Christopher Hitchens thinks he is being very brave in attacking Islam. So do a lot of other Americans on the right and the on the left. They call the prophet Muhammad a terrorist, the Koran a gospel of violence, and Islam a religion for losers and murderers. Since there is an understandable fear and hostility toward Islamic terrorism in the wake of 9/11, Muslim-bashing has found a big constituency and has now become a very profitable career. Where is the bravery today in denouncing Islam?
Contrast the Islam-bashers on the American lecture circuit with the traditional Muslims who have the courage to take on the Islamic radicals in the Muslim world. The Muslim reformers are doing the really needed work, which is not to get rid of Islam (a ridiculous and impossible project) but to promote traditional Islam over radical Islam. Muslims who are confronting radical Islam in Pakistan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are the really intrepid people. Do this and your life can be at stake. No wonder that Hirsi Ali attacks Islam from the safe precincts of the American Enterprise Institute in Washington D.C. Is Irshad Manji all that brave for letting the Muslims have it on her radio show in Canada? "Yes," these valiant souls will no doubt say, "but I've gotten hate mail and even death threats." Welcome to the club, ladies. I'm more impressed with the ordinary Iraqis who face snipers, car bombs, and suicide attackers on a daily basis.
Yes, there are wimps on the American college campus and in various European quarters who kowtow to radical Muslim demands. But these invertebrates cannot say no to anyone, not just Muslims. They are captive to a politically correct, multicultural ideology. The same people who allow black radicals to take over the college library and call for "death to the white man" are the same ones who view calls to Islamic jihad as just another expression of "diversity." The remedy here is not "courage" but rather a recognition that the institutions of freedom need to be defended against political assault.
Hitchens is a witty and erudite columnist. But Islam-bashing in the online magazine Slate or in Vanity Fair? No courage is required there.
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3. Have you not heard of Salman Rushdie who, for the crime of writing a novel, has had his publishers and translators butchered in the streets after a senile mullah placed a bounty on his head (which remains in place today) forcing him to have to live his life under the protection of the security services in the UK?
You mention Aryan Hirsi Ali who, after having her genitals sickly mutilated (a practice long since outlawed which kills thousands), had her director Theo van Gogh mudered on the streets of Amsterdam by an Islamic radical? And she lacks courage?
And what of the Danish cartoons? In the words of Hitchens "A rumor of a cartoon in a faraway country is enough to turn the very name Mohammed into a fetish-object and an excuse for barbaric conduct. As I write this, the death toll is well over 30 and—guess what?—a mullah in Pakistan has offered $1 million and a car as a bribe for the murder of "the cartoonist."
Steve at 7:23AM on Aug 1st 2007
4. Let Islam be practiced in its proper venue. Jail. Enough with these muderous thugs and butchers. Islam is the religion of human barbarity and best left to cavemen.
justsayit at 8:22AM on Aug 1st 2007
5. I'm not afraid to criticize Islam.
Islam DESERVES criticism, and A LOT of it. Bravo Chris Hitchens for speaking out, and Dennis Prager, too!
Stephanie at 8:36AM on Aug 1st 2007
6. I'm not afraid to criticize Islam either- however I choose to criticise christianity. Muslims are NOT "murderous thugs or butchers" any more than the christians of the Crusades or, more recently, the Holocaust/WWII, or the KKK. Christians are so quick to point out one flawed group of Islamic following that they fail to look at the FAR WORSE christian groups running around our world.
We should not be attacking the entire Islam religion, for it is beautiful and deeply rooted in history. What we should be criticizing are radical groups- of ANY religious background.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged" Matthew 7:1
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the PLANK in your own eye?" Matthew 7:3
Megan at 8:49AM on Aug 1st 2007
7. Furthermore, Mr. d'Souza, "traditional Islam" and "radical Islam" are THE SAME. Newsflash: The Koran never changes! The false "prophet" (not a prophet) Mohammed had all Jewish males in Medina who would not convert to Islam, beheaded. Ditto Christians and anyone who mocked him, such as poets and intellectuals. YES, MOHAMMED WAS A TERRORIST. HE TERRORIZED ALL PEOPLES WHO WOULD NOT CONVERT TO ISLAM - HISTORICAL FACT.
And yes, the Koran is a Murder Book. The primary theme of the Koran, found in 109 "War Verses" is "Slay the Infidel wherever you find him," i.e. anyone not Islamic. That's fact - read the Koran, why don't you? It's easy - a slim volume filled with plagiarisms from Judaism and Christianity with lots of repetitions to give it "bulk." Islam is a heresy of Christianity, and Mohammed the 7th century illiterate Murderer Warlord is a heresiarch. Islam perverts Christian doctrine, and then becomes a Murder Guide by commanding that all "Infidels" be slaughtered. Oh, and the second primary theme of the Koran is "Obey "Allah" (doesn't exist, btw) and his apostle (Mo) or you're going straight to hell." No mercy, no compassion, no forgiveness. The third despicable theme in the Koran is that Murderers of Infidels will be called "martyrs" and will be rewarded for their murdering with the bordello paradise! LOL! Mohammed the bamboozling flim-flam warlord man sure took in a lot of suckers! But, you see, he'd kill 'em if they didn't see things his way! Yep, spread his "faith" by the sword - you are right 14th century Byzantine Emperor!
Oh definitely, Islam is a religion for "losers and murderers." No doubt about it. Also for misogynists as everyone knows how oppressed Mohammedan females are the world over.
Mr. d'Souza, for you to denigrate Hirsi Ali who has death threats from the Barbarians called "Muslims" is unconscionable. She is so far superior to you there's no adequate measure.
Stephanie at 8:58AM on Aug 1st 2007
8. Megan, you are so ignorant it's unbelievable. No, there are NO "Christian groups running around our world" MURDERING PEOPLE! Hey - furnish an example, why don't you?
In addition, we're not talking about ancient history here! The Crusades were IN RESPONSE to 400 years of Muslim aggression and violence against Jews and Christians, and also IN RESPONSE to Muslim expansion. THEY STARTED IT! If it weren't for The Crusades, and people like Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours and Jan Sobieski at the Battle of Vienna, you'd be wearing a black sheet right now with eye holes cut out and live in fear of being stoned or honor killed and required to be a human baby factory. You don't know much, do you?
Nazis and KKK? They committed ther heinous acts DESPITE their religions. Whereas, Islam, on the other hand, INSTRUCTS AND COMMANDS ITS FOLLOWERS TO KILL ANYONE NOT ISLAMIC. AND BE REWARDED FOR IT. Sorry, I don't think that's "beautiful."
Finally, your Matthew quote about judging is incomplete. Jesus says in the next verse that of course we SHOULD judge, but FAIRLY. Not that we can't judge at all, you stupo! Sorry, but your ignorance is just astounding.
Oh, where's the example of your "FAR WORSE" Christian groups committing global murder and mayhem in the 21st century? If you are thinking of the Darfur genocide, that's ARABS genociding the African Christians. So, think again.
Stephanie at 9:12AM on Aug 1st 2007
9. Well said Megan.People need to understand that there are extremists in every religion.Islam should not be singled out.There have been barbarians in the name of chritianity also,oh,but that's different I guess.
T.Najarian at 9:59PM on Aug 1st 2007
10. Yes Megan. No religion holds a monopoly on cruelty. However pointing out past depravities can not justify present behaviors. I wonder how beautiful the Koran seems to the Korean Hostages. If Islam is to survive the good Muslims (sadly silent) need to
turn out the radicals who have completely hijacked Islam. As I look around I don’t see this happening so much…
justsayit at 9:20AM on Aug 1st 2007
11. Megan,
You are right in saying that we should not judge others. Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven. I am not writing this to criticize Islam, but to simply protect Christianity.
How is it that you can criticize (judge) Christianity and then close your judgment with a bible verse that speaks of the very thing you did in your comment? This is hypocritical.
As an ordained Deacon, I can attest that there are real believers in the love of Christ. The groups that you mentioned were blood thirsty hate groups who operated wrongfully under the banner of Christianity. The bible says that the devil himself masquerades as an angel of light. In other words, they called their causes Christlike on the outside, but their inner workings were pure evil. Much like the Pharisees and Sadducees of Christ's time (check your bible).
You said that Islam has deep roots in history. Christianity and Islamic history run parallel. If you are an American, then you should know that this country was founded upon Christianity. 25 of our founding forefathers were bible-believing Christians (check your history).
We are living in the last and evil days and this world will soon pass away. It would be sad on that day for those who have not accepted nor believed the sacrifice done on the cross by The Way, The Truth and The Life Jesus Christ. What will be your answer to The Almighty then?
riross05 at 9:22AM on Aug 1st 2007
12. Uh, Mr. Deacon, Christianity and Islam do not "run parallel." Both Judaism and Christianity were long-established religions before false "prophet" Mohammed's mid-7th century Islam. This is why Islam is filled with plagiarisms from both Judaism and Christianity, and perverts them into the heresy called Islam.
Since Matthew is being quoted a lot, here's the most applicable verse concerning Mohammed and Islam:
"Beware of false prophets that come after me. You shall know them by their fruits."
Stephanie at 9:30AM on Aug 1st 2007
13. Apparently I caused far more hatred and controversy than I intended. Deacon riross made a good point that I made a large false-step with my comments vs. scripture and I apologize. I was merely trying to find a good way to say what justsayit said in comment #7.
Although our country WAS founded by Christians, it was nonetheless founded upon religious freedom. We should be occupying ourselves with how to improve the world as a whole, not by simply stamping out the religions that are not our own.
I will very much agree that in many places, especially those with a predominant (if not 100%) Islam influence, the Orwellian "War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength" holds true, but we need to get rid of that philosophy and not the religion of those who enforce it.
Whether people want to believe it or not, no religion is inherently "better" than another, only some have more followers and therefore a quasi-monopoly on mixing politics with religion.
There are plenty of wonderful Muslims around, many whom I have met, only, as justsayit pointed out, many of them are being kept silent by the fear for their life that the bad Muslims have created.
Megan at 10:34AM on Aug 1st 2007
14. Stephanie, it's nice to finally read comments from someone who's done her homework because many would blindly believe Islam is a peaceful religion when history and the Koran say it otherwise. I find many Christians have become apologists for the Crusades without knowing that the Crusades was indeed in response to muslims expansion which started in Spain. During their bloodthirsty quest to convert Christian Europe the Muslims slaughtered indiscriminately,rasacked and burned villages and churches. People were forced to convert to this new "peaceful" religion or meet their fate at the end of the sword. This piece of history often is ignored when modern day Muslims criticize the Crusades, which was indeed in response to this bloodthirsty expansion and also the ambush of 7,000 Christians in Jerusalem during Easter (the few who survived escaped to alert the pope and the rest of the Christian world). Muslims still speak of returning Spain to Islam, and one way is to marry Spaniards and convert them since they can no longer wield swords.
Muslims tend to pick and choose what they wish to believe and ignore ugly truths. The most obvious but overlooked truth was that their "prophet" was a pedophile who married a 6-year old when he was in his 50's, and he was able to convince her parents to allow this union by telling them Allah had told him in a dream their beautiful daughter was to be his wife. Muslims also forget another historical account that whenever Mohammed saw a cross he would go info fits of seizure and foam at the mouth, and would only return to normal once the offending cross was removed from his sight -- what does that tell you? Muslims would say it means nothing. Apologist Christians would gladly ignore it because they want to make nice and keep peace. These apologists also tend to point out Christian hypocrisy by mentioning the Nazis but fail to research the truth behind Nazism -- that it was its own twisted religion that stomped on Christian values, as symbolized by the bent cross. As for the KKK, most Christians criticize their racist and hateful beliefs and do not support them -- unlike the vast majority of Muslims who wish to remain silent when fellow Muslims slaughter Christians (and any non believer) in Indonesia, Darfur, Nigeria, Ethiopia. Muslims have no respect for other religions because they often attack worshippers of all faiths where they worship and during sacred holidays, bombing them in churches, temples and synogogues.
Another ugly truth the Muslim community has ignored is the increased rape of "infidel" women in Sweden. I have not heard a Muslim outcry on this hideous truth.(http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/003131.php).
Jones at 9:15AM on Aug 2nd 2007
15. To commit barbaric acts in an age of barbarism is acting within the norm, as cruel and savage as that may be. Commiting barbarism in a more enlightened era such as was done by Hitler, Stalin and now Islamic fanatics is much more dangerous because of the nature of technology and the potential for horific mass murder. that is what makes our current situation so frought with danger.
eric at 10:37AM on Aug 1st 2007