Of bananas and Mohamed Elibiary

I see that Dallas Muslim leader Mohamed Elibiary's warning to me that if I didn't stop writing about Islam in ways he disapproves of, I "could expect" someone to put a banana in the exhaust pipe of my car ("or something") is getting some attention on other sites. To be sure, there are worse things that can happen to one than an Islamist to tamper with one's car in that way; a would-be suburban jihadist might short-sheet my bed, for example. Arf arf! What struck me as worth commenting on about Elibiary's missive is the threat that my continuing to draw unwanted scrutiny to Muslim thought and actions would cause someone from his community to tamper with my car, or worse. I have written far more critical commentary of Catholic bishops, of gay radicals, and others, and despite angry, even profane, letters from dissenting readers, with the exception of the followers of Rev. Al Sharpton, nobody has suggested that my person or my property would be harmed because of my words. Until Mohamed Elibiary.

Some commenters think I'm overreacting. Maybe so, but I wanted to get it on the public record that Elibiary made this kind of remark in case something should happen. In any case, it is instructive to imagine the hullabaloo had I written to Elibiary to tell him that if Muslims keep getting arrested here and there on terrorism charges, he "could expect" angry and frightened non-Muslims to tamper with the cars of Muslims with intent to do them harm. I would never have done such a thing, because I believe that kind of vigilantism to be immoral, illegal and a threat to public order. Even to suggest that acts of vandalism or violence against others because of their words or presumed beliefs would be the fault of those vandalized is appalling. Had I issued that kind of threat against Elibiary, he would have been right to raise a stink, and I have no doubt my office would have been picketed by CAIR and the usual suspects.

It's no big deal, in the end, but I note it also because the Elibiary-goes-bananas incident, minor though it may be, offers an interesting insight as to why whenever there is an Islamic terror bombing or terror-related arrests involving Muslims, many Muslim leaders seem much more interested in speaking out against those who would think forbidden thoughts about Islam than they do in speaking out against those Islamic extremists who are doing so much to bring disgrace upon their religion. It'll be a great day when Mohamed Elibiary is more concerned about fellow Dallas-area Muslims hosting a tribute to the Ayatollah Khomeini conference (at which Elibiary spoke) than he is about a local newspaper columnist who troubles himself to ask what it means that Muslims around here hold conferences like that.

UPDATE: Eric Anondson posted in the comboxes below a link to an extraordinary and very much welcome column by a Canadian Muslim. Here's an excerpt, but you really should read the whole thing. The author, a man named Salim Mansur, deserves everyone's gratitude and support. Even a hundred Muslims with his frankness and courage and willingness to step into the spotlight with his prophetic words, would help immeasurably:

We repeat endlessly that Islam is a religion of peace, yet too many of us display conduct contrary to what we profess.

We keep assuring ourselves and others that Muslims who violate Islam are a minuscule minority, yet we fail to hold this minority accountable in public.

A bowl of milk turns into curd with a single drop of lemon. The minuscule minority we blame is this drop of lemon that has curdled and made a shambles of our Islam, yet too many of us insist against all evidence our belief somehow sets us apart as better from others.

In Islam, we insist, religion and politics are inseparable. As a result, politics dominates our religion -- and our religion has become a cover for tribalism and nati onalism.

We regularly quote from the Koran, but do not make repentance for our failings as the Koran instructs, by seeking forgiveness of those who we have harmed.

We Muslims are the source of our own misery, and we are not misunderstood by others who see in our conduct a threat to their peace.