The attack on the Islamic Center is justified by the alleged threat posed by its members. The nature of this threat is not disclosed, and this is because there is not one. The Bloomington Muslim population is incredibly diverse—about as far away from the rigid and doctrinaire Islamic environments that actually produce terrorists as can be imagined. Zacharias and his ilk are not threatened by members of the Islamic Center, but rather by Islam itself. There is a name for this kind of thinking: bigotry.
Yesterday the Indiana Daily Student ran a sort-of apology from Zacharias as well as a strong rebuke from two members of the Muslim Student Union amongst others. Unfortunately, the paper also ran an ill-timed opinion column by Adam Sedia called "The Ugly Side of Islam," about Mohammed Bouyeri, the killer of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh. In the column, Sedia's mantra is "No tolerance, no dialogue, no mercy." While this certainly applies to people like Bouyeri, the wisdom of printing such an article so close to the incident at the Islamic Center—an incident which bears all the hallmarks of a vile misapplication of this very philosophy—should be called into question.
There are encouraging signs that people like Zacharias may not be in the majority in Bloomington. On Sunday, an interfaith rally in solidarity with the Muslim community was attended by hundreds. Now is the time for Bloomington to prove what kind of community it really is.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Laura Young
Oh Pete, I lived in Bloomington for many years. In fact, I was just there early this month. I am so sorry to hear this. Thanks for posting this. I know there are many, many good people there. I join you in your hope that Bloomington can hold its center in the face of such a terrible act.
2 - dietdoc
Pete quotes: "People do not have to be misguided, mentally ill or an "extremist" to think about and then commit such an act."
Reply: Pete, that is some scarey rhetoric there. I think the definition of "extremist" has been thoroughly revised.
Cheers,
Ron
3 - E L Frederick
So let me get this... we "allegedly" so something with a Quaran at Gitmo, and there is a huge hype. Someone throws a Molotov cocktail into a Mosque, which ends up not hurting anyone or having the desired effect, and desicrate a Quaran on the street by the Mosque, and we are committing a terrible act.
Prospective people... 911 & Madrid & the recient attack in England.
And we're the bad guys? I think not.
4 - Don Rentfrow
letter from a Hutton Honors College student named Mark Zacharias. The letter is shockingly ignorant for any college student, let alone for one who attends a division that focuses on community service and stresses the diverse and pluralistic nature of IU.
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Excuse me Mr. McDevitt, but isn't it possible that YOU are the shockingly ignorant one for thinking that Mr.Mark Zacharias could not be correct ?? How are you capable of knowing that his theory ISN"T correct... Mr Zacharias makes some extremely good points about the "fire bombing"...
It use to be that a Journalist would report a story as to what happen, and not insert his personal slant on someone else theory because he disagrees with it...
Please stick to facts and not what you want people to believe....
5 - Pete Blackwell
E.L.,
There's no "we" here. Someone did this and "they" were wrong. I believe the people who support this person or persons are wrong, too. We, as America, have done nothing wrong here. In fact, most folks here in Bloomington do not agree with the attacker or their apparent motive. I don't get your point. I never said this was the worst thing ever to happen in the history of the world. I just said it's disconcerting that it would happen in this community.
6 - Pete Blackwell
Don,
First off, who's Mr. McDevitt? That's not my name.
Second, scroll up to the top of the page. Look above the title of the article. Do you see the word "Opinion"? That word means that what I am writing represents my thoughts and my feelings about something. It is the very definition of "personal slant", so you're not accusing me of anything that's not stated explicitly by me upfront.
You write: "isn't it possible that YOU are the shockingly ignorant one for thinking that Mr.Mark Zacharias could not be correct ?? How are you capable of knowing that his theory ISN"T correct... Mr Zacharias makes some extremely good points about the "fire bombing"..."
No, I don't think I'm being shockingly ignorant. I absolutely believe that I could be shockingly wrong, but that's a different matter altogether.
He may well be correct. I think he's not. I think his letter showed an obvious bias against Muslims that tends to discredit him in my eyes.
If you read the article, you would be aware that I strongly disagee that he made "extremely good points" about the bombing (and why put "fire bombing" in quotes? a fire bombing is when you throw a fire bomb, such as a Molotov cocktail, at something). As I showed, the things he deemd suspicious are easily explained.
7 - Victor Plenty
Whoever did this, and whatever their motive, the act is completely indefensible. Any attempt to minimize this attack's moral repugnance or justify it in any other way is a betrayal of core American values.
8 - Marcia L. Neil
Have you tried to read a 'Koran' available from United States libraries? It is packed full with commentary and notes which distract from the actual content supposed to be read. Perhaps that is the protest -- a Koran cannot be read without a brainful of other readers' explanations and opinions on each page; nor can a Muslim worship service be learned without commentary either. Who can form their own opinions about such a religion when bombarded with previous input and briefings?
9 - E L Frederick
"Have you tried to read a 'Koran' available from United States libraries?"
What you too cheap to shell out the $3.50 to get one at Barnes & Noble?
I picked up a (free) Quaran to read on my way out of Ft. Benning Georgia on my way out of country to Afghanistan last year.
Didn't have any pencil or pen marks, nor was it defaced in any way.
I bet if you pick up a Bible in the libarary it will be equally marked up.
10 - RJ
So. Muslims kill dozens in London, and we are focusing attention on a single inept "hate crime" in Indiana?
Now, if the (we assume) Christian zealot who launched the fire-bomb into the Mosque had instead dove into a crowd of Muslims during evening prayers, and exploded himself, we would have a REAL story.
But all we have is a lot of whining and hand-wringing over a non-event. No one died. No one was injured. There was no serious property damage.
And then we have a lot of lamentation about a fooking LETTER TO THE EDITOR which was not at all hateful, and has not been proven to be baseless.
If the Left spent as much time attacking REAL terrorists as it did non-Muslim conservative writers to a college paper's editorial page, we might just win this whole Global War On Terrorism...
11 - Pete Blackwell
RJ,
First of all, I'll write about whatever I please. The mouse is in your hand because you get to choose what stories to click on.
Second, it is very ironic to write a whiney comment on how my post is whiney. Nice one.
Third, NOWHERE EVER did I attempt to equate the importance of this story to that of the London bombings. I'm sorry you're not interested. It did make the national news wires and ran in a number of places.
Fourth, you are a fool if you believe that the war on terror is only about actions and not at all about attitudes. I find the comments from the IU student to be both notable and emblematic of an attitude that I wanted to talk about. You're right that the letter has not been proven to be baseless. I am arguing that it is. It's called an opinion. No one is forcing you to agree or even to read the post.
If the Left spent as much time attacking REAL terrorists as it did non-Muslim conservative writers to a college paper's editorial page, we might just win this whole Global War On Terrorism...
So it's my fault that we're not winning the war on terror? And who's to say we're not winning? Why are you providing aid and comfort to our enemies by saying that?
For the record, this one post "whines" about a letter published in a college newspaper. You can find posts where I attack the REAL terrorists here, here and elsewhere on my blog.
12 - Jason
Interesting and good post fo rthe most party but:
a) did you just equate Ron Artest to the KKK? maybe it's not what you meant, but wow.
b) Bloomington isn't the ONLY blue island in the red state of Indiana. Marion County and the counties around Gary would disagree.
But that's just picking nits.
13 - Pete Blackwell
Jason,
A hearty shout-out to my blue brothers and sisters up north. However, isn't Indy the biggest Republican-majority city in the U.S.?
As for Ron Artest: I definitely wasn't equating him to the KKK. Just a jokey little reference to the Pacers-Pistons brawl (see the jpg. of an angry Artest that I linked to).
14 - Jason
Indy is not a Republican majority city anymore, hasn't been since 2002 at the latest (we took over the city-county council) and now hold every office except county prosecutor and county superior court judges (we're only 1 or two judges away from that). Demographically, we're kickign their ass as well and should be doing better if it wasn't for a somewhat incompetent county party.
As for the artest thing, I figured you weren't but it does come across like that. Somewhat. Just sayin'.
15 - Pete Blackwell
So it would be fair to say Indianapolis is "racing" toward the Democratic party? Har har.
Ron, if you're out there, much love! I'll buy your album.
16 - Shahid
A few comments to make here if I may, since I live in the Bloomington Community, and am a regular member of the aforementioned mosque.
If you want a free Quran, email me and arrangements can be made for you to receive one. shahid_osman at juno.com
The FBI/Police were on the scene of the crime pretty soon. They are doing a pretty good and thorough job of investigating this. Call me ignorant, but I have faith in them to ask the question of "was it an inside job".
Mark Zacharias is actually a staff member of the Hutton Honors college, as stated in his letter to the editor. The main reason people were upset was his usage of his title, and position to put forth his opinions. The Hutton Honors college is in charge of diversity scholorships, I believe.
The walk for peace and solidarity was a very moving event, and it showed us (the muslim community) that we have some very spectacular neighbors in the community.
17 - Temple Stark
this was linked at boortz.com, unflatteringly today. FYI
18 - Victor Plenty
From the context they seem to think this post was an item about something that happened in Iraq.
It's actually flattering to be insulted by people who can't be bothered to check their facts better than that.
19 - RJ
A link from Mr. Boortz is GOOD news for this site! It means the media is REALLY taking notice! :)
20 - Dave Nalle
It was only an incedental mention from Heather, not any actual attention by the great Boortz, so don't get too excited.
Dave
21 - Temple Stark
party meet poop.
jee-zus.
It's on the web site. if it was mentioned on radio show even better.
22 - Marcia L. Neil
How was the Molotov cocktail made? There has been some speculation in the journals that bottles of perfume have been used to concoct 'firewater'.
23 - Pete Blackwell
Marcia,
I don't think that info has been released yet. All indications are that it was quite unsophisticated.
24 - Shahid
The Molotov cocktail was made with a plastic soda pop bottle (Mountain Dew I believe).
25 - Temple Stark
Code Red