I gently but firmly admonish CAIR to change focus

Comments about CAIR
(Council on American-Islamic Relations)

CAIR is kind of an anti-defamation type of organization, where they fund raise and issue action alerts when there are examples of extreme anti-Muslim rhetoric. I have no problem with their overall structure and intention, as this is classic Americana, where every special interest group inevitably has an "anti-defamation" organization mobilize supporters in classic confrontation (letters of protest, boycotts, attempts to silence the rhetoric). The Jewish Anti-Defamation League is a well known organization, in existence for many years. These organizations are fine, but as an observer I have to point out that while "education" is often promoted as their main priority, their muscle is usually classical American consumerism (boycotts) and politics (pressure on those who issue the rhetoric and lawmakers, whether there is a law broken or not).

This is a slippery slope when the special interest group is faith based. As a Christian and a Catholic I have seen and heard the most foul attacks on my faith, and on figures, for many years and we have had, right or wrong, a "turn the other cheek" approach. People who are determined to blaspheme Catholicism have tacit support from the government, the media and "social" institutions because orthodox Catholic beliefs challenge libertine values from the part of society who most want a secular, valueless society. Catholics actually bend too far the other way and do not "go after" hate speakers, organize boycotts and so forth. Something a bit more in the middle would probably be good. We even have great controversy about withholding the sacraments from figures in leadership positions who foment anti-Catholic beliefs, even as they claim to be faithful (they are "politicians" who "must represent 'all' the people") yet advocate sins such as abortion.

I am troubled that CAIR does not respond to ignorant or hateful rhetoric with more "education" and less of the classic combative consumer and political related politics. Just as some extreme right wing American critics of Islam claim to "never hear the Imams denounce terrorism" (which is patently untrue, as I have documented on my blog, though as I've always commented, there is room to do more and better, and I think I do see a greater focus on re-education regarding 'fatwas' and 'infidels') you must be very careful to not lose the chance to respond with wisdom and prudence. When someone says something inflammatory and erroneous, why are you not using your visibility to refute the speech with sound theology that would reach the ears of many thousand people at a time?

For example there has been hate speech about the expectations of terrorists who consider themselves martyrs when they reach heaven. Well, where do people get such extreme rhetoric? From the mouths of the terrorists and their erroneous beliefs themselves. Why are organizations like CAIR not responding with quotes from Imams and education about what the Qur'an really teaches? Why is the response always an "action alert" or "fund raising appeal" rather than a communique that reinforces that the hate rhetoric is ignorant and in error and contains corrective material from the Qur'an, the hadith, and the studies of the Prophet (PBUH)?

If I were in charge of CAIR I would not be organizing boycotts and action alerts, and I certainly would not be soliciting donations with the very hate speech and rhetoric repeated for the appeal. I would not be trying to force off the air the hate speakers, anymore than I tried to force off of You Tube films of idiotic notoriety seekers who defame the Holy Spirit and profess their disbelief, hoping to shake the faith of others.

If I were in charge of CAIR I would consider every example of hate speech or rhetoric an opportunity to teach exactly why that hate speech or interpretation is incorrect. Dear brothers and sisters, you must ponder the following about freedom of speech. If you do not correct the error in the speech, but only shut down the sources, you let the error fester in the unspoken public. Your extremist children have spread myth about Islam with their own mouths, and this is what the rhetoric speakers pick up on and are outraged by. If all you do is shut down the people who are misinformed then you have lost the opportunity to be wise and witness to Allah.

If you cannot write a theological refutation of the rhetorical attacks, what kind of teachers, parents and defenders of the faith are you? In an evening I could write a gentle and scholarly reply to any hate speech that I hear about Islam. Why is that not the focus of CAIR and similar organizations?

America is rapidly becoming a country that knows only contention that is repeated by both sides over and over. I respectfully suggest that CAIR recognize this unfruitful path and shift their priorities away from the knee-jerk reaction to suppress erroneous rhetoric rather than wisely teach the many thousands who you now have the ears and eyes of on the sidelines as to why the rhetoric is unsound and incorrect. You would be promoting a love for your faith and witnessing to Allah rather than just becoming another American special interest hammer.

And visiting CAIR's web site one's first impression is not of the glory of Allah.