Now is the Time for Dialogue

Now, more than ever, is the time for dialogue. The fires between New York City’s Muslim community and the New York Police Department have been stoked once again. Recent reports have revealed that the controversial film, “The Third Jihad”, which essentially claims Muslims are plotting a secret jihadist movement in the West, has been shown “on a continuous loop” to nearly 1500 police officers during training exercises. The film has reheated the debate over the NYPD’s actions on spying on NYC’s Muslim communities in an attempt to destroy “home grown terror” plots.

American Muslim communities are outraged and distrustful of NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. In an act of protest earlier this month, some Muslim community leaders refused to attend Mayor Bloomberg’s annual interfaith breakfast.  Since release of the news regarding “The Third Jihad”, many Muslim American activist groups are protesting the NYPD, some calling for Commissioner Kelly, who appeared in the film and endorsed it, to resign.

The NYPD and American Muslim communities have made a vital mistake: they forgot to talk with each other instead of at each other. While all of these reports seem to make the NYPD the biggest bully, American Muslim communities are not innocent either.  Because of the hurt and distrust generated as a result of the spying activities and recent revelations regarding this film, these communities are ready to defend themselves by protesting and boycotting. The boycott of the interfaith dinner was a missed opportunity for dialogue. The City of New York and the NYPD don’t have to be the enemy. They are the victims of the crime of ignorance of one’s neighbors. This misunderstanding has hurt many; it has broken the trust a community should have in those who protect and serve.

Living in New York City is an experience of multicultural expression. We have the largest community in the world. We love our city. Our city has risen from the ashes of terrible tragedies, and has thrived as a place for everyone. Tragedies resulting from religious extremism have affected us all. All New Yorkers, including Muslims, have worked hard to uproot extremism in their own communities. Making New York safe for everyone is not an uncommon goal, however it involves coming to an understanding that terrorism and Islam are not synonymous.

I propose a new training program for the NYPD: to actually encounter Muslim American communities as an active investment in trying to understand. The NYPD has a huge opportunity to foster significant dialogue with neighbors who are misunderstood and discriminated against. The only way we can root out the hatred implanted by such films as “The Third Jihad” is by talking with each other. Now is the time for dialogue.  If the goal is to keep all inhabitants of the city of New York safe and free, then there must be an effort on both sides to accomplish this goal in a friendly, peaceful, and respectful manner. Changing the conversation regarding Islam in America should start here. All eyes are on you NYC.

Contributed by Nicole Edine, RFUSA’s New York Correspondent

Tags: Commissioner Kelly, Nicole Edine, NYPD, Ray Kelly, third jihad