The Daily Gamecock

Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Viewpoints

Kimi Timmers, third-year print journalism student

Earlier this week, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. apologized to a Muslim woman on behalf of an employee who made a comment about her face veil.

When the woman came through the cashier's line, the cashier said, "Please don't stick me up."

Whether or not the Muslim woman overreacted in demanding a corporate apology, the cashier's remark was uncalled for and underscores a disturbing trend in America.

"Religious freedom" has been too often reduced to lip service. No one will deny that this is a core American principle and many will speak of it proudly. It evokes stirring images of the Pilgrims fleeing persecution and establishing a new colony on our shores. But when Muslims are treated with contempt because of their faith, I have to wonder how much water the idea of religious freedom holds.

Sure, Muslims won't be jailed just for being Muslim. But they often face a higher level of suspicion, which ranges from racial profiling to Wal-Mart cashiers asking to not be held up. In the worst case scenario, they may even be victims of crimes.

Some might say this behavior is justified due to the Sept. 11 attacks and other terrorist activities around the world. However, I don't see the correlation between radical jihad extremists and the average law-abiding Muslim-American.

I realize making broad generalizations is an unfortunate part of human nature, but it would be nice to just stop and think before speaking. Few in America would judge Christians based only on those who bomb abortion clinics.

So why is it okay to automatically assume someone in traditional Muslim garb is a direct threat to your safety? Doesn't the justice system here operate on the concept of innocent until proven guilty?

I've heard so many appalling and very un-American statements made about Islam and the Middle East. I've heard people claim Islam is inherently fascist, and thus I've heard it equated to a violent political ideology. I've heard people say we should either nuke the Middle East off the map or storm in and convert the natives to Christianity, nevermind that that sounds exactly like what extremists would preach. I've even seen signs at protests that read "Islamophobic and proud of it," and I don't think ignorance is anything to gloat about.

I'm by no means trying to excuse the Islamic radicals for anything they've done. Those terrorist organizations have committed atrocious crimes and should be stopped. But by the same token, I don't think the average Muslim-American should be treated so derisively just because others are doing terrible things in the name of their faith.

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