A Sunday Thought About 9/11, Muslims, and Terrorism
As you may have noted, our Sunday today falls on 9/11 this year, 15 years since the World Trade Center attacks. Having been too close for comfort, the events of that day are never far from my mind. But whether you were there or not, you likely remember those incredible, awful images that were played over and over.
Since that attack, terrorism and the fight against it have dominated our lives. The government has aggrandized enormous power as a result, and our lives can hardly be labeled "private" any more. Those Muslims who think perpetrating acts of terrorism will further their cause we the immediate cause of all that, although the government's been growing bigger, more bloated, and more intrusive for a long time.
Since Muslims and terrorism have been and will be with us for longer than many of us might wish to imagine, let's spend a few minutes sorting through the facts. The recent upsurge in terrorist attacks by Muslims provides no alternative. "Head in the sand" is simply not an option. We'll begin with a distinction between Muslims and terrorism.
First of all, terrorism comes in different forms. It always has. Currently, while most attacks we read about were committed by Muslims, not all are. The recent shootings in Munich apparently targeted Muslims. Reports say that the young man who did the killing had tried to lure Turks and Arabs to a MacDonald's. That's where he shot the majority of his victims. But we have to careful such that in recognizing that Muslim and terrorism aren't married, we don't underestimate the connection between the two. For a disturbing number of Muslims, that connection appears to be an intimate one - and a growing one.
Secondly, let's recognize that our country (along with many others) has suffered periods where other groups besides Muslims attempted to terrorize our people for one reason or another. For example, the late 19th and early 20th century saw the growth of the "Anarchist" movement. Some members of this movement perpetrated shootings and bombings for decades. And before the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, German terrorists committed dramatic and lethal acts of terror. They mistakenly thought they could prevent the U.S. government from joining the British and French against the Germans and Austrians by cowering its citizens through terrorism. One of their more spectacular attempts was foiled by a special force set up by the New York Police Department when an attempt to set off powerful explosives in St. Patrick's Cathedral was stopped in the Cathedral itself, where the bomb-laden terrorist was captured moments before detonation. Anti-terrorist activity by the New York Police Department did not begin with the 9/11/2001 attacks.
And yet, even as we recognize that terrorism isn't the exclusive property of so-called "radical" Islam, it's not much comfort. Yes, we all may know individual Muslims who have no interest in blowing us up, and who just want to live their lives in peace under the (albeit tattered) flag of freedom of the United States. But the fact remains, terrorist acts do, for the most part begin with and are inspired by the belief in Allah and the Koran.
What to do? Well, Donald Trump, among others, has offered some answers. But even if you don't agree with his proposals to ban Muslims from entering our country - at least for a time - it's incumbent upon you to not to make believe these acts have nothing to do with the religious beliefs of certain Muslims. They do. And whether or not they're on medication, eat pork, get drunk, or engage in homosexual practices - all excuses proffered by those unwilling to face the facts that these Muslim terrorists act in the name of Allah and their religion - the bullets and bombs these individuals have and will use to kill and maim work just a well as the bullets and bombs of those who face Mecca seven times a day in fervent prayer.
One way to approach this subject on this Sunday, September 11th might be to first remember what Our Lord told us: Love your enemies. We pray for our Muslims brothers, that, by God's grace and the intercession of Our Blessed Mother (whose birthday we just celebrated on September 8th), they will see the light and join us in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Short of that, we pray that we can live in peace together. But - again facing the facts - we suspect that won't do for a meaningful percentage of Muslims who are intent on either killing or subduing subsuming us under Shariah. In that case, we pray for the courage to face such enemies with the means necessary to defend ourselves and eliminate the threat to life and limb that these people represent.
To think any other way, it would seem, doesn't engage with the facts.
For all those who died on September 11, 2001, with their family and friends, we pray:
Since that attack, terrorism and the fight against it have dominated our lives. The government has aggrandized enormous power as a result, and our lives can hardly be labeled "private" any more. Those Muslims who think perpetrating acts of terrorism will further their cause we the immediate cause of all that, although the government's been growing bigger, more bloated, and more intrusive for a long time.
Since Muslims and terrorism have been and will be with us for longer than many of us might wish to imagine, let's spend a few minutes sorting through the facts. The recent upsurge in terrorist attacks by Muslims provides no alternative. "Head in the sand" is simply not an option. We'll begin with a distinction between Muslims and terrorism.
First of all, terrorism comes in different forms. It always has. Currently, while most attacks we read about were committed by Muslims, not all are. The recent shootings in Munich apparently targeted Muslims. Reports say that the young man who did the killing had tried to lure Turks and Arabs to a MacDonald's. That's where he shot the majority of his victims. But we have to careful such that in recognizing that Muslim and terrorism aren't married, we don't underestimate the connection between the two. For a disturbing number of Muslims, that connection appears to be an intimate one - and a growing one.
Secondly, let's recognize that our country (along with many others) has suffered periods where other groups besides Muslims attempted to terrorize our people for one reason or another. For example, the late 19th and early 20th century saw the growth of the "Anarchist" movement. Some members of this movement perpetrated shootings and bombings for decades. And before the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, German terrorists committed dramatic and lethal acts of terror. They mistakenly thought they could prevent the U.S. government from joining the British and French against the Germans and Austrians by cowering its citizens through terrorism. One of their more spectacular attempts was foiled by a special force set up by the New York Police Department when an attempt to set off powerful explosives in St. Patrick's Cathedral was stopped in the Cathedral itself, where the bomb-laden terrorist was captured moments before detonation. Anti-terrorist activity by the New York Police Department did not begin with the 9/11/2001 attacks.
And yet, even as we recognize that terrorism isn't the exclusive property of so-called "radical" Islam, it's not much comfort. Yes, we all may know individual Muslims who have no interest in blowing us up, and who just want to live their lives in peace under the (albeit tattered) flag of freedom of the United States. But the fact remains, terrorist acts do, for the most part begin with and are inspired by the belief in Allah and the Koran.
What to do? Well, Donald Trump, among others, has offered some answers. But even if you don't agree with his proposals to ban Muslims from entering our country - at least for a time - it's incumbent upon you to not to make believe these acts have nothing to do with the religious beliefs of certain Muslims. They do. And whether or not they're on medication, eat pork, get drunk, or engage in homosexual practices - all excuses proffered by those unwilling to face the facts that these Muslim terrorists act in the name of Allah and their religion - the bullets and bombs these individuals have and will use to kill and maim work just a well as the bullets and bombs of those who face Mecca seven times a day in fervent prayer.
One way to approach this subject on this Sunday, September 11th might be to first remember what Our Lord told us: Love your enemies. We pray for our Muslims brothers, that, by God's grace and the intercession of Our Blessed Mother (whose birthday we just celebrated on September 8th), they will see the light and join us in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Short of that, we pray that we can live in peace together. But - again facing the facts - we suspect that won't do for a meaningful percentage of Muslims who are intent on either killing or subduing subsuming us under Shariah. In that case, we pray for the courage to face such enemies with the means necessary to defend ourselves and eliminate the threat to life and limb that these people represent.
To think any other way, it would seem, doesn't engage with the facts.
For all those who died on September 11, 2001, with their family and friends, we pray:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.A Blessed Sunday to you all.
May their souls, and the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
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