Islamophobia is not freedom. Scared people, fearful of something like religion they do not understand is a crowd control tactic, not an ideology to live with.
First they came for the communists and I did not speak out,
Because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the socialists and I did not speak out,
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out,
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me,
And by that time there was no one left to speak out.
No one left to speak out for me.
That is a prose, translated from an old German saying by Pastor Martin Niemoller. It impresses upon the failings of human rambunctionary that allows us to stop helping others, hoping and thinking well, it’s not our problem, someone else will surely do something.
What makes us cower? Why do feel so powerless that we have to sub an entire religion? Is this the abstract of the ones who lost? Or is the strength of the victors? Humanity understands. appreciates and respects virtue. But this one area? It readily accepts any reason given for their discomfort, and an entire religion is facing persecution today because we were unwilling to dig deep. Terrorism happens in these moments of ineptitude.
Religion
Religion will tell you there is virtue in waiting. Virtue in patience, perseverance and holding out for hope. Truth is, that there is something to be respected about that kind of faith and hope. But seldom does it work in this complicated 21st century.
I grew up in a relatively religious household. My father did his morning prayers on the dot, every day without fail. My grandmother was the same way, as was my grandfather. I grew up on sermons and scriptures straight out of the Vedas. Growing up in Gujarat, I even had the elective to learn chapters from Bhagavad Gita, which I did. And I still remember the shlokas from the fourth Adhyay.
That was fifteen years ago. Today, I am in no way a religious person. I dabble with the occasional conversation about spirituality, listen to Pastors and spiritual Gurus give anecdotes and of course hear about some new fanaticism in a different religion every day. As if its a J.K.Rowling creation, with its own houses and personalities to match.
Islam was never the issue. Making Islam the big bad was never the answer, it is just for the convenience of the people in power. Religious fanatics? Extremist ideologies? Jihadi Mentality? Yeah, they are all terrorists. Must be Islamic. Quran bad. Clutch your bible like you clutch your pearls. Only the ONE TRUE LORD can save you now.
Islamophobia
Look over Facebook and you are bound to come across at least one post from people you know bashing or ridiculing Islam in what seems like a dedicated effort to curb its influence.
There are those white supremacist groups that have now taken to harassing Muslims online. Then there are the right wing outfits of all religions that have found a singular point of convergence- Bashing Islam, taking snippets of quotes from the Quran and interpreting it in the worst possible manner.
Islamophobia has taken over the doggedness that arises out of ignorance in the minds of our more simple minded brethren. Yes, this is a very harsh thing to say. And yes, terrorists who commit act of terror in the name of Islam do exist. However, the bad of the few cannot stand as a mark to the good of the many. Islam is a religion. Like all other religions. Terrorists are just terrorists.