Our Values: King hearings on radical Islam; do you share his fear?
Rep. Peter King says the threat of domestic Islamic terrorism justifies last week's hearing.
Photo courtesy of Spencer Platt | Getty Images
U.S. Rep. Peter King says Al Qaeda is trying to radicalize Muslim Americans and breed homegrown terrorism. King says that his new Congressional hearings are exposing a serious threat. But, King’s critics say he’s just trying to raise his own political stature at the expense of American Muslims.
This week on OurValues.org, we’ll explore this highly contentious issue. We’ll look at what Americans say about their worries and concerns. And, we’ll look at data on homegrown terrorism.
In opening these hearings, this 10-term Republican congressman, said: “Al Qaeda realizes that the measures we have put in place over the past nine and a half years make it very difficult to launch a large scale attack against the homeland from outside the country, which is why they have altered their strategy and are recruiting and using people living legally in the United States.”
OurValues.org is a national experiment in encouraging Americans to discuss hot-button issues in a civil manner. The King hearings certainly are hot; they’ve produced high emotion on both sides. Today, let’s start our civil discussion by hearing what you know — what you’ve heard, and what you think — about these hearings.
Please tell us what you think about any of these questions:
* Is there a homegrown threat? And does it come from American Muslims?
* Are you still worried about Al Qaeda? Is Osama bin Laden still a potent force?
* Did you watch the King hearings? Where did you watch? A TV network? YouTube?
* Is there any real news here? Is King’s work revealing anything we didn’t know?
* Concerned about demonization? Is King harming law-abiding American Muslims?
Dr. Wayne E. Baker is a sociologist on the faculty of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Baker blogs daily at Our Values and can be reached at ourvaluesproject@gmail.com.
Comments
REBBAPRAGADA
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 6:34 p.m.
We need to understand the true nature of Islam and its fundamental teachings, and core beliefs. The radical Muslims could be the true believers and hence we need to know them, and understand them. A man is entitled to his religious belief, and should be free to observe his faith. However, propagating that belief, or using that belief to bring about social change, or societal transformation would cause conflicts. So we have to address these concerns which could be attributable to the desires of a true Muslim believer who would use his belief to change the social group or community.
BobbyJohn
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
Even though it may not be politically correct, even Eric Holder, current Attorney General, says he is scared of the threat posed by home grown terrorism. Wishing it wasn't so won't help lives. Just look at how many plots have been busted recently. This is not about illegally or immorally rounding up Muslims, this is about investigating a threatt to the lives of all Americans.
Technojunkie
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 : 5:39 p.m.
Ask the Armenians.