If Christians Were Treated Like Muslims

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by Gary Bauer

American Muslims are treated better than American Christians.

...

If Muslims were treated like Christians in America, Muslims would have to tolerate the defamation of their holiest images in our national museums, acts which would be called "artwork" -- and, if particularly provocative, even given taxpayer-funded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. They would also have to accept Korans being burned and thrown into toilets, which instead of inciting worldwide outrage and retribution would provoke a collective shrug of the shoulders.

If Muslims were treated like Christians, Muslims would be mocked by late night TV talk show hosts and lampooned in crude cartoon parodies. If Christians were treated like Muslims, conspicuous Christianity would be celebrated by our elites as a sign of our diversity and open-mindedness, not disparaged as an embarrassment, a nuisance and a breach of the law.

If Christianity were treated like Islam, our students would be taught a white-washed version of Christian history, with the troubling bits miscast or omitted from textbooks and lesson plans.

If Christianity were treated like Islam, if an evangelical Christian committed an evil act in the name of his faith, he would be portrayed in the media as a deviation from, not a personification of, the Gospel message. Meanwhile, our political and media elites would hasten to assure the public that evangelical Christianity is a religion of peace and that the vast majority of evangelical Christians do not support terrorism.

If Christianity were treated like Islam in America, our president, a professed Christian, would proudly attend Christian-themed dinners and events while skipping Ramadan dinners, not vice versa. And Muslim politicians would go out of their way to assure people that their faith would not affect their policy-making.

If Christianity were treated like Islam, Christmas and Easter would be publicly celebrated for what they are — the signature events of Christianity, marking the birth and the death and Resurrection of Christ — not stripped of all their theological meaning and transformed into secular holidays devoted to crass consumerism.

If Christians were treated like Muslims, NASA would be tasked with reaching out to Christians and recognizing their faith's profound achievements and contributions to science, math and engineering, instead of being told to make Muslims feel good about their rather meager scientific accomplishments.

If Christians were treated like Muslims, the Catholic Church's stances on sex, contraception and human life would be revered as welcome departures from our over-sexed, self-obsessed culture, not condemned as a cause of disease and death in the less-developed world. And if Muslims were treated like Christians, the application of Sharia law around the world would be met not with stony silence but with the outrage it deserves.

If Christians were treated like Muslims in America, amusement parks would celebrate "Christian Family Day," (Six Flags recently celebrated "Muslim Family Day"), and Christians would be asked to embrace, not set aside, their religious convictions at the door when they entered the public square. Meanwhile, Muslim imams, not Christian pastors, would fear hate crimes lawsuits for preaching orthodox views of sexuality and sin.

The notion that American Muslims face discrimination, even to the point of violence, is often posited by America's elites. But that idea evaporates under scrutiny. Remarkably few hate crimes are reported against Muslims (fewer than one-eighth those against Jews). What's more, Muslim immigration to America has risen sharply since September 11, 2001, and Muslims thrive, economically and educationally, once they arrive.

In fact, it is Christians, not Muslims, who increasingly encounter cultural elites who are hostile to their beliefs and values.

Former presidential candidate Mr. Gary Bauer is president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=40839&s=rcmp

[_Simpson_ 250]

[Jenn! 918]

so true...must be really tough to be a christian in this country. not as tough as being a white christian, or even worse, a white male christian - they've got so many obstacles in their path, poor guys.

[Jenn! 918]

oh, and isn't it great that the bar by which we measure our "tolerance" is number of hate crimes? no hate crimes? ain't nuthin' to complain about then!

nothing chaps my hide like "reverse discrimination"

[amykathleen2005 441]

I'm not saying that the behavior of some Americans toward Muslims is not disrespectful, but at one time Christians too were persecuted.....

[_Simpson_ 250]

so true...must be really tough to be a christian in this country. not as tough as being a white christian, or even worse, a white male christian - they've got so many obstacles in their path, poor guys.

And living in America is just a living hell if you're a Muslim.

The notion that American Muslims face discrimination, even to the point of violence, is often posited by America's elites. But that idea evaporates under scrutiny. Remarkably few hate crimes are reported against Muslims (fewer than one-eighth those against Jews). What's more, Muslim immigration to America has risen sharply since September 11, 2001, and Muslims thrive, economically and educationally, once they arrive.

I think this is often forgotten by many. I'm not saying that some violence is acceptable but just saying all things considered we as a country handled this pretty good. I remember for months and years after 9/11 it seemed everybody ended their sentences with "its only the extreme element not all Muslims" when talking anything Islam. And now people to some degree act as if Muslims have been through hell since 9/11. It gets old and Im done ending my sentences with "its only the extreme element not all Muslims"

Edited December 31, 2010 by _Simpson_

[Jenn! 918]

And living in America is just a living hell if you're a Muslim.

I certainly didn't say that. But it isn't a Muslim whining endlessly about how unfairly they are treated in the OP, is it?

[_Simpson_ 250]

I certainly didn't say that. But it isn't a Muslim whining endlessly about how unfairly they are treated in the OP, is it?

True you didn't say that, sorry. I don't think the authors point was to say how hard Christians have it here in the US but to point out the double standards that exist because so many elites think that Muslims are overwhelmingly being picked on.