Physician heal thyself.

The Canadian Islamic Congress has issued their media communiqué concerning the arrest of Canada’s first public homegrown terror cell in the Toronto/GTA area. The CIC reminds us that all suspects must be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and further suggests that even if the alleged suspects are found guilty by a court of law, guess who bears ultimate responsibility?

"There is no solid social science research that details why and how imported extremist ideologies are finding their way to some vulnerable Canadian Muslim youth. Zero dollars were spent by governments to investigate and follow up on such disturbing trends." "The Canadian Muslim community is law-abiding and loyal, but we have been up front in recognizing that no group is without problems," the statement continued.

"We at CIC have initiated a nation-wide Smart Integration program and need more help from Canadian academic researchers to scientifically diagnose problems and devise solutions. "But our governments have refused to share in the cost of research that could benefit all Canadians. They have said, in effect, 'this is your problem, you solve it.' . . . This is a short-sighted attitude. If other social problems, such as the high rate of crime among inner city youth, received millions of dollars in research funding over the past decade, why are proactive Muslim initiatives being ignored?"

Why do I get the nagging suspicious that the CIC wants to gorge themselves - courtesy of the public trough? Furthermore, the idea that a scientific research study to devise outreach programs financed by public spending are the key to thwarting the appeal of extremist ideology in Islam for Canadian Muslim youth is just too hysterical for words. Perhaps, the CIC should read Robert Spencer or even better, homegrownIrshad Manji. Even I would be prepared to pony up a few bucks for that.