Lessons from Brown vs. Board of Education

Fifty years ago, the United States Supreme Court finally decided that African-American children in the South could attend the same public schools that white children were attending. On May 17, 1954, the Court ruled unanimously that the "separate but equal" doctrine violated black children's 14th Amendment rights by separating them because of the color of their skin. Immediately after, however, something even more important happened: President Eisenhower's decision to send troops to enforce what would become known as Brown vs. Board of Education.

In this country we are trained to believe that making a law or judicial ruling can take care of any problem. That's why so many laws and judgments are made or passed every day. There are so many rules that exist for regulating society and maintaining harmony that the law books of any state are overflowing their shelves. There are statutes that limit the colors for the outside of your home, spitting on the floor, cussing, and even adultery. There is something, though, we easily forget: any law may be made, but enforcing it is a different matter entirely. Many rules exist only in the law books or trial records, but no one bothers to make them stick. Back in 1954, there was great concern among African-Americans that the anti-segregation decision would be ignored and soon forgotten. That did not happen, however, and Brown vs. Board of Education gained its historical importance precisely because the Executive Branch upheld the law.

Laws mean nothing if they are not enforced, and Muslims need to keep this in mind. Consider the case of the International Court of Justice's ruling that Israel's wall in the West bank was illegal. Many Islamic activists chalked this up as a big victory; but Israel's response showed how meaningless the whole exercise was. Ha'aretz quoted a senior advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as saying, "I believe that after all the rancor dies, this resolution will find its place in the garbage can of history."

Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also scoffed, "What's going to happen now? This is going to go to the UN General Assembly." He added, "They can decide anything there. They can say that the earth is flat. It won't make it legal, it won't make it true, and it won't make it just."

After the UN assembly's vote, ambassador of Israel Dan Gillerman stated quite succinctly, "Thank God that the fate of Israel and of the Jewish people is not decided in this hall."

Here we have senior officials of the Israeli government telling the world that the decision against the fence means nothing. It is only theoretical if it is not enforced, and the Israelis know it will not be enforced. Yet when we look to Islamic activists and rulers, they are ready at a shot to put the fate of Palestine, Bosnia, Iraq, or whatever other mess we have in the feckless hands of the International Community.

We must realize as Muslims that our fate rest with us as Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) sees fit. We are the ones who are supposed to determine our own destiny, not the International Community, Congress, or 10 Downing Street. As soon as Muslim leaders realize this, then maybe with the proper efforts, we will get back on track. As we see it now, if we are to use the same institutions developed by the West, with the interests of the West in mind, we will be always destined for failure, God forbid. Islam as an alternative system will continue to remain sidelined. It's both funny and sad that the pharaohs of the world expect Muslims to abide by decisions made by the UN, yet horselaugh when the decisions are made against them. (Submitted 9/22/2004)