Wednesday, May 23, 2012

10/4/11, Opinion Editorial, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel



Al-Awlaki Shunned His Duty To U.S.
By: Ahmed Khan

American-born Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki - killed in a U.S. airstrike on Friday - presented both the worst in being American and Muslim. His extremist conversion and his recruitment into and being a spokesman for al-Qaida disallowed him from becoming a model example in both.

I can remember from as far back as second grade when school began early in the morning, I would listen to a folk song called "This Land Is Your Land" followed by a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Not surprisingly, the lyrics of the song that stick out are, "This is land is your land; this land is my land."

The song taught me at an early age that this country was as much mine as it was any other American's and it is our responsibility to protect it. Similarly, the pledge instills a spirit to uphold the Constitution of this country.

I am so glad now that these things were instilled in my heart long ago, but I am stupefied as to why al-Awlaki did not take advantage of this privilege. He was born in the United States in 1971, earned an engineering degree from Colorado State University, received a master's in education leadership from San Diego State University and even publicly condemned the attacks of Sept. 11.

His experiences and character exude the idealistic "all-American boy" who should have done well, but he chose otherwise.

In a recent interview with a local CBS affiliate, I was asked about my perspectives as a Muslim-American growing up in America and the challenges I have faced. I replied that there were some people who were unable to understand my faith, but it never tainted my views of this country.

Yet when you read about the history of al-Awlaki, you learn he adopted extremist views to deal with his challenges. According to his father, al-Awlaki justified his behavior because of the expansion of the "war on terror."

The American fundamentals that I gained early in my childhood stayed with me because I knew Islam similarly taught love (Qur'an 4:60) and protection (Qur'an 22:40-41) for the homeland.

In this regard, Prophet Mohammed immigrated to Medina from his home (Mecca) because of persecution. There he developed a genuine love for this newfound home and helped to draft a constitution called "Charter of Medina," which all of Medina's citizens were to uphold so that it could be protected from outside threats.

As an imam in California and Virginia, al-Awlaki's teaching of these ideals to his congregation could have changed the perspective of its members, such as three of the Sept. 11 hijackers.

As a Muslim-American, al-Awlaki should have promoted the idea that this country was as much his as it is any other American's. Then he, too, would have had the natural inclination to protect it and uphold its Constitution.

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