“God bless you” is a phrase spoken daily by Christians all over the world. Whenever someone sneezes, it’s uttered. People utilize the phrase as a complementary close in letters. Politicians often say it at the end of speeches. It’s even used by secular folk in everyday speech.
Regardless of how solidly this phrase is ingrained in Americans’ vocabularies, librarians at Simmons College in Boston feel it’s Islamophobic.
According to Fox News, these post-secondary employees collaboratively crafted the Anti-Oppression Library Guide. They believe telling someone “God bless you” is akin to committing an act of “Islamomisic” micro-aggression. Islamomisia is the new trendy term for Islamophobia, apparently.
In the guide, the librarians state, “Islamomisic Microaggressions are commonplace verbal or behavioral indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicates hostile, derogatory, or negative slights in relation to the beliefs and religious practices of Muslims. They are structurally based and invoke oppressive systems of religious/Christian hierarchy.”
Besides “God bless you,” the librarians also feel Christians perpetrate acts of Islamomisic micro-aggressions when they tell someone “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Easter.” The controversial guide includes “endorsing religious stereotypes” as another form of micro-aggression directed at Muslims. As examples, the librarians listed such actions as seeing hijabs as stylish, implying Islam isn’t the right religion, and viewing “one’s own religious identity as the norm.” In the guide, the librarians outline the “Christian privilege” they feel Christian Americans display. They say this “institutionalized power” is illustrated when Christians expect to receive time away from work for religious holidays or to be able to worship without fearing violence or threats.
“Christian fragility” is yet another trait the librarians at Simmons College discuss in their comprehensive resource. It refers to Christians’ anger, hostility, or defensiveness when conversing about religious matters. The guide’s authors feel Christians are inept at constructively engaging with those of other religions.
“Within this dominant social environment, Christians come to expect social comfort and a sense of belonging and superiority,” they say. “They may become defensive, positioning themselves as victims of anti-Islamomisic work and co-opting the rhetoric of violence to describe their experiences of being challenged on religious privilege.”
The resource includes a TED talk by Melissa Boigon, who doesn’t feel sharia law is cruel or anti-American in any way.
“Muslims did not kill Americans on 9/11,” she says. “A very small extremist group that can barely gain any footing, even in the most conservative Muslim circles committed heinous crimes on 9/11. Islam is a religion of peace.”
During an interview with Fox News, a spokesperson maintained that the outrageous resource isn’t a policy of Simmons College. The statement issued by the spokesperson said, “The information in this guide is an introductory resource intended to provide general information about anti-oppression, diversity, and inclusion. It is by no means a complete guide to social justice issues, religions, conversations or points of view.”
The librarians are apparently aware they may possess their own misgivings. In the guide, they write, “we are not immune from the limits and hidden biases of our own privileges and perspectives as allies. We welcome and greatly appreciate any feedback and suggestions for the guide, particularly from the perspectives and experiences of the marginalized groups listed and not listed here.”
Simmons College isn’t the only institute of higher education showing disdain for the Christian faith. On March 1, 2018, The Weekly Standard reported Harvard University placed the largest Christian group on campus, Harvard College Faith and Action, on “administrative probation.” The action stemmed from the group desiring one of its female members to resign in September of 2017 after she decided to date another female.
The far left in America is increasingly attacking Christian values. According to the 2017 edition of the First Liberty report titled “Undeniable,” the number of recorded instances of religious discrimination rose 15 percent from 2015 to 2016. From 2011 to 2016, the number of occurrences skyrocketed 133 percent from 600 to greater than 1,400.
Created in 1997, First Liberty is a non-profit legal entity. While First Liberty focuses on defending religious freedom in court cases, the organization also publishes reports in order to educate people in the United States about the First Amendment.
In September of 2017, First Liberty’s President Kelly Shackelford said, “we’re in a battle right now for religious freedom in the future of our country” in a Facebook Live video.
~ 1776 Christian
