And then “Of course,” and “Why not?” and Malcolm X’s “chickens coming home to roost,” and Yogi Berra’s “Dejavu all over again.” You know what I’m talking about, right?
Yesterday and even last night, most of my friends weren’t thinking about the New Years Day attack in Orleans. Only the person who told me about it, who lives near the scene. The words in the title above were my first thoughts (besides one I’ll share in a minute), but my first comment to another person, a friend on social media, was, “I can’t believe stupid ISIS is still around!”
Just for the record, here’s a fragmentary quote from my first novel1, started in 2003, where a frustrated Iraqi-America character, only wanting to work hard and succeed, is caught up in the post-9/11 whirlwind. “He spat one more time for Daesh (sometimes miscalled ISIS), a group so horrible that even al-Qaeda was disgusted and told them to knock it off.”
A momentary digression on the names of some problematic groups. (I love digressions!) Al-Qaeda means “the base,” which is pretty straight forward. But Taliban, according to my vastly imperfect Arabic, should mean “two students.” And way back in the day I used to ask myself with dumb humor, “How can two students make so much trouble?” Finally, al-Shabaab, well known for its hideous acts, means “the guys.” If only it were so! The two students would worry about their final exams, and the guys would be in the street somewhere playing soccer.
My first statement—”I can’t believe stupid ISIS is still around!”—was echoed under a CBS YouTube video I saw this morning: ”I am so confused. Isis has been dead for more than a decade and most ISIS members who are still alive would go to some other extremist group with their views. RIP for the victims.” 2
RIP indeed! Americans are not subtle3, so it’s always necessary to state the obvious, or things that should be obvious. This attack was horrific, heart-breaking and gut-wrenching, and as a follower of Muhammad, peace be upon him, I condemn it utterly. According to the rules he set down, war was to be defensive only and non-combatants could not be attacked. Crops, wells, religious institutions, old people and children could never be targeted, and fire could never be used4. Obviously this would preclude all modern warfare. I wish!!!
This attack was unspeakable and unthinkable and all those un words—yes! But re the Malcolm X5 comment, for which he was endlessly vilified, did we really think we could spend $2 billion-plus per month funding a UN-designated genocide, while also giving a rogue state complete immunity for a bouquet of war crimes and colonialist land-grabs, without incurring some blow-back? How many innocent Palestinian, Lebanese and other lives in the so-called Middle East are daily being obliterated or ruined?
Though I did briefly wonder about a false-flag operation. This is awfully convenient for those wanting to justify escalating wars and invasions, which are ruinous for humans, animals, plants, land, air and water, but infinitely profitable for oligarchs and puppets hiding behind “Red” and “Blue,” but really giving not one single solitary damn for either.
Finally, what did I mean by “No, not us!” and its multiple meanings? (a) Not us! Americans can invade others, but must never be invaded, can shrug as we target others, but must never be targeted. (b) Not us: a Muslim did this? No, no, no, not again like 9/11, all of us hounded, surveilled, and suspected, a hijab or checkered pro-Palestinian scarf now an invitation to violence.
Love and sorrow and prayers and sympathy for the victims of this act and their families; for Americans, Muslims, and Muslim Americans who are now more afraid or upset than ever; for the millions targeted and destroyed by U.S. and U.S. backed colonial projects around the world; and incidentally, for Mexicans, immigrants, green card holders, Dreamers, and other U.S. residents who will be blamed, though the killer was a U.S-born citizen and military veteran. My books are relevant yet again. Rats!
To all of you and everyone: Blessings and love and peace and courage from the One God, known by a billion billion names in the authentic religions of Planet Earth and throughout the multiverse, the One who said, “I appear to my servant as he6 imagines Me to be,” and “There are as many ways to God as there are human souls.”
The Way Beyond: The Life and Times of Halycon Sage, at my author site.
I’ve corrected the caps and punctuation of the writer, who is obviously not speaking in his first language.
I don’t think Americans are stupid, as is believed by many foreign nationals and Elon Musk. But many are badly educated and endlessly propagandized and gaslighted, as in the ridiculous word war between “Red” and “Blue” which occupies minds and hearts while oligarchs who care about neither appropriate our narrative, our rights, and our treasures.
These statements from recognized (sahih) ahadith were footnoted in the handout I wrote in October 2001 for sharing with churches, other groups, and my university students. They’ll be added soon, inshallah, to our Light Upon Light Sufi Center website under Nur Ashki Jerrahi / Hadith.
More properly called Malik el-Shabazz.
"He” in Arabic, as in some other languages, includes groups combining males and females.