What if we threw an anti-terrorism rally and no one came?

On May 14, Free Muslims Against Terrorism held a rally in Washington, D.C. in an attempt to call attention to (or perhaps change) the Muslim community's silent complicity with extremism and murder. Frighteningly, many Muslims display a marked reluctance to condemn straightforwardly the actions of the most radical among them (beheadings, bombings, attacks on schools). Even the goals and philosophy of Islamists are often treated with deference or simply "let slide." Rank anti-semitism goes unremarked or is even defended. (Remember Malaysian Prime Minister Mohommed Mathahir's "fight them" speech? Did the audience--a conference of leaders and dignitaries from "57 Islamic nations"-- walk out on him? No, he got a standing ovation.)

Well, the rally was a bit of a bust, inasmuch as there weren't many Muslims there. The Washington Post shot some interviews with a few of the few who did show up. FMAT's president, Nawal Kawash, deserves credit for trying, and he makes some good points about the complacency and ambivalence evident in Muslim attitudes in the U.S. and around the world.

"Muslim leadership in this country has failed us. They have failed us in not taking a clear position against radicalism, extremism, terrorism. The reason that they haven't is that, we believe, they share the ideology of those who practice terrorism."

Well put, Mr. Kawash. The moonbats sent over Ross Pourzal, who offers this insight:

"These guys [FMAT] are bad news. I think that they are misleading Americans. This is a very right-wing, extreme right-wing organization that has put up this event."

Typical.