The Arab World is facing serious threats of further fragmentation. Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, as we know them, might no longer exist as unified states. The “Islamic State” is gaining a greater foothold in the Levant and enforcing a criminal order of literally slaughtering its foes. Meanwhile, Israel continues to “appropriate” (read: steal) Palestinian land. However, instead of uniting against their enemies, Arabs are falling into the fatal abyss of sectarianism.

Most dangerously for our community here, the cancer of sectarianism has reached Arab America and found its way into the thinking and language of local Arabs. 

In Lebanon, Islamic State militants made no distinction between Sunnis and Shi’a in the army. They recently beheaded a soldier from each sect. The tragedy should have galvanized the entire country around the military, its most revered state institution. But instead, it sparked a string of sectarian kidnappings and violent protests, deepening the divisions between the components of Lebanese society and dragging the country to the edge of civil war.

Everybody is guilty. Emotions should never be louder than the voice of reason.

Here in Michigan, on social media and in the streets, the sectarian language was intensified after the recent events in Lebanon and Iraq. We witnessed appalling calls for sectarian violence from all sides. 

Some baseless statements blamed the rise of militancy on the Muslim faith, as if the “Islamic State” has not killed thousands of Muslims of all creeds and ethnicities across Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Sectarianism in the Arab and Chaldean American community is even more sinister than sectarianism in the Arab World. It is less excused. In the luxury of our safe new home in the United States, we are less affected by the turmoil in the Levant. We should be more objective and serve as the voice of rationality for our brethren in the Middle East. 

The unity of our home countries should be a collective demand for all Arab and Chaldean Americans. It is unacceptable and immoral to add to fuel of tribal-focused illogic to the fire that is threatening the existence of the Arab World. 

Sectarianism here might be the product of a loud minority. However, we ask the majority not to be silent. We should comment on and denounce every Facebook post promoting bigotry against any group. We should interject in every conversation to snuff out sectarian tones with reasonable arguments. We have a responsibility to safeguard our community from such divisions whose dangerous results are tragically unfolding in front of our very eyes in the Middle East.

Locally and internationally, we have common causes to which sect is irrelevant— education, civil rights, immigration reform, Palestine and the sovereignty and freedom of our home countries.

Israeli bombs do not distinguish between Sunni, Shi’a, Christian or Druze children when they fall on Lebanon and Palestine. Suicide bombers in Baghdad markets do not spare anybody of any faith. Our enemies see us as one.

In the United States, banks close Arab Americans’ accounts regardless of their religious. When we are placed on the no-fly and terrorist watch lists, we are not classified by sect.

The Arab and Chaldean American community should stand united. Voices of sectarianism should be silenced.