Hi SAFers,
So I debated posting this thought due to the potential to go sideways. But I'm trusting in our community to not let the discussion devolve into something inappropriate. (Mods, if I have overstepped than I apologize and please delete, but I think this community can discuss the topic rationally)
S0... I'm listening to all the pundits this morning talking about how we are "deaf" if we (the public) can't hear all the condemnations of terror acts from mainstream Muslims. The claim is that they coming out everywhere and in everyway against these sorts of horrors. Perhaps that's true, but here is the issue as I see it...
If you think of nearly any group, there are public "faces" that you can think of that represent doctrine, or at least what are perceived as common positions for that group. Example #1... If it's a Catholic topic, you picture the Pope of course speaking out, or some of the more outspoken bishops. You can imagine "hearing" their position(s) in your head even without seeing them. Example #2... Race issues with the police in America. You can picture the usual spokespeople and imagine their positions in your head.
But what about Muslims in America? Can you picture the known spokespeople that speak out on these terror issues? Where's the talking points that we want to know? Can we define their positions by heart as we can with other groups? I'm sorry but I have to say -No- to all of those questions.
TO BE 100% CLEAR... I do not think that mainstream Muslims condone these sort of sick and horrific acts. At all. In any way. Period. In fact quite the opposite of course.
But I do wonder if Muslims have a PR issue with the public at large as not being seen as unified against this small minority of sick individuals that happen to claim the same religion.
We the public love to bundle things up into neat packages/slogans and assign faces to issues... To my thinking, the Muslim community at large has not quite grasped that PR reality yet.
Your Thoughts?
So I debated posting this thought due to the potential to go sideways. But I'm trusting in our community to not let the discussion devolve into something inappropriate. (Mods, if I have overstepped than I apologize and please delete, but I think this community can discuss the topic rationally)
S0... I'm listening to all the pundits this morning talking about how we are "deaf" if we (the public) can't hear all the condemnations of terror acts from mainstream Muslims. The claim is that they coming out everywhere and in everyway against these sorts of horrors. Perhaps that's true, but here is the issue as I see it...
If you think of nearly any group, there are public "faces" that you can think of that represent doctrine, or at least what are perceived as common positions for that group. Example #1... If it's a Catholic topic, you picture the Pope of course speaking out, or some of the more outspoken bishops. You can imagine "hearing" their position(s) in your head even without seeing them. Example #2... Race issues with the police in America. You can picture the usual spokespeople and imagine their positions in your head.
But what about Muslims in America? Can you picture the known spokespeople that speak out on these terror issues? Where's the talking points that we want to know? Can we define their positions by heart as we can with other groups? I'm sorry but I have to say -No- to all of those questions.
TO BE 100% CLEAR... I do not think that mainstream Muslims condone these sort of sick and horrific acts. At all. In any way. Period. In fact quite the opposite of course.
But I do wonder if Muslims have a PR issue with the public at large as not being seen as unified against this small minority of sick individuals that happen to claim the same religion.
We the public love to bundle things up into neat packages/slogans and assign faces to issues... To my thinking, the Muslim community at large has not quite grasped that PR reality yet.
Your Thoughts?
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