Xenophobia in politics and race based hate is firmly rooted in US history and on the rise today.
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One day following the commemoration of the attacks on September 11, 2001, the organization, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), released its report on the conditions of South Asian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Middle Eastern, and Arab communities in the United States. Researchers collected data between January 2011 through April 2014 documenting incidents on two levels: hate violence and xenophobic rhetoric by political figures.
The report titled “Under Suspicion, Under Attack” found an increase in the volume and force of hate violence, and also a greater intensity in xenophobic expressions by political leaders since its last report released in 2010. The new report documents over 160 hate-related violent attacks and political expressions against these communities with the vast majority against Muslims.
Researchers characterize the chilly climate surrounding members of these communities emphasized by profiling and surveillance by agencies of law enforcement, and
“the growth of an Islamophobia ‘industry’ that demonizes Muslims via the Internet and media, xenophobic political speech, and hate violence, among other elements.”
Overall during the period under investigation, one hate crime was perpetrated on average every 3.5 days.
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Looking back to the 2008 presidential election, we all routinely witnessed Islamic xenophobia. Members of the political Right challenged and spread rumors regarding Barack Obama’s cultural, social, and religious background, political philosophies, U.S. birth status, and patriotism. Insinuations flew about his supposed Islamic background connected to his alleged Marxist and Fascist (which is a contradiction) political influences.
Opponents referred to him as “Barack Hussein Obama” – with emphasis on “Hussein”—in their attempts to connect him not only to the Muslim faith, but also to the former ruler of Iraq. In actuality, his middle name is indeed “Hussein,” which in Arabic translates to “good” or “beautiful.” Furthermore, since this country was founded on the notion of freedom of religion, whichever religious or non-religious background any candidate, or any individual, follows should in no way disqualify or call into question their credentials.
“Xenophobia” has been defined as
“an unreasonable fear and hatred of foreigners or strangers or that which is foreign of strange,”
and Islamophobia can be defined as prejudice and discrimination toward the religion of Islam and Muslims who follow its teachings and practices. Like racism and sexism, for example, xenophobia and Islamophobia comprise much more than fears, for they are taught and often learned attitudes and behaviors, and, therefore, falls under the category of oppression.
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Two months following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, on February 19, 1942, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 authorizing military officials to operate “military areas” as “exclusion zones,” from which “any or all persons may be excluded.” This order justified the exclusion and forced relocation of all people of Japanese ancestry from the entire Pacific coast into concentration campus in the interior U.S. Though the country was at war with Germany and Italy as well, and though no single case of suspected Japanese American espionage activity was ever proven, the government stripped an estimated 110,000 Japanese U.S.-American citizens of their constitutional protections and their property, and transported them long distances.
It was not until 1988 when Congress passed legislation apologizing and providing monetary reparations to Japanese Americans for this tragic chapter in U.S. history. The legislation confirmed that the actions taken by our government were founded on
“race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership.”
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Fast forward to the horrendous events of September 11, 2001. A national poll found that 31% of U.S. residents asserted that our government should incarcerate Arab Americas in concentration camps as we did with Japanese Americans during World War II.
I wonder whether we have learned anything from our history? To stereotype and scapegoat all people of South Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds for the events of 9/11 is as invalid as blaming all Christians for the despicable actions perpetrated by Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber who was a devout Christian.
I am continually reminded by Santayana’s warning:
Now let’s talk the USA …. the following are characteristics that qualifies a person as a potential domestic terrorist: Expressions of libertarian philosophies (statements, bumper stickers) – That’s me Second Amendment-oriented views (NRA or gun club membership, holding a CCW permit) – That’s me Survivalist literature (fictional books such as “Patriots” and “One Second After” are mentioned by name) – not me Self-sufficiency (stockpiling food, ammo, hand tools, medical supplies) – not me Fear of economic collapse (buying gold and barter items) – Many Americans including me Religious views concerning the book of Revelation (apocalypse, anti-Christ) _ Anti-Christ, yup, there… Read more »
“Looking back to the 2008 presidential election, we all routinely witnessed Islamic xenophobia. Members of the political Right challenged and spread rumors regarding Barack Obama’s cultural, social, and religious background, political philosophies” typical spin. It was a question as to weather or not he qualifies, have to be a “naturalized” citizen. And weather or not he was a “Christian” as he claimed to be.
BTW, people are long pass that. It’s 2014 and we have a hell of a lot of things happening IN the US as well as outside.
In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed legislation which awarded formal payments of $20,000 each to the surviving internees—60,000 in all. This same year, formal apologies were also issued by the government of Canada to Japanese Canadian survivors, who were each repaid the sum of $21,000 Canadian dollars.