September 2005

Multiculturalism And Its Limits
It seems characteristically Canadian to ask whether our nation’s multiculturalism can embrace Islamic radicals and reformers, and not whether Islamic radicals and reformers can, or ought to, embrace our nation’s multiculturalism (“Under The Sheltering Crescent Moon,” June). The dialectic between Canadian self-preservation and the survival of Islam within our own value system depends on the distinction between radicals, on the one hand, and, on the other, those who recognize that their community’s values must be negotiated and reconciled with a prevailing social culture. Canadians need not seek validation of our fundamental values from esoteric religious fanatics.

Rebecca Waserman
Toronto, Ontario

One can only assume Ray Conlogue has no familiarity with the history of early Islam for him to repeat the tired line that Islam is a religion of peace. The violent, intolerant aspect of Islam did not suddenly emerge with Wahhabism, as Mr. Conlogue claims. As a military commander at Medina, Muhammad had several of the neighbouring Jewish tribes massacred—including, most brutally, the Banu Qurayza. He also condoned the murder of his critics, including the female poet Asma bint Marwan. Of Muhammad’s first four successors, three were assassinated by fellow Muslims.

Rather than sifting through Islamic literature for quotes to support liberal positions, moderate Muslims in Canada should be willing to shine a light into the dark corners of Islam’s basement. Until then, fanaticism will continue to flourish.

Stuart Nurse
Vancouver, BC

I was surprised that Ray Conlogue’s article touts Mohamed Elmasry, president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, as a model citizen who seeks to “build bridges” with his non-Muslim neighbours and who is well on his way to integrating fully into Canadian society.

Let us not forget that Mr. Elmasry is the same individual who announced on television last year that in his view all Israeli civilians over the age of eighteen could be considered legitimate targets for terror. Surely such opinions would be construed as extremist by Canadian standards, and difficult to reconcile with our nation’s traditional norms and values. That he continues to hold a position of authority in what is considered a mainstream Arab/Muslim organization, described by Mr. Conlogue as influential, is troubling.

On the surface, Mr. Elmasry, who is also an engineering professor at the University of Waterloo, indeed displays the visible trappings of integration. The dangerous irony is that while Mr. Elmasry ostensibly reflects the success of Canada’s multicultural model, in actuality he challenges the very system that has sought to inculcate tolerance and respect for all peoples of all religious and ethnic backgrounds.

Frank Dimant