AbuMubarak
19-03-03, 12:41 AM
The American Muslim: The21 st Century House Slave
By Amir Sulaiman
It is hard to imagine, during the slavery era in America, in the
shade of the most violent and cruel slave trade in the history of
the world, there were some slaves who refused to revolt.
Understandably, some refused because of fear. Others, on the other
hand, had become so content under the whip of the slave master
that they desired no other position. Harriet Tubman, famous for
her underground railroad that guided many slaves to freedom, said,
"I freed 300 slaves, I could have freed10 , 000only if they knew
they were slaves." Because of total submissiveness to the slave
master's command, some of the slaves worked in the house and
received better treatment than the more defiant slaves that worked
in the field. The meek and eager slaves had no desires for
rebellion; they had grown too comfortable in their master's house.
They could not grasp the injustice of oppression and felt no need
to change their existing condition. Malcolm X (Hajj Malik Shabazz)
referred to this phenomenon as the house slave/field slave
paradigm.
It has become obvious that America has raised its sword to defeat,
conquer and subjugate the Middle East, the heart of Islam on
Earth. The holiest land in Islam, the Arabian Peninsula, has
already been reduced to a monarchy of American agents whose
domestic and foreign policy ignores public opinion and instead
aligns itself with American interest whatever the cost to their
own citizens. With America's invasion of Afghanistan, its
seemingly inevitable occupation of Iraq and its disclosure of Iran
and Syria as the next probable targets, it is clear that if Bush &
Co gets what it wants America will control the wealth and policies
of the entire Muslim world. Although the American Muslims are
witnessing the American military wage the bloodiest, grandest
empire building campaign in the Muslim world since the British of
the19 th century trampled through the region the Muslims in
America have not shown any defiance in defense of their Muslim
brothers or Muslim lands. They idly stand by and watch, with
no unified protest to speak of. Since this open imperialism is
apparent, why is there no substantial public opposition from the
American Muslim community? Frankly, the American Muslims, the
modern day house slaves, have grown too comfortable in Master's
house.
In America, the slave master's of southern plantations had a
different way of handling the problems within his house than the
problem he had in the field. Similarly, America's domestic policy
towards Muslims and its foreign policy in the Muslim world are
stark in their differences. Within America, Muslims are free to
visit the Masjid, pray and fast. The President of the United
States, Master himself, will even give a public greeting to the
Muslims to begin and end the holy month of Ramadan. It is quite a
sight to see the house Muslims bask in the light of Master's
acknowledgments. Never mind the irony of last year's Ramadan
greetings coinciding with Bush's commanding his troops in the
Afghan conflict which claimed more than twice the civilian lives
of the World Trade Center bombings. Not to mention, America left
Afghanistan in such a state of utter poverty, lawlessness, and
uncertainty that many Afghans have become nostalgic of Taliban
rule. The scene is surreal; the President of the United States
sitting amongst smiling, shining American Muslim children
speaking so eloquently about their blessed month, glowing like a
reincarnation of Mr. Rogers. While earlier that morning, he was
surrounded by his advisors to drop hundreds of thousands of high-
powered explosives upon the freezing, starving Muslim children of
Afghanistan. The President's actions were no secret, his hypocrisy
apparent; nonetheless, the American Muslims bought in. They zipped
their lips, averted their eyes and pasted American flags on their
SUVs. Why can't all Muslims be as moderate? It would make
imperialism so much easier.
The American Muslims lamented and apologized constantly for the
WTC bombings (although proofs against Bin Laden and others were
held back from public scrutiny). The house Muslims were on TV and
holding local public forums all over the plantation apologizing
and separating themselves from their brother Muslims in the field.
But when the beloved President of the United States crushed
Afghanistan under tons of the most deadly explosives in human
history and the civilian death toll towered over the death toll of
the atrocity in New York, the house Muslim was silent; no local
public forums, not a march, not a news article, no press
conferences, nothing. The house Muslims went along doing their
daily chores with his fingers in his ears so he could forget the
crack of the whip on the backs of his brothers in the field.
Common Muslims in places like Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan
cannot forget the whip because they and their families bleed
beneath its crack everyday. The Palestinians feel Master's whip of
daily invasions, demolition, murders and curfews all done with the
money, weapons and silent approval of America. In the field of
Iraq, the Muslims there have endured 11 years of Allied bombing.
Even during "peace time" (Dec.1998 -Sept.1999 ), 20 million pounds
of explosives were dropped on Iraq. They have been under the
weight of insane sanctions for 12 years. These US-led, UN
sanctions have already claimed the lives of millions of Iraq
children due to starvation and lack of medical supplies that the
UN sanction prevent from entering the country.
The American Muslim in Master's house has only the courage to
occasionally gaze out of the window of Master's basement to see
his brothers beaten and his sisters raped. But when the field
slaves like Nat Turner or Osama bin Laden call for the destruction
of Masters authority, the American Muslim will remain silent or
even fight against his brother in bonds to defend the property,
honor and authority of his Master. The house Muslim cannot
straighten his back because he has spent years bowing to the will
of his oppressor. The house Muslim cannot allow any revolt against
Master because he has attached his body, mind, heart, and soul to
the Master in such a way that any attack against the Master is an
attack against himself.
The Muslims everywhere, especially in America, must re-evaluate
their decision to side with Master, and meet Master's fate, or
align themselves with their brothers and sister in faith to fight
against the tyranny of their common foe, Master.
By Amir Sulaiman
It is hard to imagine, during the slavery era in America, in the
shade of the most violent and cruel slave trade in the history of
the world, there were some slaves who refused to revolt.
Understandably, some refused because of fear. Others, on the other
hand, had become so content under the whip of the slave master
that they desired no other position. Harriet Tubman, famous for
her underground railroad that guided many slaves to freedom, said,
"I freed 300 slaves, I could have freed10 , 000only if they knew
they were slaves." Because of total submissiveness to the slave
master's command, some of the slaves worked in the house and
received better treatment than the more defiant slaves that worked
in the field. The meek and eager slaves had no desires for
rebellion; they had grown too comfortable in their master's house.
They could not grasp the injustice of oppression and felt no need
to change their existing condition. Malcolm X (Hajj Malik Shabazz)
referred to this phenomenon as the house slave/field slave
paradigm.
It has become obvious that America has raised its sword to defeat,
conquer and subjugate the Middle East, the heart of Islam on
Earth. The holiest land in Islam, the Arabian Peninsula, has
already been reduced to a monarchy of American agents whose
domestic and foreign policy ignores public opinion and instead
aligns itself with American interest whatever the cost to their
own citizens. With America's invasion of Afghanistan, its
seemingly inevitable occupation of Iraq and its disclosure of Iran
and Syria as the next probable targets, it is clear that if Bush &
Co gets what it wants America will control the wealth and policies
of the entire Muslim world. Although the American Muslims are
witnessing the American military wage the bloodiest, grandest
empire building campaign in the Muslim world since the British of
the19 th century trampled through the region the Muslims in
America have not shown any defiance in defense of their Muslim
brothers or Muslim lands. They idly stand by and watch, with
no unified protest to speak of. Since this open imperialism is
apparent, why is there no substantial public opposition from the
American Muslim community? Frankly, the American Muslims, the
modern day house slaves, have grown too comfortable in Master's
house.
In America, the slave master's of southern plantations had a
different way of handling the problems within his house than the
problem he had in the field. Similarly, America's domestic policy
towards Muslims and its foreign policy in the Muslim world are
stark in their differences. Within America, Muslims are free to
visit the Masjid, pray and fast. The President of the United
States, Master himself, will even give a public greeting to the
Muslims to begin and end the holy month of Ramadan. It is quite a
sight to see the house Muslims bask in the light of Master's
acknowledgments. Never mind the irony of last year's Ramadan
greetings coinciding with Bush's commanding his troops in the
Afghan conflict which claimed more than twice the civilian lives
of the World Trade Center bombings. Not to mention, America left
Afghanistan in such a state of utter poverty, lawlessness, and
uncertainty that many Afghans have become nostalgic of Taliban
rule. The scene is surreal; the President of the United States
sitting amongst smiling, shining American Muslim children
speaking so eloquently about their blessed month, glowing like a
reincarnation of Mr. Rogers. While earlier that morning, he was
surrounded by his advisors to drop hundreds of thousands of high-
powered explosives upon the freezing, starving Muslim children of
Afghanistan. The President's actions were no secret, his hypocrisy
apparent; nonetheless, the American Muslims bought in. They zipped
their lips, averted their eyes and pasted American flags on their
SUVs. Why can't all Muslims be as moderate? It would make
imperialism so much easier.
The American Muslims lamented and apologized constantly for the
WTC bombings (although proofs against Bin Laden and others were
held back from public scrutiny). The house Muslims were on TV and
holding local public forums all over the plantation apologizing
and separating themselves from their brother Muslims in the field.
But when the beloved President of the United States crushed
Afghanistan under tons of the most deadly explosives in human
history and the civilian death toll towered over the death toll of
the atrocity in New York, the house Muslim was silent; no local
public forums, not a march, not a news article, no press
conferences, nothing. The house Muslims went along doing their
daily chores with his fingers in his ears so he could forget the
crack of the whip on the backs of his brothers in the field.
Common Muslims in places like Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan
cannot forget the whip because they and their families bleed
beneath its crack everyday. The Palestinians feel Master's whip of
daily invasions, demolition, murders and curfews all done with the
money, weapons and silent approval of America. In the field of
Iraq, the Muslims there have endured 11 years of Allied bombing.
Even during "peace time" (Dec.1998 -Sept.1999 ), 20 million pounds
of explosives were dropped on Iraq. They have been under the
weight of insane sanctions for 12 years. These US-led, UN
sanctions have already claimed the lives of millions of Iraq
children due to starvation and lack of medical supplies that the
UN sanction prevent from entering the country.
The American Muslim in Master's house has only the courage to
occasionally gaze out of the window of Master's basement to see
his brothers beaten and his sisters raped. But when the field
slaves like Nat Turner or Osama bin Laden call for the destruction
of Masters authority, the American Muslim will remain silent or
even fight against his brother in bonds to defend the property,
honor and authority of his Master. The house Muslim cannot
straighten his back because he has spent years bowing to the will
of his oppressor. The house Muslim cannot allow any revolt against
Master because he has attached his body, mind, heart, and soul to
the Master in such a way that any attack against the Master is an
attack against himself.
The Muslims everywhere, especially in America, must re-evaluate
their decision to side with Master, and meet Master's fate, or
align themselves with their brothers and sister in faith to fight
against the tyranny of their common foe, Master.