The crisis that never ends
by Kenneth Bagnell
A tired but true sentence applies in recent days: ”What happens anywhere matters everywhere.” The murder of the six Islamic men at worship, shot dead by a young student. Why? Chances are he’ll only be understood — and that partly — by experienced and sharp forensic psychiatrists. In any case, the full story is more than just the facts about the young man and why he did it. It is, to me at least, vividly revealed in what is called “Islamophobia.” That in turn opens this question: why a religious faith group, most of them devout and honorable, provoked that young man’s horrible decision to kill them.
There are, sad to say, many Islamophobes everywhere, including Canada, where I have received responses that are clearly racist — one carrying an attachment of a bearded Muslim breaking into a Canadian house. My major question is this: why the Muslims? Given Canadian and American TV coverage, you can readily conclude that many intelligent journalists and academics believe Donald Trump himself tends to Islamophobia. As for the American public, Reuters news agency claims over 50 percent of Americans are Islamophobic. It’s worth a look in “Al Jazeera”, a credible media organization, located in Qatar, with 80 bureaus elsewhere. Recently it ran an article headed: “Donald Trump: The Islamophobia President.”
I fear their heading is justified. The most recent evidence is Trump’s intention to bar refugees or visiting citizens of seven Arabic countries from setting a foot in the US. The seven countries are: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Yemen. Why these only? That’s what I mean by Trump’s Islamophobia. I think he may also be tainted by a measure of paranoia, and all things considered, he should never have been even considered for the very high office he holds. Just before he was named President, credible Al Jazeera, international news service said this of Trump: “This presidential campaign foreshadows what is sure to follow. Hate crimes against Muslims rose considerably in 2015 and statistics against show a similar trend in 2016. If Trump wins it will mean an expanded surveillence culture, where counter radicalization, and policing of Muslim communities will be more pervasive. That in turn leads to more anti-Islam incidents, such as the chatter on nearby low brow radio stations in Quebec.
One example: promptly after the assault of the six Islamic men at prayer, we have the dreadful response of anti-Muslim racist ridicule over Quebec’s low brow radio stations, publically nicknamed Trash Radio. Nonetheless they reach tens of thousands in and around Quebec’s capital. Alan Freeman, an experienced journalist leads his article, written yesterday, with this opening sentence: “Quebec City has developed the dubious reputation of being Canada’s capital of shock jocks, online radio hosts who love to provoke outrageous talk about women, homosexuals and Muslims.” The news item was carried on a credible international on line service, one dealing exclusively with religion and various faith groups. Here is what the Premier of Quebec admitted yesterday in response to this vulgar racist radio group: “The province has its demons, and xenophobia, racism and exclusion are present here.”
It deserves more than that casual and defensive comment. After all, it’s the city where devout people were murdered at their place of worship. It’s beyond dreadful. Think of it: you’re in prayer at church and suddenly you’re shot dead. I still struggle to absorb the motivation of such an act. The tragedy is evidence that Canada must recognize that we face a worrisome period of history. I know we all are thankful we live in Canada. We should also be grateful for the sympathy and concern this tragedy has raised from coast to coast. But if Canada’s governance changes and elects a party with a leader strongly on the right wing – as is a frightening possibility – he or she could devastate our compatible culture thereby making every Muslim in Canada live in foreboding.
There are other and harmful wrongs. If Trumpism can, over time, taint Canadian political and social attitudes, we will become a nation where no Islamic Canadians would ever achieve elected office from the town council to the House of Commons. Ultimately we could become a divided culture edging toward disaster, the kind the American leadership achieved. I don’t think Canada will. The United States has a much different history, culture and political structure. That said, we dare not dismiss the fact that having the US so very nearby, led by an extremist, unqualified President, is by itself, quite worrisome. One example is a window on his major ambition to build a wall between the US and Mexico, with a distance of 1,300 miles and at a cost of $ 15 billion dollars. (Other experts say the cost will be up to $285 billion.)
As for Islamophobia itself, it has existed for many, many centuries, for complex and enduring reasons. Many Canadians are wary of Trump’s reckless way of life, his excessive claims, his excessive and wrongheaded ambitions. It all makes me agree with a words I read years ago, from the poet Robert Frost: “The worst affliction in the life of a high executive is egotism.” Thank you Robert Frost.
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My blogs are archived on www.kennethbagnell.com. Your comments are welcome there.
Those of us in Canada who are Christians need to remind ourselves that our primary leader is not a politician either “left “or “right” but is Jesus whose leadership is “Love your neighbor as yourself” , “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” and “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Thanks for this very thoughtful email. We are all very concerned and grieve when atrocious acts occur. We must remember there are many good, supportive and kind people around the world I hope and pray there will be better days.