The “good Muslim” defense confirms that Muslim is the default-bad category in America.

Evidence

Saleem: When the patient saw my badge, he really got scared. So one of the nurses wanted to make him feel better, and he said, “You’re a Muslim?” and she said, “But he’s a good one.” Kind of like the default is I’d be bad … I had a patient call me a fascist. I don’t think he knows what that word means, because—I don’t think anyone knows what the word means. — Saher Selod, Forever Suspect_ Racialized…, 289

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The blame-America-first frame forecloses any legitimate Muslim criticism of US policy