#templeshooting

[joffyt]

Temple Shooting shows an American Problem

The temple shooting that occurred near Milwaukee Wisconsin yesterday, left seven dead and many more wounded-in body and heart. Though the killer Wade Micheal Page is one of the seven dead and will never be able to explain his (un)reasoning, we can imagine the extremist, white supremacist statements that would fly--'They worship to a demon to destroy 'Merica' or 'I had a vision and God spoke to me...' or 'I have no regrets.' 

Page's actions cannot be written off as a random act of violence and lunacy. Though grateful for CNN and USAToday's coverage, the analysis is lacking. Many Americans are indeed now aware that just because you where a turban, doesn't make you Osama Bin Laden's son or even a Muslim at all. Though Sikhs, are not Muslim nor are they part of the Nation of Islam, do have at least one thing in common: They all experience the hatred and discrimination of Islamophobia--a fear produced by associating terrorism with Islam.  

Islamophobia roots right back to the media as well.  When was the last time on television you saw a man in a turbin being a fun loving Dad? Pry close to never. I realized yesterday was the first time I'd seen men with turbins on TV with American accents. Unfortunately, the misunderstanding and hate is not new to Sikhs or Muslims, the temple shooting forces everyone to think about Islamophobia and its power for destruction.

Though, I'm not sure what needs to be done and what policies need to change, I'm taking the first change in my heart and mind-where I hurt the most after the shooting. I want to dig deep and find what Islamophobic ideas have slipped inside my mind and reasoning.

[kathiek]

I'm going on a little rant before I go to sleep

Today a mosque in Joplin, MO was burned down in arson. All the hate speech by right wing radio and rabid right wing members of Congress laid the groundwork for these acts. They proudly wear their Islamophobia and Obama "foreigner" hatred on their sleeves.  Why have Obama's Secret Service threats increased four-fold compared to Bush? That we have "ministers" who burn Quorans in Gainesville and get tons of publicity for doing so is ridiculous. The venerable Southern Poverty Law Center identified the Sikh temple shooter Wade Michael Page as a dangerous Neo Nazi years ago.  But what can be done about it if he can get guns so easily? These ignorant haters and the power of the NRA are the ones who are dangerous, yet we have to limit the size of the bottle of shampoo we take on a plane.  

Don't get me wrong, I am not absolving those dangerous few who twist Islam into hateful, unrecognizable pretzels. I personally have been on the receiving end of hate by both Islamic and Christian fundamentalists. Are Islamic fundamentalist terrorists any different from Wade Page? Actually there is a difference: Wade Page was able to easily and legally buy guns and ammo, and his right to do so had to be protected at all costs.  When you kill people because they wear a turban or look different than you do, you're just as bad as Taliban.  I am exhausted from the hatred in our country, and that the "tea party" is taken seriously because they are just a well-marketed offshoot of intolerant, hate groups. They hate everyone but themselves, who they think are the only "real Americans." Even Caribou Barbie Palin blew the "Real America" dog whistle, and anyone with a brain knew what she meant.  

[imnotthatcreative]

Shooting in Wisconsin 7 dead

Pray for Sikhs and their families as an entire religion goes through a tragic event along with the rest of the world. 7 are dead including the gunman. Educate yourself. As not just a Sikh, but a human I am deeply saddened about the event that has occurred. Senseless violence must stop.

REBLOG OR LIKE IF YOU HAVE A HEART!! <3

[kathiek]

Can't wait to hear the NRA's bullshit about constitutional freedoms and inalienable rights to buy unlimited guns and ammunition for protection against peaceful, praying Sikhs.

[thevilley]

candles & prayers  #templeshooting

[the-dis-ease]

At least 7 dead, including shooter; reported hostage situation (TMJ4)

[evolutionisforever]

Temple Shooting

So today a white man (maybe more than one, not confirmed yet) entered a Sikh temple and opened fire on people inside the temple at the time. Can you imagine how terrifying it would be if your in your place of holy worship, whether it be a Mosque, Temple, Church or Synagogue and gunmen enter. Isnt a place of worship supposed to be the most protected place of all. One of the men is in the operating room, another is in a surgical intensive care unit and the third is being evaluated in the emergency room. The hospital is a level-one trauma centre and is prepared to receive more patients from the shooting. Its just saddening to know that extensive measures have not been taken yet because the shooter was a white male. If he was Muslim then he would be labelled terrorist and if he black he'd be labelled a hoodlum, thug, gang memeber and bvery dangerous criminal. Personally as I muslim I stand with the Sikh people of the temple and my condolensces go out to the families present at the time and the victims. Muslim, chrisitian, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist we stand together as one!