The announcement of a nationwide “March Against Sharia – March for Human Rights” on June 10, with currently 28 cities signed up to participate, should not come as a surprise.
In fact, this development can be seen in three ways:
Firstly and arguably – the question is why it took so long for such an event to be organized? Given the consistent disingenuous use of the word ‘terrorism’ and the constant spoon feeding of a twisted narrative about Islam, engineered by the government and the media to beat the drums of fear and suspicion against Islam and Muslims, such an event should have taken place much earlier. Sadly, all such events do is contribute towards the government’s divisive agenda of creating and reinforcing schisms within the fabric of American society.
Secondly and arguably, had the Muslims in the US countered the pressure to compromise the Islamic identity and values (in order to be accepted); nor embroiled themselves in participating in the prevailing political system – but rather engaged proactively to present Islam as Islam; countered the disingenuous media narrative; engaged politically with their wider communities to explain Islam systematically; exposed the brutality and hypocrisy of US foreign policy and Human Rights; and explained how capitalism is the root cause of the many problems that beset the American people (from crime, racism, to access to medical treatment, etc…), maybe just maybe, such an event never would have taken place.
Thirdly and definitely – this event ironically provides a great opportunity for the Muslims to stand and be counted..to engage and present Islam as Islam. It is an opportunity to take the negativity and ignorance that will be presented at such events and turn these upon their heads.
