American Muslims, First Amendment Rights, Reciprocity, and Collective Guilt

by Sheila Musaji

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Recently I published an article about the congressional race in Minnesota, Lynn Torgerson vs Keith Ellison: A Congressional Campaign Based on Religious Hatred discussing Torgerson’s position statement which states (among other things) that “Islam is not a religion recognizable under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution”.

She is not alone in this xenophobic worldview which would limit the Constitutional protections of American citizens to only those professing particular religions:

“Ultimately, it must be a matter of public policy in the West that Muslims will have the same right to practice their religion in western countries as Christians, Jews, and others enjoy in Islamic states. Nothing less will suffice. And if Muslims are unable to accept such reciprocity then we must be prepared to withdraw from them the First Amendment rights that they now demand.”  Paul R. Hollrah on the Conservative Voice site.

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore who said “Buddhism was considered a false religion by the forefathers.  It is not my definition of religion, no.  It was not their definition of religion under the First Amendment of the Constitution.”

Gary Potter of Catholics for Christian Political Action who said “When the Christian majority takes over this country ... pluralism will be seen as immoral and evil and the state will not permit anybody the right to practice evil.”

You can find many more quotes from Americans who are in need of a refresher course on the Constitution here.  Many of those holding such views bring up the issue of “reciprocity”.  Because there are Muslim majority countries who do not provide equal protection under their laws, or where non-Muslim minorities are not treated equally, then if there are Muslims who live in the United States they should not have the rights granted to them as citizens of this country unless and until non-Muslims are granted such rights in all Muslim majority countries.

How does this make sense?

All Americans no matter what our religion, or lack of religion, are Americans and under the Constitution equal citizens of our country.  Americans of Italian descent are not responsible for the fascists in Italy.  Americans of German descent are not responsible for the nazis in Germany.  Although both the fascists and nazis came out of predominantly Christian countries, American Christians are not responsible for these criminal regimes.  American Serbs are not responsible for the attempted genocide in Bosnia, nor are all American Christians (although these atrocities were carried out by Christians) responsible for the genocide in Rwanda or the genocide in Bosnia. American Christians are not responsible for the actions or statements of extremists and terrorists who happen to be Christian.  American Jews are not responsible for the Jewish Defense League or for the actions or statements of extremists and terrorists who happened to be Jewish.  Russian Americans are not responsible for the atrocities committed during the communist era.  Should Americans whose ancestry was South African have lost their civil rights until the system of apartheid in South Africa was dismantled?  Should Americans of Swiss ancestry have lost their right to vote until women in Switzerland were given the vote in the 1970’s? 

All Americans are not responsible for American soldiers who cross the line into abuse of civilians.  For example, American soldiers behaving badly in Iraq, taunting Iraqi children, killing a shepherds sheep for no reason at all and laughing about it, making comments and behaving in a way that shows their total disregard for the humanity of the local people.  Or the U.S. soldier who admits raping a 14-year old Iraqi girl and helping murder her and her family.  Or the Abu Ghraib soldiers who pled guilty to abusing prisoners.  Or the Blackwater forces who attacked fleeing Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.  And, the only people in other countries who are holding all Americans responsible are groups like al Qaeda.  Not exactly a role model.

This mentality is called “collective guilt” and it leads to “collective punishment”. 

Where does this division into US and THEM lead us?  Do we want to create an enemy or build bridges?  Will it somehow lead us to a better place than it has ever led in our shared dismal past history?  Is it possible for us to learn the lessons of that history and change our patterns of thought and behavior?

What sort of a country would America be if the rights of every minority were dependent on whether or not those rights were reciprocated in other countries.  I for one do not think it would be a safe place for anyone to live.

SEE ALSO:

First Amendment Center http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/default.aspx