Muslim American Victim Mentality

As I'm analyzing the reaction of the Muslim American community to the tragedy at Fort Hood, I feel like they are living in a wholly different universe than the rest of the country. 13 people were murdered, and they did not deserve their fate. Dozens were injured, and they did not deserve it either. But the community leaders and representatives of the Muslim American community are focused on only one thing: the fear that the entire community will be linked with the Fort Hood tragedy. It is a legitimate concern, of course. But fears are overblown. Most Americans are able to differentiate between ordinary citizens who happen to be Muslim and terrorists who happen to be Muslim.

There are irrational folks on the right-wing blogosphere who are blaming the Fort Hood shootings on the Islamic faith, but these right-wingers are pretty much the only ones. So I'm curious about one thing: if the Muslim American community is trying so very hard to distance itself from the shootings, who is the primary audience? Is it the rational center or is it the irrational right wing? If the former, then the Muslim American community is preaching to the choir; however, if it's the latter, then it's a hopeless endevaour because no amount of PR will convice the far right that Islam isn't an evil faith.

I believe that instead of wasting their efforts by saying, "We're Americans too. Please don't blame us for this tragedy," Muslim Americans should instead have expressed a greater deal of sympathy for the victims of Fort Hood. The victims of the shootings are the real victims of this tragedy. Muslim Americans are not the victim so they really should stop trying to portray themselves as the victims. And at some point, they should probably try to get over the victim mentality that they have had since 9/11. Yes, Muslim Americans did suffer after 9/11. And it was sad and totally unjustified.

But at some point, you gotta move on. 9/11 was 8 years ago. The country is in a different mood today. Aside from people like Brian Kilmeade, Gretchen Carlson, Debbie Schlussel, Michelle MalkinMichelle Malkin, Pamela Geller, there has not been a whole lot of Muslim bashing in the United States due to Fort Hood. Moreover, many Americans may likely be offended by the Muslim American attempts at assuming the victim status. I'm a Muslim Canadian, and even I'm offended by the statements being made by Muslim Americans regarding Fort Hood. The people that truly deserve our sympathy are the families of those that died at Fort Hood. If Muslim Americans really want to be seen as real Americans, it might be helpful if they focus less on themselves and more on their fellow citizens who are suffering in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.