Update: Al-Qaeda, Malcolm X and Islam...

A few days ago, I posted on how sickened I was to see Al-Qaeda's No. 2 Man, Ayman al-Zawahiri (above), attacking President-elect Barack Obama in a new Al-Qaeda video and contrasting Obama with the "more honorable" Malcolm X. 

It was great to see Islamic groups across America condemning al-Zawahiri's absurd statements. 

Yesterday, Muslims gathered at New York's Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial Educational and Cultural Center to counter al-Zawahiri's hateful comments. Imam Al-Hajj Talib 'Abdur-Rashid reminded those present that Malcolm "stood for human rights and the principle of self defense ... international law. He would have rejected, and we who are Muslim African-Americans leaders reject, acts of political extremism."

Also, the Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement that slammed al-Zawahiri with equal force: "As Muslims and as Americans, we will never let terrorist groups or terror leaders falsely claim to represent us or our faith. We once again repudiate al Qaeda's actions, rhetoric and world view and re-state our condemnation of all forms of terrorism and religious extremism."

It looks like it's al-Zawahiri, not Barack Obama, who is becoming increasingly isolated and loathed in the world.

Malcolm X would undoubtedly be proud. 

Comments

[JohnRJ08]

Toward the end of his life, didn't Malcolm X teach religious tolerance and mutual respect among various peoples? It seems that Al-Zawahiri doesn't know much about Malcolm X, other than the fact that he was a controversial, anti-establishment figure in the U.S. during the early 1960's. Who wasn't? If he were still alive today, there is no doubt that Malcolm X would have had many fatuas issued against him by the likes of Al-Zawahiri, calling for his assassination, because he would have been speaking out all over the world against these monsters. I find great irony and ignorance in Al-Zawahiri's reference to him.

[Anne Gilbert]

Both the Nation of Islam and CAIR have been accused by various "patriotic" groups about not speaking out on the subject of al-Qaida and terrorism. The problem is, Muslims in America(most of them American Musliims), are very afraid. Muslims, after al tend to be what I call a "despised group" in the US, and 9/11 didn't help things any.

Malcolm X is widely admired, and, apparently, well-known outside the US. That's presumably how al-Zawahiri knows about him. Unfortunately, he doesn't know very much. Which is too bad, because if he did, he would know that Malcolm X renounced his most extreme positions, and believed in the end, as did Martin Luther King Jr. that all races, colors, creeds, etc., could work together to make America a better place for everyone.
Anne G