Young men and woman, born in Australia and raised in our suburbs, are known to be among the new generation of jihadis who have travelled overseas to join forces with Islamist terror groups intent upon waging vexation and war on western nations.
Tony Abbott has made a front bench commitment to combat Islamic radicalisation by appointing a Minister for Counter-terrorism. One of the new minister’s tasks is to build relations with Muslim community leaders. But that forms only half the story.and raised in our suburbs, are known to be among the new generation of jihadis who have travelled overseas to join forces with Islamist terror groups intent upon waging vexation and war on western nations.
Actions alone – even important ones taken by government – are not enough. What is also required on the part of Muslim and non-Muslim Australians alike is a new attitude to combatting the problem of Muslim radicalisation.
Australia has a remarkable record of welcoming and integrating new arrivals in this country. Multiculturalism remains popular and research indicates low levels of intolerance – around 10% of the population.
But this historic tolerance is under threat. The murderous tyranny of Islamic State overseas is only one factor affecting Australian attitudes. At home, non-Muslims are distressed by Islamic practises like honour killings and arranged marriages that offend the principles of Australian society.
Increasingly, non-Muslim Australians are worried by what they see as Islam’s anti-Western intolerance, which looks back to a glorious past rather than forward to a shared, prosperous future.
But Australian Muslims themselves are also undergoing a hardening of attitudes in the face of a growing experience of living as a community under siege from the rest of Australia.
Disgraceful acts of verbal and physical abuse meted out to Muslims on public transport, such as the racist train attack on a teenager last week, are just the tip of the iceberg.
Muslims have a higher Year 12 completion rate (43%) than the general population (37%), but still face higher levels of unemployment (7.5%) than the general population (4%) in the 25-44 age group.
Other factors are at work behind this discrepancy, but researchers are finding that many Australian Muslims do in fact suffer subtle forms of religious discrimination that makes it harder for them to find work.
Behaviour such as this can never be acceptable. It is a betrayal of Australia’s greatness and the values on which it is built. But equally, lapsing into talk about being victims is not going to help.
Australian Muslims don’t help themselves when appearing to duck any responsibility for their social and economic plight, blaming it entirely on non-Muslim Australians for being racist or Islamophobic.
And in turn, non-Muslim Australians must shed what political theorist Michael Walzer describes as the “culture of excuse and apology” which explains away alienation and inequality as ‘legitimate grievances’.
The causes of radicalisation and violent extremism are difficult to grasp. Countering them requires coming to grips with difficult, complex and perplexing issues. Tony Abbott’s new minister is only part of the answer.
Non-Muslim Australians must also be determined to build relationships with Muslims neighbours and communities, to shun discrimination, and never to be deterred by friction caused by occasional misunderstanding.
And Australian Muslims need to seize the hand of friendship offered to them, and clearly reject hatred and suspicion directed at Jews and other non-Muslims.
By turning away from the culture of excuse and by rejecting the typecast role of victim, all Australians, both Muslim and non-Muslim, can forge a strong society and help younger generations embrace all the opportunities it presents.
Home > Commentary > Opinion > Islamic relations: The victim mentality will not help Muslim cause
Islamic relations: The victim mentality will not help Muslim cause
Young men and woman, born in Australia and raised in our suburbs, are known to be among the new generation of jihadis who have travelled overseas to join forces with Islamist terror groups intent upon waging vexation and war on western nations.
Tony Abbott has made a front bench commitment to combat Islamic radicalisation by appointing a Minister for Counter-terrorism. One of the new minister’s tasks is to build relations with Muslim community leaders. But that forms only half the story.and raised in our suburbs, are known to be among the new generation of jihadis who have travelled overseas to join forces with Islamist terror groups intent upon waging vexation and war on western nations.
Actions alone – even important ones taken by government – are not enough. What is also required on the part of Muslim and non-Muslim Australians alike is a new attitude to combatting the problem of Muslim radicalisation.
Australia has a remarkable record of welcoming and integrating new arrivals in this country. Multiculturalism remains popular and research indicates low levels of intolerance – around 10% of the population.
But this historic tolerance is under threat. The murderous tyranny of Islamic State overseas is only one factor affecting Australian attitudes. At home, non-Muslims are distressed by Islamic practises like honour killings and arranged marriages that offend the principles of Australian society.
Increasingly, non-Muslim Australians are worried by what they see as Islam’s anti-Western intolerance, which looks back to a glorious past rather than forward to a shared, prosperous future.
But Australian Muslims themselves are also undergoing a hardening of attitudes in the face of a growing experience of living as a community under siege from the rest of Australia.
Disgraceful acts of verbal and physical abuse meted out to Muslims on public transport, such as the racist train attack on a teenager last week, are just the tip of the iceberg.
Muslims have a higher Year 12 completion rate (43%) than the general population (37%), but still face higher levels of unemployment (7.5%) than the general population (4%) in the 25-44 age group.
Other factors are at work behind this discrepancy, but researchers are finding that many Australian Muslims do in fact suffer subtle forms of religious discrimination that makes it harder for them to find work.
Behaviour such as this can never be acceptable. It is a betrayal of Australia’s greatness and the values on which it is built. But equally, lapsing into talk about being victims is not going to help.
Australian Muslims don’t help themselves when appearing to duck any responsibility for their social and economic plight, blaming it entirely on non-Muslim Australians for being racist or Islamophobic.
And in turn, non-Muslim Australians must shed what political theorist Michael Walzer describes as the “culture of excuse and apology” which explains away alienation and inequality as ‘legitimate grievances’.
The causes of radicalisation and violent extremism are difficult to grasp. Countering them requires coming to grips with difficult, complex and perplexing issues. Tony Abbott’s new minister is only part of the answer.
Non-Muslim Australians must also be determined to build relationships with Muslims neighbours and communities, to shun discrimination, and never to be deterred by friction caused by occasional misunderstanding.
And Australian Muslims need to seize the hand of friendship offered to them, and clearly reject hatred and suspicion directed at Jews and other non-Muslims.
By turning away from the culture of excuse and by rejecting the typecast role of victim, all Australians, both Muslim and non-Muslim, can forge a strong society and help younger generations embrace all the opportunities it presents.
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