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Entry: The Lie of Assimilation Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/the_lie_of_assimiliation#8789 Post contents: @Craig: <i>"When you note that most Muslims think of themselves as Muslims first, and Americans second, you fail to ask whether this is in fact how it should be, not only for Muslims, but for anyone who is a serious believer in any religion."</i> Yes, I did fail to ask that, because it wasn't relevant to this discussion. There's another whole essay to be written on this point, and Mr. Sarto keeps asking me to write it (and I will!). Suffice it to say, for the moment, that, as a Catholic, I'd rather than Muslims in America were not thinking of themselves as Muslims first. What is relevant is that, in terms of the relations of Muslims to American society, both secular and Christian, this self-identification as Muslims should give us pause. There's no reason to believe that Islam is compatible with American constitutional republicanism, much less with European-American traditions, much less with Christianity. In an abstract sense, the commitment of American Muslims to their religion is admirable. I only wish that we saw such commitment among American Christians. If that were the case, however, there would probably be fewer Muslims here. Sent at: 2008 07 23