My thanks to Howard Friedman at Religion Clause for posting a link to Attorney General Eric Holder's important speech on hate crimes legislation at yesterday's Anti-Defamation League Heritage Dinner. There he described a political climate that leaves many Americans vulnerable to crime simply for their religious beliefs.
Crimes against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim have escalated dramatically since September 11th. Some hate-mongers seem to have adopted the twisted logic that an attack on innocents can somehow be avenged by another attack on innocents.
The Pew Center for Research published a study last month in which nearly six-in-ten adults say that Muslims are subject to widespread discrimination – far more than any other religious groups. In fact, those surveyed thought only one group suffers more discrimination in this country – gays and lesbians.
Alongside these disturbing statistics, I have heard from Muslim Americans who feel uneasy about their relationship with our government, who feel isolated and discriminated against by law enforcement. They report feeling denied the full rights of citizenship and also, just as importantly, the full responsibilities of citizenship.
I realize that we can become emotionally overwhelmed by acts of terror committed in the name of Islam. We can, perhaps, fail to see that virtually all Muslim Americans are, just like us, trying to do what all Americans wish to do – lead fulfilling, honorable lives, raise their children, love their families, support their communities, and serve their country. The tension that arises among citizens of different faiths, and between government and citizens of a particular faith, is unacceptable to me. It is inconsistent with what America is all about.
