Native American House / American Indian Studies Statement on November 15 Event

http://www.nah.uiuc.edu/news/

Students,faculty, and staff associated with the Native American House and American Indian Studies at the University of Illinois are dismayed about plans by other members of our campus community to bring back the university’s offensive former mascot, which the Board of Trustees retired in 2007.

The planned event represents a step backwards in the process of changing the climate of intolerance, insensitivity, and dehumanization that Native American people experience at Illinois. Those who have planned the upcoming event and those who participate in it are heading in the wrong direction by promoting a caricature, a stereotype, and an insult.

Events like the one planned for November 15 increase the hostile and abusive learning environment that the NCAA has cited in its sanctions against Illinois and other educational institutions that have persisted in using such images. Scores of other governmental and national organizations, including the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the American Psychological Association, and the National Congress of American Indians have made clear statements that any continued use and promotion of these images is wrong. We continue to urge people of conscience to join us in opposing such events and working toward eliminating the attitudes that lead to them.

Most importantly, we call on the leaders of our university who are responsible for creating a climate on campus that allows all students to pursue their educational goals to speak up for the rights of Native students as strongly as they have spoken up for the free expression rights of students and others who insist on creating a racially hostile environment. The Trustees, President, Chancellor, Provost, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and many others can and should speak out against these actions that undermine the highest and most basic purposes of our university.

Robert Warrior, Ph.D.
Professor and Director
Native American House and American Indian Studies

President of Muslim Students Association
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
Why We Are Opposed to the Reprinting of the Cartoons
Take on the Reactions Abroad
Related Point on Islamophobia
The Public Has a Right to Know
Freedom of Speech and Open Dialogue Are Virtues
We do not Expect the Media to Follow Islamic Law
Support of Liberal Education
Approach with the Editors at the Daily Illini
Muslims’ Peaceful Initiatives Should Also Get Press Coverage
Did Something Good Come of the Cartoon Reprinting?

A Common Platform for Combating Offensive Attacks Against Christianity, Judaism, and Others

Why We Are Opposed to the Reprinting of the Cartoons

1) The hateful nature of the depictions and the fact that they supposedly depict the most important figure in Islam reaffirms the widespread misconception that Islam and its Prophet, Muhammad, propagated terrorism and womanizing.

2) The reprinting indicates that people are insensitive towards Muslims and thus Islamophobia is rampant.

The reprinting of the cartoons is just one facet of the greater problem of Islamophobia.

The key here is that journalists know that there is widespread misunderstanding about Islam, which leads to hate crimes and unfair policies directed towards Muslims.

Unfortunately, it is widely accepted that Muslims should be profiled, that the FBI and CIA can be overzealous in their targeting of Muslims in the War on Terror, and that the propagation of misconceptions that result in hate crimes against Muslims should receive no more than a lukewarm, lackluster response.

To reprint cartoons that depict the most important figure in Islam as a terrorist, in this context, only further promotes such policies and misdirected hatred based on stereotypes. Such action reflects irresponsible journalism and exceeds the bounds of human decency.

3) The negative repercussions, including effects of subsequent hate mail and harassment, are are irreversible.

4) The reasoning used by two editors at the Daily Illini was illogical.

They say they reprinted them so that people would understand what all the riots are about abroad. However, there is no conceivable way a cartoon could prompt riots. They are unjustifiable. Thus, rather than promote understanding, the reprinting promoted the incorrect stereotype that ALL Muslims are irrational and violent.

My Take on the Reactions Abroad

I condemn the violent protests abroad and am saddened by their harm to humanity. Some Muslims claim

that the Prophet would approve of their terrorism. I am as outraged and disgusted by that claim as I am of

the cartoons.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught patience, love, and avoidance of anger. I support the

peaceful initiatives abroad.

Related Point on Islamophobia

The fact that I am asked about my view on the violence abroad, even by people who know me personally to be a peaceful person, indicates a great misconception and underlying phobia. It should be assumed that I, as one who submits to God and follows the peaceful religion of Islam, would condemn such violence. While questioning my views on the violence is insulting, I realize that the inquiries are not ill intentioned but result from widespread misconceptions.

The Public Has a Right to Know

I am not arguing that the public does not have a right to know what was published in the Danish newspaper. Rather, the cartoons could have been described in words. While one may argue that the actual cartoons more effectively convey their offensive nature than a description would, that reasoning could not possibly justify imposing the repercussions that would likely ensue on the aggrieved.

Freedom of Speech and Open Dialogue Are Virtues

(more…)

Shame! By ignorantly reprinting the recent anti-Islam cartoons you hurt this University and even hurt this Country that gives you the right to freedom of the press.

Sadly, there will be fewer Muslim students and faculty here in years to come because you made your choice “to promote a dialogue.” Many of the 1.2 billion or more worldwide followers of the Prophet (peace be upon him) have now one more reason to mistrust the USA–even beyond our recent attacks upon two of their countries.

Religious ignorance and intolerance are sadly widespread in this country (and at this University). Few American high schools teach about religion because of a strange alliance between Christian fundamentalists–who only want taught their beliefs–and liberals who fear such zealots will be the only teachers. And the U of I still has only a “Program” not even a Department of Religion. Here students can get a Ph.D. in P.E. (now called Kinesiology), but not even a Masters degree in the study of Religion.

I pray that in the future there will be a much higher percentage of students, and editors, who will learn more about the very different faiths of this planet and choose not to ignite cartoon bombs that harm many.

Steven Shoemaker
Executive Director
University YMCA