Sharia Law Isn’t the Issue.

I wish to address an issue that has been bothering me for some time now. It is no secret that Youth for Western Civilization differs from my personal beliefs and ideology; nor is it unknown that the views of YWC oppose many of the views held by the majority of Towson students and faculty. However considering the near silence from this group lately, other than their chalking and statements regarding Sharia law, I feel this issue requires direct attention.

I believe the proposal I am about to make is easily seen by many, but just in case it has not become apparent, I will make it as clear as I can. YWC does not simply have an issue with Sharia law; YWC has an issue with Islam. Youth for Western Civilization is not simply waging an attack on Sharia law, but they are waging a war on an entire religion. Now if you would speak to Matt Heimbach or John Donovan, it can reasonably be assumed they would make some sort of statement about the left waging a war on religion through policy, lifestyle, or some other means. Yet, they fail to acknowledge such a statement when directed toward their views.

For the record, I too disagree with the existence of Sharia law as a form of legal structure. I also find issue with any religion having a force in the institution and practice of law. Now at the risk of speaking for YWC, it would seem they have no issue with the laws currently on the books that can be easily related to Christian doctrine. Though it seems there is no outcry of the existence of these laws by any member of Youth for Western Civilization. I ask: is it just me that view these statements as a very thinly veiled attack on the religion of Islam? I should hope not.

As I have previously stated here, I do find issue with the institution of Sharia law. I also find great issue with the institution of Christian doctrine, or any other religion for that matter, in our legal system and judicial process. There is a reason our laws are laws. That reason is not because a particular religion is “right” and so parts of its specific doctrine were translated into legislation. Our laws are laws because they transcend any particular religious doctrine and share moral and ethical norms across religion. There is fault in our judicial system, but that fault is not because of religious input, it is because of ineffectiveness and outdated judicial code.

Youth for Western Civilization is not identifying specific atrocities which are committed throughout societies, but are concentrating on a narrow view and attacking practices which they do not agree with. Here it is attacking Sharia law as a method of attacking Islam; previously it has been standing against equality of marriage legislation as a method of attacking the LGBT community. The disgust here is that as with most of what this group does, they are able to maintain plausible deniability by thinly veiling their intent, but veiling it all the same.

Anthony Troup

* This is a post relating to recent events at Towson University in Towson, MD.

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