Evidently declaring that one will resist Sharia law is enough to draw the charge of hatemongering. The Lebanese Muslim Association of Australia knows well how to sound the mystic chords of manipulative political correctness. “Islamic preachers drive the poisoning of young minds,” from the Sydney Morning Herald, with thanks to Amzi:
In the wake of last week’s counter-terrorism raids, Treasurer Peter Costello declared: “We will never be an Islamic state. We will never observe sharia law . . . We will always be a democracy.”
Islamic extremists should leave Australia if they oppose a “secular state with a democratic system and independent courts – and equality for women”.
It seemed a reasonable, refreshingly unambiguous statement, echoing the sentiments of most Australians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Yet it was condemned as “unjustified, unacceptable and hatred-instigating” by the Lebanese Muslim Association.
How so? It should not instigate hatred to assert that the Australian democratic way of life is preferable to Australians than some form of rule alien to our culture and values.
But the reaction of the Lebanese Muslim Association reflects a worrying mindset, a sense of grievance and entitlement influenced by a hard-core generation of fundamentalist Muslim preachers, some of whom are associated with a number of the 18 men arrested last week.
There are groups much like the LMA here in the U.S.