Yvonne Ridley: Beware Of The Happy Clappies
Written by Yvonne Ridley
Wednesday, 23 August 2006
I am growing increasingly frustrated at the mealy-mouthed, apologetic bunch of Muslims paraded across our TV screens these days. And just when one lot suddenly wake up, smell the coffee and begin to disagree with US and British foreign policies, another bunch take their place.
In the meantime, Muslim lands continue to hemorrhage the blood of innocents from Iraq to Lebanon, not forgetting Afghanistan, Kashmir, Palestine and Chechnya. Across the world millions more Muslims are persecuted and targeted by a hostile Western media, terrorized by government legislation and harsh edicts all in the name of the War on Terror. There are thousands of ‘disappeared’ - Muslim brothers known as the Ghost Detainees held at the request and behest of Uncle Sam.
While we all know what horrors and human rights abuses are being carried out in Guantanamo Bay, God only knows what atrocities are meted out to the Ghosts. Then we are told by Christian fundamentalists like Tony Blair that we have got to stop displaying a victim mentality! And how do we respond? By parading a group of weak Muslim men who appear to be permanently on their knees, ready to kiss the hand which slaps them.
These individuals never inspired Muslim reverts like myself to join the Deen and can’t quite grasp why we look down on them and shake our heads in dismay.
I suppose it’s a legacy of colonialism which promotes a feeling of insecurity in some of these individuals. They simply don’t quite grasp the concept of equality just yet but do they really have to try and oppress their own? Don’t they realize they are doing more harm to Islam than good when they try to appease Muslim detractors and critics? A few have finally tried to stand up and stick their heads above the parapet … too little, too late!
Their apparent u-turn has angered the boss class in Washington and London who have now found new house slaves to replace the old ones. It is pointless naming and shaming these individuals - they know who they are and I’m sure they are flagellating themselves now for their past weaknesses, betrayals and cowardice.
But beware the new Uncle Toms who are bowing and scraping before their political masters in the White House and Downing Street. These so-called ‘Scholars for Dollars’ are trying to promote an evangelical, happy clappy brand of Islam. In many ways they are perhaps even more invidious than the previous bunch of sell outs.
Their weasel words are fooling some of the Ummah and charming non-Muslims who love to introduce them on TV with labels such as modernists and moderates.
Look: we are either Muslim or not. We either believe in the Five Pillars of Islam or we don’t. What the hell is a modernist or a moderate anyway? Being a Muslim is like being pregnant … you either are or you aren’t. Whoever heard of someone being 80pc pregnant?
The Happy Clappy bunch is now promoting road shows across the West trying to inject a ‘Feel Good’ factor in to the Ummah. Look, I’m not a killjoy but I am a realist and trying to reform Islam into something else is just not on. I wouldn’t mind if they were doing it out of a genuine love for the Deen, but they are trying to introduce a brand of Islam which is more acceptable to non-Muslims.
Of course this is nothing new. Christianity was diluted to such an extent in Britain that the UK is now secular. In fact, if the truth be told, there are more Muslims who turn out for Friday prayers across the UK than those who go to church on Sundays. The Happy Clappies promote an Islam devoid of jihad, shari’ah and khilafah … hmm, a bit like cod and chips without the fish!
They have been harvested and groomed to fulfill the conclusions of the US-based RAND Corporation’s 2003 report which recommends encouraging divisions among those labeled fundamentalists. RAND actively suggests that the Happy Clappies should be financially funded to promote their views, promoting a diluted style of Sufism and forming alliances with secularist groups.
While the US Islamaphobes went into overdrive to push through the RAND recommendations, in the UK a government initiative was launched in 2004 which mirrored the objectives of their US counterparts.
Muslim groups towing the government line are rewarded with lucrative grants - and let’s check out who is going to get what in the next round of Peerages, knighthoods and other revolting honors … it is beyond me how anyone can accept an award with ‘Empire’ in the title. Do civilized human beings in the 21st century really want to be reminded of Britain’s atrocious, colonialist past?
Of course Islam has been under attack for the past 1400 years, but I’m not sure if the ‘enemy within’ has been as prolific as it is today. There are those who have made it their business to systematically promote disharmony between Muslims and the rest of the world using the flimsy excuse of freedom of expression, we are attacked constantly.
Why can’t we express outrage at the rivers of innocent Muslim blood which flow through Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Chechnya, and Uzbekistan. Why can’t our dead have one minute’s silence afforded the innocent victims of 9/11, Bali, Madrid, or the London Bombings. Why can’t we speak out about the continuing injustices against the Palestinians who at this very moment are being starved to death for having the cheek to democratically elect a government not to the liking of the American President? Clearly these are issues not on the agenda of the Happy Clappies who make it their business to avoid speaking about illegal wars, persecution, injustice or criticizing Western leadership.
The full article could be found:
http://www.al-qaria.net/index.php?op…sk=view&id=111
**So Guys whats your opnion on such “Happy Clappies” Muslims ? I’ll share my thoughts later.. (apologies for the long post) **