Keep politics out of terror fight

The March 22 Brussels terrorist attacks were the most violent attacks in Europe since the Paris attack of November 2015 that killed 130 people and injured hundreds others. The Brussels attacks left 31 dead, and 270 injured.In Turkey on March 21 and for the fifth time since October 2015, a bomb rocked two major cities pushing the overall death toll to nearly 200 including 41 lives lost this year alone with hundreds injured. Beyond Brussels also in March, 8 other cities around the world in Africa, Asia, and Europe were attacked by terrorists.

On November 2015 hours before the carnage in Paris, a double suicide bombing ripped through a working-class shopping district in Beirut, Lebanon. Daesh/ISIS claimed responsibility for the explosions, which caused 43 deaths and hundreds of casualties in the worst bombing to strike the city in a quarter century. Since November 2015 there have been literally hundreds of terrorist attacks around the world. Some were thoroughly reported by western media while others fell under the radar. Terrorism knows no borders.

The world continues to face a murderous, callous, and vicious enemy who hijacked a major world religion and its 1.6 billion global followers including millions of law abiding faithful Americans. The enemy kills and maims indiscriminately embracing an ideology of self crafted hate, destruction, and violence. Faithful Muslims across the world shudder in disbelief and outrage, determined to fight this monstrosity while facing bigotry and backlash. All nations must work together to fight this menace.

Unfortunately following Paris, San Bernardino, and Brussels tragedies, GOP presidential front-runners promised border closure, and building walls. Vowed to stop entry of all Muslims to the US, surveillance of Muslim neighborhoods, creating Muslims database, and for Muslims to wear identifying tags reminiscent of Nazi Germany! It is UN -American and unconstitutional to use tragic terrorist attacks to paint millions of law abiding Americans with one derogatory brush. Such counterproductive response only empowers terrorists and put our own men and women in uniform in harms way. The Politicization of Terror has become our new reality and our challenge. Threats against other nations and promises of trade wars were once again the theme. Building separation walls became the preferred policy for immigration reform. Carpet bombings, torture, and water boarding of suspects are seen as methods of choice in fighting terrorism.

Night after night, bar brawl like debates only added additional vulgarity, dismay, and deep disappointment. Divisiveness and exchanging insults became the tool to winning votes. What do these contenders for the highest office in the land are teaching our children and future generations? Has the political process sunk so low to such complete and unprecedented, reality TV circus, witnessed by Millions of Americans and international viewers? Each time Americans clap and cheer for such blatant disregard of who we are only emboldens those who are determined to divide us to conquer us with false promises for their own personal and political gain. Feeding on the anger, fear, and the marginalization felt by many Americans, is being used cleverly to reach the White house. The fact that GOP front-runner is financially self-supporting does not negate the negative role of big money in elections.

Regardless of which side of the political spectrum we are, we as a nation can no longer ignore or minimize such divisive and dangerous tactics. We must stay united as a people and as a nation.

'The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” 'No matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as truth.” J.F. Kennedy

'If we lose freedom here, there is no place to escape to. This is the last stand on Earth.” Ronald Reagan.

' Shams Ghoneim is coordinator of the Iowa chapter of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Comments: shamsghoneim@mchsi.com