My hometown paper, The Intelligencer, is usually filled with rants from Bucks County, PA residents about neighbors who leave their Christmas lights up for too long or page-long lists of students who made the honor roll. But as I perused the January 7 issue while home over winter break, one article caught my attention. It was Cal Thomas’s column, “Administration reluctant to call a war a war” that caught my attention. The piece, notable for both its absurdity and a rather unflattering reference to Georgetown, demonstrates not just the ignorance of one small-minded small-town man, but a frighteningly widespread misunderstanding of Islam.
In his column, which is syndicated in over 500 newspapers across the country, Thomas argues that Muslims are the enemies of the United States, and that the Obama administration must recognize current cultural clashes for what they really are: a war. If the administration continues to regard these instances as isolated acts of terror, Thomas ominously warns, “our enemy” will win. The flaws and examples of blatant ignorance in this anti-Muslim screed are numerous, but I was particularly outraged by Thomas’ criticism of Islamic studies courses. These classes have become increasingly popular at American colleges and universities—even, he notes with dismay, at “Catholic ones like Georgetown”—leading Thomas to wonder what there is to study about a group that “[desires] our demise and will not be pacified or mollified.”
As a senior who has taken a number of the Islamic studies classes Thomas criticizes, I can assure him that there is plenty to study. My courses have shown me that Islam—like all religions—has its merits and its flaws. From “History of the Islamic World,” to “Islamic Thought and Practice,” I have learned not just the facts and history of Islam, but also the skills necessary to appreciate and critically evaluate world cultures and religions. Maybe if Thomas took some of these classes he would understand that Islam itself is not a violent religion, but how certain radical minorities have manipulated it to benefit their political or ideological agendas. To dismiss them as purposeless because of their failure to end all acts of terrorism, as Cal Thomas does, is absurd.
In an attempt to bolster his baseless argument, Thomas points out that we never engaged in “Nazi studies” during World War II. Thomas wrongfully assumes that all Muslims are enemies of the U.S.—and therefore somehow remotely equivalent to Nazis—betraying his fundamental misunderstanding of Islam and unjustifiable hostility towards Muslims. The truth is that the vast majority of Americans who are Muslims simply want to benefit from the values that make America great. They want to practice their religion and live their lives free from hatred and oppression, as we all do.
It appalls me that ignorant attitudes likes these still exist, but I suppose that it does not surprise me. The idea that ignorance only breeds hatred may be cliché, but it is based in truth. I will not pretend to know all of the complex reasons why terrorism occurs, but I do know that attitudes such as these only contribute to a negative view of Americans.
My fellow students and I were not taught that Islam is above judgment. Instead, we study this culture and religion from a critical distance, allowing us to form our own educated opinions, based on knowledge rather than ignorance.
I am proud that Georgetown offers such an extensive array of Islamic studies courses. As a secular Jew, I never expected to be interested in— or even moved by—other religious traditions, but my classes have forced me to critically evaluate my assumptions about Islam. Ultimately, I want to thank Cal Thomas for reminding me to appreciate the Georgetown professors who have given me the tools necessary to recognize his dangerously ignorant opinions.
As another secular Jew and an Arab Studies student, I loved this article. Thank you for writing it – I wonder if anything similar might ever come out in your hometown paper. Maybe consider publishing it there if you can?