Don't be silenced by extremists
A plea from 11 Canadian Muslim academics and activists:
Feb. 28, 2006. 10:37 AM 

-- For too long the media have created an image that portrays  
communities from the Muslim world as a monolith entity, best 
represented by extremists.

The media have created a false dichotomy that pits these Muslim 
extremists against the West. The fact is that in all Muslim 
countries, progressive citizens are trying to break loose from the 
tyranny of the autocrats and clerics and wish to develop a civil 
society where citizenship is based not on inherited race or religion, 
but the equality of all, irrespective of faith, race, sexuality or 
gender.

In Tehran today, the city's bus drivers are on strike. Thousands have 
been arrested; entire families have disappeared. Yet, this has not 
made a blip in the western media.

If the same bus drivers were burning books or embassies, this would 
certainly be on the evening news. This is an appalling example that 
only outrageous, violent expressions of faith by Muslim extremists 
are taken as the aspirations of people from Islamic societies. -- 

-- at Nettime --

¶ Saturday, March 11, 2006