BANGUI, Central African Republic - Tens of thousands of Muslims are fleeing to neighboring countries by plane and truck as Christian militias stage brutal attacks, shattering the social fabric of this war-ravaged nation. In towns and villages as well as here in the capital, Christian vigilantes wielding machetes have killed scores of Muslims, who are a minority here, and burned and looted their houses and mosques in recent days, according to witnesses, aid agencies and peacekeepers. Tens of thousands of Muslims have fled their homes.
Few Americans could find the Central African Republic on a map if their lives depended on it. Collectively, we know little and care even less about anything Africa-related. That said, the news of Christians massacring Muslims may well come as a complete surprise even as it generates little interest. Justa buncha black people killing one another, right?? Except that in this case, Christians are massacring Muslims, burning and looting their houses, and desecrating their mosques.
I can’t help but think that this is what the Crusades would have looked like if cable television had existed then.
What I find myself wondering is where the outrage is. Why is the mainstream media not covering this? Is it just that desperately poor people with black skin killing one another isn’t newsworthy? Is it because White people aren’t being slaughtered? In an era when we decry Muslim terrorists, should we not also be condemning those terrorists who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ? Is one type of terrorism more acceptable than the other? Is hatred and murder only to be condemned when it’s being done to Christians? Is it terrorism only when Muslims do it?
In an era when news can travel around the world in the times it takes for a human to burp, this story is the kind of thing that should be generating heat, light, and sustained outrage. If a massacre on this scale was happening in western Europe, the West would be apoplectic even as they mobilize to put a stop to it. Black Christians murder Black Muslims…and you could almost hear a pin drop.
Remember, when Muslims do it, it’s terrorism. When Christians do it, they’re defending their faith. And when black Africans do it…well, hey, didja hear that Miley Cyrus went full frontal for a photo shoot??!?
