Open letter to Islamic and Muslim leaders in America
Millions of Muslims are at he same kind of risk as the Japanese on the West Coast after December 7, 1941. Their ranks include an unknown number of security risks, from would-be martyrs to unwitting informers.
How will America cope with the crisis of freedom and civil rights on the one hand, and a global war on terrorism, with its large current focus on Islamic Fundamentalism?
Who can distinguish between a dangerous Muslim and a peaceful, law abiding citizen?
Is there a conceivable plan of action that would appear to be acceptable to all law-abiding citizens, peace-loving nations and peace-loving religious leaders?
How about a loyalty oath to be administered at the local city hall or police station, as simple as a pledge of allegiance to the national flag, backed by a signature, a picture and a thumbprint?
What if Muslim leaders in the US voluntarily launch such a program through their mosques? This pro-active declaration of peaceful purpose might well be emulated by other religious groups, each turning over to government, information that government has every right to obtain in time of national crisis.
Those who, for whatever reason, were not of record by a sponsor-imposed deadline, would then be identified, listed and publicized by the sponsoring group. The FBI could match this list with its existing list of potential risks, resulting in a complete, current inventory. Those who have signed on but who had pre-existed on FBI lists would be challenged to complete a thorough questionnaire. Those who fail to sign on and had pre-exited might be arrested on suspicion and summarily placed in detention if/when government finds it necessary to declare martial law.
The Muslim community would thus be credited with having taken the most cooperative action imaginable, short of doing the work of the FBI for the Bureau.
Jack Bridges,
Tiburon, California September 23, 2001 |
