rather than just picking up statements from western media, which I find extremely biased, one should rely on research. Islam is the fastest growing religion today, not because of what western media projects but because of what it preaches.
The letter I am responding to quoted a few cases of rapes and made it look like a daily happening in Islamic societies. I suggest we look up rape statistics first. I can assure you that no society, including the US, is free from that ill. It is relevant to mention the Iraqi women who were raped by US soldiers. Women are given an extremely high status in Islam. If a man’s wife and daughter are under threat, that man is likely to do things that are not normal. I certainly never approve of violent reactions, but lets, for once, put ourselves in that man’s shoes and think.
– Samir Anwar Butt
