Ramadhan Pohan: 9/11 Tragedy As a Blessing in Disguise

The 11^th September tragedy does not always have to be see as a total disaster for humanity. Even though the American Muslim community has suffered from discrimination since the tragedy, a domino effect is currently appearing across all levels of American society in which people are being impelled to satisfy their curiosity regarding Islam. At the moment, in the wake of that heart breaking tragedy, Islam has become a best selling “spiritual commodity” in America. Here is an edited transcript of an interview conducted by Ullil Abshar-Abdalla with Ramadhan Pohan, a correspondent for the Jawa Post in Washington. It was conducted on Thursday, 29^th June 2003:

ULIL ABSHAR-ABDALLA (ULIL): You’ve been in America for a long time. How do you see Islamic progress there in terms of the continuing war against terrorism since 9/11?

RAMADHAN POHAN (RP): After the terrorist attack on the 11^th of September 2001 (9/11), attention towards Islam and criticism of the Muslim community increased. We know that the perpetrators of 9/11 were all from Arab countries. All of them were Muslim. As a consequence Americans have focused their attention on the Muslim community.

There have been a variety of responses. On the governmental level, four days after 9/11, President George Walker Bush visited an Islamic centre. That was a rare event for an American president. Prior to Bush, neither President Bill Clinton nor President Bush Senior had ever visited one. Moreover, on the occasion of the national prayer ceremony to memorialize the event, an Islamic representative began the prayer by reading sura Al Fatihah. Hence there is a sort of honor and tolerance showed by American government toward Islam.

ULIL: Does this indicate the American government’s willingness not to see Islam as the enemy?

RP: That’s right. Such immediate actions are important because anti-Islamic sentiment is emerging at the same time within American society. For instance daily newspapers like The New York Times, seemed to be very biased in quoting remarks like “let’s finish off those barbarian Arabs!”

The American government’s endeavor to prevent a negative perception of Islam has had a positive effect. For example, since the government’s action several attempts were made by the moderate Christians in America, mainly Protestants. They held dialogues with Muslim circles through inviting prominent figures such Dr. Sulaiman Nyang and Ivon Hadad amongst other to explain Islamic reality to their church congregations.

ULIL: Have you seen such events in Washington?

RP: I did not but I have joined in on other occasions as for example when Gus Dur met Jewish, Protestant, Catholic figures in New York. 2 years after 9/11, President Bush held several activities with Muslim community, like ifthâr (breaking of the fast). I joined in that ceremony myself. Beside President Bush, Capitol Hill gave equal opportunity to Islamic circles to pray and welcome the Holy Month of Ramadhan. At a slightly lower level, an ifthâr was held by Minister of Foreign Affairs Colin Powell, as it had been by ex-minister of Foreign Affairs Madeline Albright prior to 9/11.

ULIL: Do you want to say that the prejudice held towards the American government for being unfriendly to the Muslim community is not right at all?

RP: The matter is not one of being friendly or anti-Muslim. However, Islam in America has obtained a position like any other belief. Even indirectly, there is a stronger comprehension regarding Islam within American government. On the social level, we observe a strong enthusiasm to know about Islam; what is Islam? Is it true that Islam commands its disciples to kill unbelievers? Al Qur’an is growing to be a “bestseller” in America nowadays.

That trend continues. There of course have been several negative incidents but all were insignificant as compared to the positive values emerging.

Then the tragedy of 9/11 becomes a sort of blessing in disguise, since it has lead Americans to learn more about Islam.

I think their knowledge is growing increasingly profound and positive as shown in a national survey held by USA Today. 80% of those surveyed say that in fact their understanding of Islam has improved.

ULIL: Does their increased knowledge influence their attitude positively towards the Muslim community?

RP: Generally, in fact they have no problem with Muslim community. However in several hundreds cases, there have been abuse and harassments which have even led to death. Nevertheless the legal mechanism is effective in America. Within this last month, before I left for Indonesia two weeks ago, a case was won by a Muslim in a court. In this case it was over whether a Muslim could ride the intercity bus because he had asked to sit exactly behind the driver. Now, after 9/11, no one is allowed to sit behind the driver.

ULIL: In most Muslim countries, American perceptions about Islam and the clash of civilizations are said to be mostly represented by people like Samuel P. Huntington. Does his illustration fit the American perception about Islam?

RP: About Huntington, the American officials have denied his thesis regarding that clash of civilizations. His book has been ridiculed, criticized by many intellectuals. For example, even Francis Fukuyama has indirectly denied Huntington’s theory.

This is different to the case of Daniel Pipes who is now participating as member of peace institution paid for through the government budget. Muslim circles in America protested his appointment and have asked the Bush government to re-assess Pipes’ appointment since despite having peaceful values, he disseminates enmity.

That controversy continues. However, I’ve seen changes within Daniel Pipes himself. He has denied for instance, the statement that he is anti-Islam. He said that he criticizes the fundamentalist Muslims. The second change is that his articles in The New York Post do not reflect an anti-Islamic point of view any longer.

ULIL: Is the pro-Jewish sense within the decision making circle in America stronger than the pro-Islamic sense?

RP: That’s true and it is admitted explicitly by President Bush himself. At the government level, Israel is a close ally and therefore they defend Israel’s interests. The Jewish community is very powerful there, especially in terms of capital accumulation. But all of that went on democracy procedure hence when there is any dissatisfaction anyone can go through the available procedures to address their complaints.

The Jewish group is itself not a single entity. There was a Jewish member of the Democratic Party who defended Islam in America up to his death several months ago. Noam Chomsky who is mostly referred by fundamentalists who criticize America is himself Jewish. Hence we should not generalize that a Jewish must necessarily be anti-Islam, or that the American government is automatically close to some Jewish interest group.

ULIL: Currently, fundamentalist Christians are sponsoring negative propagandas toward Islam as supported for instance by Fox TV. How are Americans responding to it?

RP: Actually the Americans do not favor Fox TV or Bill O’Reilly program, The Factor, even though many of them watch it. Even during prime time, this program is included as the most watched program, but merely as a show. For example, we like war movies, but we may not like war. O’Reilly indeed is very provocative in his debates with his opponents; nevertheless his program has no correlation with the growing tendency of anti Islam in America.

If we observe the latest facts, Islam in America is becoming more solid. Lately they performed Ied prayers at a major Convention Centre. It had a capacity of five thousand but the ceremony had to be performed three times due to the number of participants.

Hence there is positive progress in America, especially in internal Muslim matters. Our problem currently lies between the Muslims from Middle East and the fundamentalist Jews and Christians in America. The majority of Muslims in America are not Arabs.

ULIL: How do you see the American Muslim’s perception of President Bush?

RP: Generally, their perceptions were positive and they seem to be smarter in terms of diplomacy. Sometimes, Muslims quote President Bush statements to counter fundamentalist Christian or officials who habitually make controversial remarks. For example they quote Bush that America’s fight is against terrorism, not Islam. The point is that Islam is considered to be a peaceful religion.

Meanwhile, they pressure the American government by lobbying, to clarify certain official’s remark considered to be harmful to Islam. Once, an official has split his tongue about Islam before the public, very soon afterwards, the State Department denies his remark through Colin Powell.

ULIL: In the last election, the majority of Muslims voted for George W. Bush. Currently, the Muslim community observes that many of Bush policies are in fact against their interests. How are they to face this fact?

RP: They are annoyed with Bush. Basically, American Muslims tend towards the Democratic Party which is more colorful, liberal and accommodative of their aspirations. They voted for Bush because the Democratic Party’s candidate, Al Gore, refused to meet with delegations from the Muslim community. Eventually, those votes were diverted toward Bush, since they were willing to accept Muslim. They actually met and talked with the Muslim community.

Indeed at the moment there is a problem there. But generally, President Bush’s policy can be understood. Only on the odd ccassion does President Bush slip up. However, Muslim groups itself have split their votes, despite attempting to expose Islam to more Americans whom are mostly non Muslims. John L. Esposito for instance, in a congregation attended by thousands of Muslims, ask them to get more involved in American community affairs so that cultural assimilation could more rapidly happen.

There are however Muslims, mainly Wahaby, who slander the Jews. Once, slander involving a Jewish doctor poisoning Muslim babies was disseminated and many of them believed it. I was very annoyed with but it wass proved to be wrong and then Muslim figures themselves denied the whole issue.

ULIL: Learning from tolerance there, what is your comment over the obstacle of performing rituals of other beliefs’ disciples?

RP: That’s because the religious leaders are less active in approaching the community. The Muslim community in America can perform prayers wherever they are, even several blocks from The White House where Bush lives and works, and several blocks from Capitol Hill where senators and congress work.

Nevertheless, what I’ve been worried about Islam here is that Islam is understood is widely understood to be connected to fundamentalist-radicals like Front of Islamic Defender (FPI), Laskar Jihad and so on. Pictures and news of Abu Bakar Ba’asyir are more conspicuous than President Megawati, and are subsequently displayed in big dailies in America such as The Washington Post and The New York Times.

I think, the moderates in Islamic circle of Indonesia: NU, Muhammadiyah or Aa Gym personally, have to be more pro active to raise the voice of Islam as rahmatan lil alamin.  Indonesian Muslim’s believe that America must be anti-Islamic and that it is involved in a big conspiracy to destroy Islam. This should be dealt with. This sort of attitude prevents us from entering into civilization dialogue as Prof. Syafi’i Ma’arif terms it. Moreover, we depend on America socially, economically, educationally and militarily. Indeed we should not pawn the nation’s dignity, but it doesn’t mean that we should hit our head against a wall of our own making. []

(Translated by Lanny Octavia, edited by Jonathan Zilberg)