Issues Under Fire: What Do Muslims Know and How Long Have They Known It?

Issues Under Fire: What Do Muslims Know and How Long Have They Known It? 

Now that the Black Lives Matter issue has gained enough attention to make American law enforcers think twice before pulling the trigger, we should use this opportunity to take a look at the next demographic that's found itself in America's crosshairs. The American Muslim. 

If you're a Muslim American, you'd better get to know the people around you as fast as you can, because when the authorities come asking "what did you know and when did you know it?", they won't accept "I had no idea what my brother, cousin, uncle or friend was up to" for an answer. Even though most Americans haven't a clue who many of the people in their lives really are, in a climate of heated rhetoric and fear, Muslim Americans will be held to a much higher standard. They'd better know something.

When people are engaging in activities unbecoming a human being, they generally keep sh*t like that on the down-low. Most catholic priest look like kindly gentlemen, few police officers look like murderers, almost all medical professionals appear competent, almost all married couples manage to maintain an image of being happy and in love, while sales people and judges strive to appear honest and fair. 

When we think of our neighbors, friends, coworkers and classmates, we think we know them and we think we know them very well. Unfortunately, in reality, those very people could be molesting children, gambling excessively, screwing their best friend's wife, husband, boyfriend or girlfriend. They could be beating their spouses and kids at night, selling drugs on the side, doing drugs behind closed doors, drinking too much before during and after work, beating up prisoners and worse. 

Some of your closest compadres could be spending family funds on online porn, raping women, stealing money from their employers, taking bribes, and yes, someone you know could be planning a mass shooting. They may have been invited to graduations, pool and housewarming parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs and other holiday events. Any one or more of  these type of people could have sat at your Thanksgiving dinner table this year and you wouldn't have the slightest idea they were leading a double life.  

If asked, you'd swear on a stack of holy books, everyone you hold dear in your life is of good character with a strong moral compass. Nobody knowingly hangs out with liars, cheats and thieves.  Most people would recoil if they knew uncle Charlie liked little girls or cousin Billy Bob really hated Black people and wanted to do something about it. So if your brother-law Mohammed suddenly started amassing an arsenal in his basement or turning his garage into to a bomb making factory, you're probably going to be one of the last people to know. 

Bottom line: When Donald Trump told his supporters he could tell the family members of the San Bernardino shooters were lying when they said they didn't know their relatives were planning to kill innocent people in the name of Allah, you'd be wise to remember how little anybody really knows about anybody. You'd be wise to remember how little people know about you. And when you think about, you'd be wise to remember how little you really know about Donald Trump. Podcast below!