How many Christians were willing to speak and contradict Falwell’s statement that feminists, abortionists, homosexuals and the ACLU were responsible for attacks? Quite a few, but were they heard? As a society, we like the drama of extremism. Most Christians know that Falwell does not represent them or their views, but whether CNN or The Times want to present a Christian view, he’s the only one that gets called. Arabs come in many shapes and sizes, many beliefs, many religions, yet everyone assumes that extremists are representative. That man who has to work a double shift to support his family, the woman who worries whether her career will take off, the father who wants his son to get good school grades, to get into university, never make the news. They do not make a good story. Extremists do.
—from an interview with Rabih Alameddine in the Mississippi Review
