Muslim identities expand to pan-Islamic scope as wars escalate

Evidence

That he was misidentified by once friendly customers and neighbors as an “Afghani” or a “Pakistani” reveals how Arab and South Asian identities have become conflated with Islam. — , Selod, Saher - Forever Suspect_…, 173 (#complicates, via linked claim)

One such instance was when I was discussing war with a youth pastor of the evangelical megachurch I attended in high school. In my mind, there was little to no dissonance between the dictates of the Christian faith and the righteousness of fighting to defend our country, which would include killing those on the other side. He asked me, “But what if the person we kill on the other side is a fellow Christian? What then? Did we just send that person to heaven? Is that what God would want for us?” … I was taken aback. I could not stop thinking about the implications of his questions. It was uncomfortable to think about the tension between my identities as an American and as a Christian. I began to see how my categories of “us” and “them” were influenced by much more than my faith. It was awkward to contemplate how being faithful to one identity might lead to being unfaithful to the other. Up until then, they had perfectly complemented each other. — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 56 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: A shared external enemy unifies previously warring Muslim factions; Arab and South Asian identities have been conflated with Islam — , Selod, Saher - Forever Suspect_…, 173; Public conflation of Arab, Muslim, and terrorist identities enabled the Iraq war (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Arab and South Asian identities have been conflated with Islam #complicates (0.75) — , Selod, Saher - Forever Suspect_…, 173
• National and religious identity can conflict when war pits same-faith enemies #complicates (0.74) — Andrew L. Whitehead, American Idolatry, 56