American Muslims and the Sharia Scare

 

Lately in my state some politicians and others have been trying to stir up hostility toward and fear of American Muslims, often by warning about a non-existent threat of Muslims imposing sharia law somewhere in the state.

Given that, it may be useful to mention things American Muslims (and everyone else) should be able to expect from their fellow Americans. They should expect that their right to practice their religion freely will be respected. They should expect their fellow Americans not to blame or condemn all of them for the crimes committed by some of them. They should expect governments to place no more restrictions on or barriers to the construction of their places of worship than are applied generally. They should expect that local, state, and federal officials, including those in public schools, will not discriminate against their religion, nor evangelize for another in any official activities. They should expect that other Americans will not question their loyalty to the United States without reason for doing so.

Of course there also are things that other Americans should require of American Muslims (as well as of everyone else). I think most American Muslims know these things well, but it would not hurt to publish  some of them for the benefit of some who may not, particularly some who have arrived from places with far different laws and customs. A list would include the following:

1) You must not rape anyone, not even your wife or a woman you believe is behaving immodestly.

2) You must not rob, steal from, or defraud anyone.

3) You must not marry or have sexual relations with any girl younger than the legal age in the state where you live.

4) You must not sexually mutilate any girl.

5) You must not behave cruelly to animals, including dogs.

6) You must not beat or otherwise physically harm any women or girls, not even in your own family.

7) You must not offer material support to any terrorist organization or foreign power hostile to the United States.

8) You must not physically attack another person.

9) You must respect the right of others to criticize, ridicule, and insult your religion and other beliefs.

America is a free country. It also is a very diverse country – religiously, philosophically, ideologically, ethnically, and culturally. We do not have to like or agree with each other. We do have to respect each others rights.