Articles and Analysies
GOD OR AMERICA: WHO IS FIRST? 8 DIFFERENT OPINIONS/Mohammad Ali Salih, Washington, “Asharq Alawsat”
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Jun 3, 2007 - 8:59:56 PM

GOD OR AMERICA : WHO IS FIRST?

8 DIFFERENT OPINIONS

Last week, I published an opinion in “The Philadelphia Enquirer” titled: “I am Muslim first, Arab second and American third.”   I received many responses.   Here are eight of them, for the sake of a wider discussion.

Mohammad Ali Salih, Washington, “Asharq Alawsat”

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Mr. Salih,
Thank you for your intelligent, though-provoking commentary.
You made a good point about most Muslim Americans being largely assimilated, but did not elaborate on the 26% of Muslims 18-30 years of age who feel that suicide bombing and killing innocent people are justified in the name of your religion.
I'm sure that you would be appalled if 26% of Americans 18-30 years of age felt that it was justified to retaliate against Muslims for terror incidents.
As far as Muslims in America feeling that they are not trusted, just look at the fact that most of the violence in the world today is caused by Muslims in the name of Islam.
It is not we Americans that must change.  It is the Muslim Americans who must do everything within their power to make Americans feel safe in their presence.
Rich Rimkunas
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Dear Mr. Salih

Greetings from Canada ! I am writing in appreciation for your recent article in the Philly Enquirer, and I read it with interest.

 I am a Canadian evangelical scholar of Islamic and Jewish theology, finishing my PhD here at the University of Toronto , and I share your sentiments fully. I too see myself as a believer first and Canadian second, because it is my commitment to God that stands primary. I must confess that it has been my relationships with Muslims and Jews that have led me to this realization.

This question was never asked among evangelicals a decade ago - as much as I was aware of such questions after attending both an evangelical college and seminary. It is a joy to see how our Muslim and Jewish brother here in North America has inspired us to realize our commitment to our God is detached from our commitment to our beloved nations. I see the same realization now happening in many of my students - both religious and not.

As such, in the same spirit, I can say that I am Muslim first and Canadian second.

Chad Hillier, PhD candidate

University of Toronto

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Dear Mr. Salih:
If you think being an American simply means having an American
passport and is no different than having a Sudanese passport, you are
not really an American.  Even if you are a Muslim first, there is no
reason why you are an Arab first, except that means you are not really
an American.
My grandfather spoke Yiddish and I guess dreamt in Yiddish, but he
was an American first.  
Even if you excuse being Muslim first, there is no excuse for being
Arab first, except you are not really American, and do not know what it
really means. As you admit, you could be anywhere. It is just a passport
thing.
What about being Muslim first? You really cannot compare that to
being Christian first, since America was founded by Christians on
Christian principles.
So please explain to me how you love America ? You admit you don't
know baseball.   What about football? That is more uniquely American now than baseball.  
Do you know our history? Do you know jazz?  Have you been to the
national parks? Do you know about the Founding Fathers, the Civil War and the Indians?
Or is it just having a passport?    
Maybe I'm missing something.  If there is something about American
culture you love, please enlighten me.
Or maybe you are a Sufi, and so enlightened that I can't comprehend
where you are coming from. I'm not being sarcastic. Just trying to be fair.
Mark Altschuler

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Mr. Mohammad Ali Salih,

I read with interest your recent article about the priorities in your life - that you are Muslim first, Arab second and American third. I would not ask you to shuffle the deck of cards because, you are right, many Americans would say they are Christian first and American second. 

What surprises me is that you put your "Arabness" ahead of being an American. Few Americans would do this.

Beyond that, I am curious about a number of "Muslim” things.  For example, where do you place the US Constitution vis a vis Sharia? I have studied “Reliance of the Traveler” and am troubled by the many parts of Sharia which clearly conflict with the Constitution - indeed, more fundamentally, with the concept of freedom of conscience and liberty. Do you repudiate Sharia or have no opinion on the subject? Can a Muslim repudiate Sharia?

I believe that American Muslims should repudiate those aspects of their faith that are a pathway to the 7th Century: Sharia, polygamy, beheadings, stoning, dhimmitude, death for apostasy, lack of freedom of conscience, etc. Otherwise, they are not so much Americans, even if they are residents in this land that gives them far greater freedom than their home countries.

Terrence Quirin

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Mr. M. A. Salih,
Religious dogma, ethnic pride and jingoistic nationalism have caused
more of our fellow humans pain and death than all the natural disasters, plagues, evolutionary changes and environmental catastrophes combined.