Come on Muslims, spare me the script of insecurity

BOSTON — As a media organization born in Boston, The Islamic Monthly is shocked at the tragic explosion at the Boston marathon. Our institution has been an appreciative recipient of its tremendous offerings as a city, and earlier Monday we joined our friends and neighbors celebrating Patriots Day and the historic marathon. The tragedy particularly hits home for me; the blasts occurred in the same spot I’ve often cheered many a friend on to the finish line in past marathons.

While we account for friends and loved ones, around the corner is a visceral fear for many Muslims. My texts, Facebook posts and other communications reverberate the same breath-holding mumble: “Oh God, please don’t let them be a Muslim.”

Global Muslims are holding on to every “breaking news” report and every word that follows the phrase, “We have just learned …” So far, the media has demonstrated remarkable prudence in addressing the questions of who and why, and in this light, we as a country have come far from rushing to judge any particular group of people without proof in the wake of tragedy.

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First and foremost, our concerns, thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and friends. But the reality is that these events reverberate in the lives of all Americans, especially in those communities that are associated with the contradictions and convoluted realities so present in our world today. In many ways these communities become the secondary victims of this kind of tragedy.

Of course there are crazies, and this fact does not make this tragedy any more bearable, or less disconcerting for all of us. But we, as Muslims, need to change the script, and I would offer as follows:

First, until we find out more, I urge all Muslims not to rush to “defend,” or send press releases or blog posts that dish the same, scripted narrative of insecurity: “We Muslims condemn terror.” These kinds of comments play to our collective insecurity and it's not clear to me they have any real impact. Fight the urge to write anything at all that says anything about “condemning terrorism,” “Islam is a religion of peace,” or the like.

Second, the Boston marathon is an important cultural institution of the city. A Muslim presence should have been a part of the run in any fashion, from planned celebrations of all who partake in the run, to offering open doors to people who need a place to stay. Such recognition of cultural landmarks of the larger communities in which we live is critical to having any meaningful impact in the wake of these types of tragedies.

And this, I argue, is how we can avoid repeating the same script over and over again. Once we've offered all we can to help and aid the victims and others in the Boston area, we must take measures to change the script once and for all.

The symbolic nature of this attack will not be lost on the people of Boston nor the United States. Nor, will the ritual sacredness of the marathon that many deeply believe in be lost or forgotten.

The Boston marathon is a 117-year-old American tradition that is a quintessential part of the New England landscape and woven into the fabric of what it means to be a Bostonian. We as a community and media institution were united in celebrating Patriots Day and the marathon and we are proud of our participation. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have truly suffered in this tragedy. And that should be all for now.

Amina Chaudary is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Islamic Monthly, a Boston-based magazine that addresses issues related to Muslim communities and societies around the world.