Reflections: Islam In A More Conservative Western World Journal Article

The first paradox is that, from the point of views of Muslims in the West, western secularism might be good news and western materialism might be bad news. The third paradox concerns the two Islams in the United States: indigenous and immigrant. It is in this sense that western secularism is a friend of Muslims living in the West. Moreover, there are also political and ideological power shifts now underway in the western world between liberals and conservatives, Tories and Socialists, Democrats and Republicans. In many western countries, it is not simply a case of more a conservative party winning elections-the whole political system in France and Britain is moving to the right. In Germany, xenophobia has included Turko‌phobia, which, in turn, has included elements of Islamophobia, In the United States, changes in regime between Republicans and Democrats have had historic paradoxes. On the other hand, Democratic president Truman gave the American green light in 194 7 for the creation of the state of Israel, thereby setting the stage for fifty years of Arab-Israeli wars, Palestinian suffering, and mutual hatred. What this means is that in foreign policy, Republicans have so far been greater friends of the Muslim world. If Muslims are discrim‌inated against or harassed within the United States, the Democrats are more likely to come to their aid than the Republicans. In the United States, however, half of all Muslims will soon consist of descendants of families who have been American for centuries. New to the United States but old to Islam.