So Juan Williams was fired because he openly expressed his fear of Muslims in “Muslim garb” [???] who identify first as Muslims. For Juan these people are potential terrorists on a plane. Just sitting there with the Muslim garb…trying to stay under the radar. The 9/11 terrorists did not wear Muslim anything nor the ‘Shoe Bomber’. Ditto the ‘Christmas bomber’. Why would a Muslim seeking to be stealth and commit an act of terror want to wear something identifiably as Muslim and attract the attentions of the Juans of the world? If not racist, it is certainly illogical to fear Muslim garb. Someone who sports their Islam on a plane does not mind eyes on him or her because they have that would offend.
And, according to Juan, his misplaced fear is racist:
In 1986, Juan Williams participated in a forum in The New Republic regarding a column by The Washington Post’s Richard Cohen, who had justified the practice of D.C. jewelry store owners who would “admit customers only through a buzzer system, and [] some store owners use this system to exclude young black males on the grounds that these people are most likely to commit a robbery” (h/t). Defending this race-based exclusion, Cohen argued that “young black males commit an inordinate amount of urban crime,” and that “black potential victims as well as white ones often act on this awareness, and that under certain circumstances, the mere recognition of race as a factor . . . is not in itself racism.”
Responding to Cohen’s argument, Williams said: “In this situation and all others, common sense in my constant guard. Common sense becomes racism when skin color becomes a formula for figuring out who is a danger to me.”
So when a D.C. jewelry goes by skin color to block black men because a higher proportion of them commit robberies that, for Juan, is racism because it is based on skin color. Is is no longer racism because it’s based on faith? I’d like to see Juan confronted by his past comments and then tell us.
But what about that “Muslim garb”. Given the tendency of Westerns to conflate anything done by a Muslim with “Islam”, I guess all dress worn by any and all Muslims is “Muslim garb”. Let’s have a look so we know how to spot these nefarious people with their awful “Muslim garb” at the airport in order to protect ourselves from the Mooosllummms.
A new website ‘Pictures of Muslims Wearing Things: Muslims Dressed In Their Garb’ has done a portentous public good by offering us the profiles:
This is Faran Tahir. He completes the trilogy of Muslim trekkies.
Danny Abbadi is a Muslim who wears regulation MMA gloves.
Davi Barker, yet another Muslim in traditional Muslim garb.
Haifa Wehbe, in fishnets and just a few strings of pearls.
Channeling her inner Jessie Spano and Jem and the Holograms, Muslim performer May Alhassen wears a side ponytail and classically 80’s sweater.
Could you identify this Muslim at the airport? NBA player Hedo Turkoglu (left) likes to travel in comfortable Muslim leisurewear garb.
This is football/soccer player Mesut Ozil. He’s Muslim and he likes yellow. Especially yellow shoes when worn with green socks and a yellow jacket with a purple knitted top, but especially with jeans.
Model Yasmin Warsame is wearing a form of Muslim eveningwear.
Huma Abedin. Muslim and Vogue chic.
Hip Hop artist Lupe Fiasco showcasing the complexities of his garb.
And so on. Check the site for more ideas of “Muslim garb.” And they sell t-shirts now as well so you can advertise your patriotic and vigilant knowledge of “Muslim garb” and let Muslims know they better not try anything in your presence.
So now you know. If you see anyone wearing any of these ‘garb’ you know that they are a Muslim inches away from Jiiiihaaadddd and better not get in on the same plane.