Unexpectedly, the Tuesday’s Reflector sent a negative message with destructive implications that go beyond anyone’s imagination. Josh Foreman’s editorial cartoon used the word “Jihad” as synonymous with terror and portrayed an ugly character to the person of Jihad.
Shocked, I asked myself, “Is this a message of tolerance, enlightenment and open mindedness? If the word “Crusade” was used in a similar offensive way, would the incident pass without anger and sadness?! Why is there an overwhelming disrespect to more than 7 million American Muslims, with the demonization of their beliefs and misinterpretation of their symbols?”
Let me explain why that cartoon deserves a strong response. First, the word “Jihad” has been misinterpreted by the American and western media to serve political purposes that everyone should be familiar with.
Second, the origins and use of the word “Jihad” have more than 14 basic implications, all of which are social and cultural except one, which denotes fighting on battlefields. I see no noble cause that could justify the ignorance of the beautiful, self-controlling meanings of the word or for the purposeful alteration and use of it out of context.
Jihad, as referred to by the holy Quran and the narrations of the prophet Mohammad, means different levels of personal-correcting behaviors. Jihad means to resist the bad within oneself and resent the body and mind from committing wrong acts, hurting the self or others.
I believe that referring to and using Jihad in any manner other than what Islam and Islamic culture has given to it is an act of hatred and ignorance. After all the efforts that well-educated and knowledgeable individuals and institutions all over the world have done to explain the meanings of the word, there is no excuse for anyone to claim misinformation.
Third, the freedom of speech as our Constitution has granted to everyone does not give privileges to some over others. This great provision of the Constitution should not be used to attack others’ cultures and undermine their freedom and dignity. The social solidarity of our society should be a goal that everyone protects. Therefore, publishing offensive and anti-Islamic statements and objects should be treated with the same anger and rejection that we expressed when religious symbols from other religions and cultures were misused.
Fourth, if some Christians have hijacked the word “Crusade” or “Cross” and used it in the same manner that segregationists and other hate groups did, we should not consider this employment of religious symbols an open invitation to condemn Christianity, its values or the peaceful meanings of its vocabulary.
When criminals use Jihad to undermine the peaceful message of Islam and Muslims’ culture, we should be aware of their political goals and all the time put ourselves in the other sides’ place – the majority of the peaceful Muslims and Christians-before making generalizations and-intentionally or unintentionally-promoting hatred and social distrust among society’s members.
The Tuesday cartoon reminded me of the long-lasting traditions in the American media to use stereotypical images of certain groups such as Asians, Arabs, African-Americans and others to demonize their entire communities. I am confident that the people of MSU will distinguish between the facts and the lies.
With the new flagpole erected in the heart of our campus, it is my faith that MSU will continue to be the free and enlightened community. The poisoned cartoon was the wrong message for the wrong clients in the wrong place.
Abdulfattah Yaghi is a graduate student in public policy and administration.