Overcoming reinforced definitions
Dr
James J Zogby
Updated on 12/7/2001 10:12:57 AM
Much has been written about what is happening to Arab Americans
and American Muslims in the U.S. I have had enough conversations
with friends in the Arab world and I have done enough press
conferences and teleconferences with Arab press and academics to
know how deeply concerned they are with the current environment.
Because we
are so gratified by this concern and because we value it and do
not want to abuse it, I feel that it is important to make an
effort to clear the air in order to present an accurate picture of
our situation in the U.S. today.
On one
hand, the situation appears to be quite grave.
Hundreds of
hate crimes against Arab Americans and American Muslims occurred
in September immediately after the September 11 attacks.
Hundreds of
recent immigrant Arab and Palestinians have been detained and
ordered deported.
This week,
law enforcement officials across the U.S. begin the questioning of
5,000 males between the ages of 18 to 33 who entered the U.S. from
targeted Arab and Muslim countries after January 2000.
Partly due
to this and partly due to the September 11 backlash, thousands of
Arab students and visitors left the U.S. in recent months out of
fear for their safety.
Additional
concern has been created by the announcement that Arab and Muslim
males from 26 countries would have to wait at least 20 days for
extra security clearance before they could ever apply for visas to
the U.S. And finally, there is the fact that current polls are
showing that the overwhelming majority of Americans are supporting
the Administration’s policies of questioning Arab males, of
detaining visa violators, to hold military tribunals and to give
greater scrutiny to Arab Americans.
All of this
combined has generated enormous concern in the Arab world about
the status of Arabs and Muslims in the U.S. To a point, the above
represents a picture of events that have occurred and are still
occurring.
But it
represents only part of the picture.
The reality
is far more complex.
And when
one pierces through the clouds of war and the rhetoric of war that
shrouds the current situation, the total picture revealed is, in
fact, a more promising one.
Despite the
abuses that have occurred - and there should be no doubt that
abuses have occurred-America remains a nation of law that respects
the principles of due process and civil liberties.
And
Americans, despite recent polling data, are a tolerant people,
respectful of diversity and committed to fairness.
How can
this be? First, it is important to understand the context of the
situation we are in.
On
September 11, nineteen or so men turned common conveyors of
transportation into weapons of mass destruction.
Five
thousand Americans were killed and the nation was left in shock.
Ten weeks
later, the shock and the anger remains and with it the fear that
terrorism may strike yet again.
Because the
19 participants were all Arabs and Muslims, the expected backlash
was ugly.
But it
could have been uglier, had it not been for the immediate
intervention of the President, the Attorney General, Senators and
Representatives, Hollywood stars and civic leaders who acted to
defend Arab American and American Muslims.
The country
was frightened and demanded action and so law enforcement acted,
maybe too zealously, to protect and defend against further
attacks.
Congress
passed, with too little debate, far-reaching new laws that, I
believe, violated basic constitutional rights.
But even as
the congressional debate and investigation began, there were
champions of civil liberties who spoke out against abuses of
rights and offered support to those who were caught up in the
broad web cast by law enforcement.
But, now
the pendulum has begun to swing back.
This week
the U.S. Senate, worried at what they are seeing, called for
hearings to question representatives of the Administration about
abuses of rights.
And local
police departments have served notice that they will not
participate in the announced plan to question 5,000 Arab and
Muslim males.
The press
has joined this debate, examining in detail those who have been
detained and raising serious questions about the grounds on which
they are being held.
I, myself,
have been engaged in at least two nationally televised network
debates each night on this matter and at least a dozen interviews
every day.
And a
coalition of 30 ethnic groups has joined with us to protect civil
rights.
The hate
crimes have died down.
There are,
at present, about 200 cases under active investigation by law
enforcement and many perpetrators of those crimes against Arab
Americans and American Muslims are now being prosecuted.
The
individual who threatened my life and the lives of members of my
family has been caught and charged.
And others
whose threats were milder, though still frightening, have also
been apprehended and threatened with action if they did not
publicly apologise for their deeds.
On election
day, Arab American candidates who were expected to win, did so.
There were
only a few instances of backlash, but these were limited.
An Arab
American was elected mayor in Michigan and Arab Americans played
important roles in the elections of governors in New Jersey and
Virginia.
Even a
closer examination of polling data reveals a more complex picture.
When
questions are asked one way, Americans respond with support for
the Administration’s proposed harsh measures.
But when
asked if the rights of Arab Americans and American Muslims should
be protected and defended, Americans respond in the affirmative.
In fact, we
are finding that if we reach out to our fellow citizens, they will
support our concerns.
And, they,
in turn, have been reaching out to us seeking greater
understanding of our communities, our culture and our religious
traditions.
I attended
an Iftar dinner at the State Department last week.
Secretary
of State, Colin Powell, and top State Department officials hosted
Arab Americans and American Muslim leaders with Powell speaking
eloquently of his commitment to the community and his commitment
to a dialogue and to peace.
Attorney
General John Ashcroft, earlier this week, was hosted at an Iftar
dinner at Washington’s Islamic Center.
He, too,
spoke of his earnest desire to work with the community.
Serious
problems do exist.
This
situation results from terrible acts of terrorism and decades of
negative stereotypes that have shaped the definitions of Arabs and
Muslims - definitions which were tragically reinforced by the
terrorists and their deeds.
But all of
this exists in the context of other realities: an emerging Arab
American community that has earned respect and won allies.
And an
America that, when it sees through its pain, recognises the need
to act according to its higher values.
The picture
is complex.
Dark, at
times, but with rays of light shining through.
We, all of
us, face tremendous challenges and great opportunities.
If we
respond to the opportunities, the dark clouds will pass.
We, Arab
Americans, like all of our fellow citizens, were horrified by the
terror of September 11.
We want to
work together to help root out those who seek to perpetuate such
evil against our fellow citizens, and so we are committed to
cooperating with the national effort.
At the same
time we find ourselves uncomfortably, at times, in an adversarial
role.
As
Americans, we question how the investigation is being carried out
and we are concerned with what we see to be violations of rights.
We are
convinced that the investigation and the campaign against terror
can proceed and succeed without violating cherished
constitutionally protected rights.
In a way,
we understand that the burden of defending the constitution has
fallen on our shoulders.
It is a
burden we gladly accept.
When this
conflict began, President Bush told the nation that this was a war
for our values and our freedoms.
We believe
that this is true.
We will
defend these values and that freedom, confident that as we proceed
we will win more allies to our side.
And the
America that will emerge from this great conflict will not only be
safer, it will also be a better place.