My Sunday Thought for December 6, 2015: Stereotyping Peaceful Islam - Inherently Vicious Pit Bulls?

"Pit Bulls are inherently vicious."  Have you ever heard this mindless tripe?  Have you ever run into a clueless, intolerant person that feels the entire breed of dog should be eradicated for reasons they cannot support with any evidence?  It's kind of like justifying genocide by simply saying, kill them all and let God sort them out.  It's like saying, in the 1930s, that all of Germany's problems were caused by the Jews; that the Jews were the cause of their economic woes and losing World War I, excuses Hitler used, with great success, for eradicating the Jews.

But, what does this have to do with stereotyping Islam?  Writing this, I am fully aware of how out in left field it seems.  I'm also aware that many are going to immediately take offense and focus on me comparing Islam to a breed of dog, missing the real point of this post entirely.  The League of the Perpetually Offended will probably be demanding my head on a platter due largely to their own rampant intolerance for anything resembling understanding, reason, or just good sense.  Please understand that the comparison of Pit Bulls with peaceful Islam concerns the misconceptions, nothing else.  Bear with me as I try to fail at bringing this example full circle.

First, let's look at a list of 10 misconceptions about the Pit Bull breed borrowed, with apology, from Arin Greenwood, Animal Welfare Editor, The Huffington Post:

1. Banning Pit Bulls Make People Safer?

2. Pit Bulls Are Inherently Vicious

3. Pit Bulls Are Bred For Fighting

4. They Have Locking Jaws

5. Pit Bulls Aren't Good With Kids

6. They Aren't Safe Around Other Dogs

7. Pit Bulls Can Never Be Trusted With Other Animals

8. Once A Fighting Dog, Always A Fighting Dog

9. All Pit Bulls Eventually Turn On Their Owners

10. Only Bad People Keep Pit Bulls

10 Stereotypes About Pit Bulls That Are Just. Dead. Wrong.

For each of these ten misconceptions, I have heard a similar description for Muslims, and Islam, as a whole.  Try it yourself; replace "Pit Bull" in each statement with Muslim or Islam, as appropriate.  Anything stand out for you?

In her article, for which I have included the link below the 10 misconceptions, Ms. Greenwood makes some telling statements concerning what we have come to learn about the Pit Bull breed:

"Breed identification is nearly impossible... There's no evidence that pit bulls are, in fact, more dangerous than other dogs... The term "pit bull" doesn't actually refer to a specific breed of dog. It's a catch-all term that usually means dogs who are one of a couple of types of terriers... Pit bulls aren't inherently anything, other than dogs with a blocky-shaped head. And of course the shape of a dog's head tells you exactly nothing about that dog's personality... But even those dogs who are bred for fighting can turn out to make great pets once they're free from their abusive environments... A dog being labeled a pit bull tells you nothing about how that pup will be with other dogs... Regardless of breed, good socialization is always recommended, to help dogs play nice... Pit bulls, in the end, are nothing more -- and nothing less -- than dogs. All this being said, there's one stereotype about pit bulls that we can get behind. It is indisputably true that when they're happy and loved, these dogs have the very best smiles."

When you try the exercise of exchanging terms here, we find similarities to what we have come to learn about Islam, to wit:  You can't tell a radical terrorist Muslim from a peaceful one by looking at them.  Visually profiling without additional information foments fear and intolerance.  There is no evidence that Islam is more dangerous than any other religion.  Islamic terrorist has become a "catch-all" term to include all Muslims, peaceful or otherwise, which simply magnifies an Islamophobia which might lead to internment camps with "showers" and furnaces; another Nazi "final solution," and how horrific was that?  

Muslims aren't inherently terrorists any more than children of American neo-Nazi parents are born being racists.  It is something they are taught to be by sociopathic role models.  What a Muslim looks like says nothing of their true beliefs.  There is such a small minority of Islamic extremists wishing to destroy the world, one would think we should assume non-terrorist before we jump to a conclusion and judge the book by its cover.  We have witnessed radical terrorists see the light of reason, the misinterpretation of the Qur'an by radical Imams, and leave the terrorist groups.  We hear their testimony in the media more and more.  Once free from their abusive environments, from the heretical interpretation of their faith, they seem to find, with some assistance from peaceful Islamists, the error of their ways.  Perhaps Islam needs to be more public when they "playing nice" with others, especially in this country where our media doesn't cover the good as much as the bad.

In closing, I'm going to plagiarize Ms. Greenwood's final statement, changing it appropriately, in my attempt to try and bring this post together:  Muslims, in the end, are nothing more -- and nothing less -- than human beings.  All this being said, there is one stereotype about Islam that, I think, we can get behind.  It is indisputably true that when they are happy, loved, and accepted as friends, these people of faith have proven themselves to be the best of us.  They can also have the very best of smiles.

We need to remember the worst of our history, and the best.  We need to remember that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are all Abrahamic religions, and all three have suffered from failing humanity at one time or another.  We can try to deny it, but the truth is, whether use God or Allah, our mutual God is the God of Abraham.  As such, where one fails, perhaps we must look all the way back to Abraham in order to see where mistakes have been made.  Or, maybe we just have to look at how badly we have allowed scripture to be interpreted by scholars with agendas not in line with those of the God they profess to believe in.

This Sunday, stop looking upon all of Islam, misdiagnosing it, as some rabid dog in need of euthanasia.  Instead, try utilizing the technology at hand for more than playing games, social media, or some immoral pastime.  Look up articles on the Islam, by the Islam, that condemns terrorism and the killing of innocence.  Learn about the other Islam, the vast majority of Islam, the Islam of peace.  See if you can change your close minded, one-sided opinion, and open the door to - maybe.

How cool might that be?    

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Frank Anthony Villari (aka, Pastor Tony)

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path."