It’s Racist To Pigeonhole The Quebec Attackers Unless You Say They Were Inspired By Trump

By the Huffington Post Editorial Staff
Last night’s mosque attack in Quebec has us in tears. Such violence against innocents never ceases to shock. In its wake we must be exceedingly careful not to assume the motives or identities of the perpetrators, unless those assumptions involve non-liberal Westerners.

Thus, it would be illiberal to claim, without definitive evidence, that the shooters were motivated by Islam. However, it remains within the bounds of acceptable discourse to associate the terrorist act with followers of President Trump or any of his supporters. We ask that our readers adhere to this sensible distinction as we stand with the people of Canada during this difficult time. Except Trump supporters. You’re not welcome here.

President Obama showed the way when he refrained from using the term “Islamic terrorism.” His preferred phrase, “violent extremism,” is much more in keeping with right-thinking sensibilities, and avoiding any automatic connection between Islam and terrorism would serve as a proper preservation of his legacy. It is all the much more important when a bigot now inhabits the White House, a man who would ban Muslims from the US. Well, Muslims from seven very specific countries previously identified by the Obama administration as problematic. It’s still racist, though, because Trump.

But we digress. The point is that rushing to judgment on anyone but Republicans and their ilk is beyond the pale. We call that prejudice, and prejudice against anyone but people we automatically assume to be white males from a predominantly Christian society will not be tolerated in civilized company. Because their ancestors have the same skin tone as people who oppressed minorities, they do not merit the same consideration as people of color or other historically marginalized groups. It’s not about behavior, but identity.

That is why if the perpetrators of the Quebec attack turn out to be other than Trump supporters, as outrageous as that sounds to the sophisticated ear, we must focus on the tragedy, and stay away from blaming the perpetrators’ culture or background. That would be racist. Preferably, we must then go into great detail about the ways in which generations of arrogant Western oppression drove them to this behavior. But if it turns out to be right-wing Westerners, as of course it will, then we have to explore all the possible connections between their culture and the heinous act, in an effort to root out this poison from among us. Because of course that’s who it is.

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