Event provides a chance to spread some kindness
DURING his six-plus years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Republican Rep. John Bennett of Sallisaw has made it crystal clear how he feels about the Muslim faith. To their credit, Muslims in Oklahoma continue to take the high road.
Bennett has railed against Islam, calling it “a cancer” and saying it’s an enemy of the American way of life. In October, he conducted what proved to be a colossal waste of time and money — an interim study on “radical Islam, Shariah Law, the Muslim Brotherhood and the radicalization process.” Just three House members attended, including Bennett, who at one point took umbrage at audience members hugging each other.
As we wrote then, the main purpose of the interim study seemed to have been to label various Oklahoma Muslims as terrorists without providing evidence of any specific act or link to terrorist activity.
Bennett drew attention again recently when the Tulsa World reported on a questionnaire his office provided to three Muslim students who sought to visit with him during Muslim Day activities at the Capitol. The handout included questions such as: “The Koran, the sunna of Mohammed and Sharia Law of all schools say that the husband can beat his wife. Do you beat your wife?”
Bennett told the newspaper the questions are based on passages from the Quran and other Islamic texts, which say a woman can be beaten for such things as disobedience. “This certainly does not mean that all Muslim men beat their wives, only that Islam permits them to do so,” he said.
Muslims were quick to criticize Bennett, but they intend to keep reaching out. On April 1, the American Muslim Association of Oklahoma is hosting a “Totes of Love” campaign to raise awareness about, and assist the victims of, domestic abuse. That morning, members will gather at their event center, 3201 NW 48 Street, to package items such as blankets, socks, baby formula and hygiene products for delivery to the YWCA’s domestic violence shelter.
Dr. Basheer A. Shakir, chief of neurosurgery at the VA Hospital in Oklahoma City, wrote to The Oklahoman that Bennett “would be a welcome participant at this event, especially given his statements of concern for the safety of women in our society.”
Shakir noted that domestic violence “plagues Oklahoma alarmingly more than most other states in America.” In fact, Oklahoma’s rate of women killed by men ranks fourth-highest nationally. In Oklahoma City alone last year, the 911 call center received 35,063 domestic violence-related calls — an average of 96 per day.
Shakir said that regardless of religious or political persuasion, all should be able to agree on the need for more help for victims of domestic violence.
“This event might not be politically expedient or have the benefit of stirring up fear,” he wrote, “but Oklahomans deserve the energy and resources for a worthy cause of protecting women in our society. I look forward to seeing Mr. Bennett and many other Oklahomans next month.”
He may get his wish with the latter. As to the former, well, it doesn’t hurt to ask.