Muslims are collectively guilty of terrorism!
This matters involves principles, and the question is which principles apply, and why, and if the principles are applied uniformly or consistently.
The first principle is of collective guilt and apology. Are all Muslims collectively guilty of terrorism and should apologize because some of them have committed acts of terrorism? Muslims have themselves been the target of terrorism from other groups, countries and even fellow Muslims, and consider it to be repulsive, barbaric and un-Islamic.
If all members of a group are involved in some wrongdoing, it is fair to hold them all responsible to the degree of their involvement. For example, all members of a gang that deals drugs should be held responsible for their collective wrongdoing. This can be called “guilt by participation”.
However, if some members of an ethnic group are involved in crime, would it be fair to hold the whole group responsible? For example, in the US, organized crime was once dominated by the Mafia, most of whom were of Italian origin. Are all Italians in the US collectively guilty of organized crime, because there is a number of criminals who are associated with them by ethnicity? Would it be fair to hold the Italians, as a group, responsible for organized crime, and consider them all to be guilty, and require them to apologize? This can be called “guilt by association”, and it is unfair.
If someone was looking to demonize the Italians in the US as a criminal ethnicity, they could wrongfully use “guilt by association” to do so, since some Italians have been involved in organized crime and do have “guilt by participation”. Fair-minded people with common sense would recognize this to be unfair. But this approach is used by some to stereotype other groups, races, nations and religions, because of prejudices, biases and bigotry.
Are all Muslims collectively guilty of participation in the terrorism? Or are some trying to wrongfully use “guilt by association” for whatever reason? Do Muslims have a responsibility to do whatever they can to stop the terrorism? Absolutely. But the reasons for why terrorism is occurring are complex, and the reasons for its existence and resurgence need to be understood and addressed. Certainly military force will be needed to attack terrorism, but it is overly simplistic to think that that is sufficient to solve the problem. Terrorism needs to be attacked on a broader front, and all the contributing factors need to be examined and addressed. Should America treat Muslims collectively as terrorists? Some with other agendas would like to for their own interests, not America's interest.