Hate Comes to Orange County from cairsocal on Vimeo.
Hate Comes to Orange County from cairsocal on Vimeo.After watching this very disturbing protest/hate rally video edited by CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), I was prompted to make an attempt to research the people involved on all sides. On February 13th, 2011, there was afundraising dinner by the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), featuring speakers Imam Siraj Wahhaj and Imam Amir Abdel Malik in Yorba Linda, an affluent city in Southern California. The presence of these two Imams prompted the South Orange County 912 Tea Party group to organize a protest. which ended up being a hate rally against Muslims.The fundraising dinner called "Our Responsibility Towards Our Neighbors, an Islamic Perspective" was to raise funds for homeless people and battered women in the United States. The protest was seen as a "Protest- Opportunity to Show Your Concern -Radical Imam Fundraiser."To many, myself included, it is horrifying to see the level of hatred directed at families and small children. There is footage of speakers at the protest, including Villa ParkCouncil woman Deborah Pauly clearly advocating violence against Muslims when she said "As a matter of fact, I know quite a few marines who will be willing to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise," in reference to attendees of the fundraiser, which was cheered by the protest audience. Congressman Ed Royce spoke against multiculturalism (perhaps he should take another look at the demographics of his constituency) and Representative Gary Miller expresses pride in the protest. While I would like to hear the rest of their speeches, these bits are not directed at two Imams (the stated purpose of the protest), but at Muslims as a whole and the idea of multicultralism.In the video we see protest speakers during the day, adjacent to the fundraiser venue, cut against the protesters who stayed or arrived in the evening to spout off very extreme hatred at fundraiser attendees as they arrived. I feel there is a strong connection between the outright incitement of violence in the words of our public officials during the day and the behavior of the protesters at night. If one is there to protest two Imams, then speak of them and not an entire religion and make clear points of disagreement.To speak against the Imams or Muslims on the part of the protesters is protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. I find the very political nature of drawing lines between people based on religion and ethnicity disgusting, but I do believe in free speech. Divisive and downright hateful rhetoric is common in the speech of leaders today and sadly it forms the basis for many political campaigns. It seems very effective in funding and winning elections, perhaps because those who spit hate don't need to improve the lives of the people they claim to represent. Instead they focus on marginalizing and vilifying other groups of people who do not form their power base. Those incited as well as those incited against remain without the benefit of a secure financial present or future and will find no redress for the social issues they face. This thought reminds me of Bob Dylan's song, written in response to the assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers, called "Only a Pawn in Their Game" back in 1963. Like most social truths, it remains quite relavant even today.The language of the Yorba Linda protest was not against the two Imams speaking at the fundraiser, but instead targeted Muslims as a whole. The rhetoric and willingness to see children and families as the enemy should make us all stop to consider how we choose to play out our politics. Do we find it acceptable to verbally assault families and children? This type of hatred does not diffrentiate between Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Latinos or anyone else for that matter. If we do not take a peaceful stand and continue to do so without hatred, people will be fooled into thinking that hate is a legitimate means to gaining political power. Do we need to prove the humanity of Muslims, Latinos, Gays, African Americans, Jews, Japanese, Russians etc every few years to decide who we deem worthy of dignity? I hope not. I truly hope that as people we know better.For this type of hatred, I feel we need a calm and peaceful response. Silent vigils at the the offices of public officials and groups who advocate hatred as a political platform can be an effective way to be heard. Let's offer a dignified response to this undignified behaviour and show the families of all communities that we don't need to shout hatred to be heard and that the strength of our presence and the power of non hateful protest can overcome.There has been an outpouring of condemnation for the hate rally and solidarity with the American Muslim community from all faiths/communities. At the same time we see escalating Islamaphobia, just the current flavor of racist politics. Let's stand together and let people know we won't accept hate fueled politics.What we can do:Here is a page devoted to responding to the hate rally:https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139107079490192Here's a fb page for the Anti-Hate Ralley for PeaceTime: Tuesday, March 22 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm