News and views from the award-winning author of the novels The Skinny Years, America Libre, House Divided and Pancho Land

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The irony of hate and ignorance


Wade Page, the man who entered a Sikh temple and opened fire on a number of innocent victims, has now been identified as someone with a long history of association with white supremacist groups according to the New York Times. Since the 9-11 attacks, the white supremacist movement has frequently singled out Muslims as the targets of their ire -- and frequently their violence.

It's impossible to know for sure, but it's likely Wade Page equated the swarthy Sikhs, whose men often wear beards and turbans, as some type of Muslim extremists. Ironically, the Sikh religion was founded by leaders who resisted Muslim rule

But in the mind of a hatemonger, only the superficial matters.