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.
Reader Comments ( Page 8 of 9)
106. We're a murderous people white-black-yellow- red
Muslim -Christian - Jew Or Zen
Slave to Allah or son of Our Father
A need for tranquility or a sacrifice altar
Perfection is lost in it's moment of claiming
And search for truth is left remaining
Search on!
Dan at 10:04AM on Aug 4th 2007
107. Crazy Eddie writes: "I will have zero sympathy for you when the msulim murders try to slice your head off. In fact, I'll laugh hysterically."
I'm quite sure you will, Ed. In fact, from your post above, I gather that hysterical laughter comes rather easily to you, at any time for any reason... or for no particular reason at all.
By the way, you and Steph make an adorable couple.
Richter at 11:46AM on Aug 4th 2007
108. I am a Muslim, i want WORLD PEACE.--------------
this statement is self-contradictory....your prophet said to kill all infidels whereever you find them.
billy at 6:16PM on Aug 4th 2007
109. Richter, you are blind idot who should be locked up for criminal levels of stupidity and ignorance. Scum like you are no better than the murdering bastards you defend. And yes, I will laugh when they return the favor by decapitating you. Have fun in hell.
Eddie at 6:45AM on Aug 5th 2007
110. i'm not afraid to speak out about Islam ,Protestant Christanity,catholic christanity,judaism,and any other organized religion.
they all have one thing going for them, their arrogance.
I'm not afraid of hell, allah,the vatican, watch tower,or the JDL.
in my view and experiences each one of these "religions" they are nice to you if they think they can convert you, one is so pompus you have to go to them for conversion.
If they think you're unworthy for conversion they insult you and leave while condemning you.
Ear
P.S. i'm not an athiest, and to counter otherwise, is assinine.
Ear at 11:19AM on Aug 5th 2007
111. "Richter, you are blind idot who should be locked up for criminal levels of stupidity and ignorance. Scum like you are no better than the murdering bastards you defend. And yes, I will laugh when they return the favor by decapitating you. Have fun in hell.
Eddie at 6:45AM on Aug 5th 2007"
Let this be a warning to us all: when you drink, don't blog -- when you blog, don't drink.
Richter, the "blind idot" at 7:01PM on Aug 5th 2007
112. I have much respect for people of faith, any faith, be it Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Druidism, Buddhism, Voo-doo, whatever, etc...Its good to have these beliefs and goals and aspirations for being good while your alive and the idea of an afterlife/reincarnation/limbo/what say you. They're all good unless their followers hurting others and/or shoving these ideas down others' throats.
Religion and faith are good things; what is bad is when there are psychotic fundamentalists and militant radicals of any religion that gain power, enough to hurt people.
Christianity: GOOD
-Crusaders, KKK, abortion-clinic bombers, forcefully trying to convert others, etc: BAD
Islam: GOOD
Jihad, suicide bombers, female circumsion, slaughtering the 'infidels', general radicals, etc: BAD
Radicals of anything are not good.
Bless the Muslims who are striving to reform the radicals and inform the public that Islam is not about violence and murder.
Wimpy, fearful people need to stand up for themselves and for what is right. Letting militant radicals publically speak of genocide or proclaim that their way is better and/or the only way or Jihad/Holy War has nothing to do with being politically correct or having diverse beliefs. They are talking about hurting others, people! Its like organised bullying.
Serly at 5:16AM on Aug 8th 2007
113. Yes richter, most drunks are in fact far more intelligent than you, you dumbass. Typo nazis like you should be burned at the stake
Eddie at 4:57AM on Aug 6th 2007
114. Crazy Eddie writes: "Typo nazis like you should be burned at the stake."
Wow -- first I'm going to be beheaded by terrorists and then I'm going to be burned at the stake by Crazy Eddie. And it's only Monday!
Richter, the \\\ at 9:23AM on Aug 6th 2007
115. Megan, you're a douchebag
David at 12:06PM on Aug 6th 2007
116. Stephanie
Good work, but you are talking to Mohammedan cultists, who have a vested interest in seeing that Islam isn't seen for what it is, and PC infested Leftists like Kucinich and Righists like D'Souza, Grover Norquist, etc who insist on seeing Islam as a force for good, for differing reasons of course. They'd do well to read a side by side comparison of the Quran alongside Mein Kamph
http://www.news.faithfreedom.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1167
In any case, you are wasting your time arguing this. If one really went through the links that Mehan provided, there'd be some 500 verses that are either violent or hateful towards infidels. That's the real Islam, even if they choose to ignore the Sunnah.
Infidel Pride at 8:00PM on Aug 6th 2007
117. Oh God, a bunch of Internet scholars who think they know what they are talking about based on reading LGF.
Stephanie sounds like a tough little whore but let's see if she can come out in public with these sentiments. The stupid bitch would be slapped for being a little bitch that she is, along with the rest of the anti-Islamic crowd.
Who the fuck do these fucktards think they are kidding?
To all the Internet Rambo-wannabes, why not post your addresses on here if you're not afraid?
D at 11:34PM on Aug 6th 2007
118. Religion is left to interpretation and manipulation, any and all forms of religions has been twisted and forcibly molded to conform to mans ideals. Its is the most powerful form of brainwashing the world has and will ever seen. My personal opinion on Islam and Islamic world is that the entire religion is still fairly young compared to many of the older religions of the world. The Islamic world has had little debate over the religion and its teaching. Mostly, its one way or the other, and the one means my way, period. Its a religion which has beent tainted and which has been used to murder in the name of god. Sometimes I wonder why Muslims tend to speak of the prophet more than Allah, himself. The same I ask of Christians. Jesus is spoken of more than Jehovah is. In my understanding, both prophets were on this earth to bring people back to the lord. Also think of terms used in ancient times to describe religous persons. Prophet, the son of God, the maharishi of this or that! I believe Islam and its radicals have a created the greatest religous propaganda machine this world will ever seen. All religions have been guilty of this at one time or another. I have read the Koran, and have found many of its verses to be contradictory and narcicistic. Respect all life, but a Muslim life is worth more, something to that respect. Religion is not the problem and Islam needs to grow and their needs to be an inner debate. The problem is man and our need to better than others. Islam has a problem and its an identity crisis.
BULLMOL242 at 6:53AM on Aug 7th 2007
119. I must say, I am enjoying the spectacle of Newsblogger wingnuts like "infidel Pride" and Stephy using that 19th century British imperialist coinage of "Mohammedans" to describe Muslims. I suppose we can next look forward to Stephy et al referring to black people as "fuzzy wuzzies."
Richter, the \\\\\\\\\\\\ at 10:22AM on Aug 7th 2007
120. Stephanie--I'm praying for you.
I'd just like to point out that the Spanish Inquisition was an apparently religious front for the political objective of uniting the newly-formed Spain under Isabella and Ferdinand. The whole peninsula had been comprised of Christian and Muslim kingdoms which, through war, gradually came under the power of Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon. After their marriage, they drove the last remaining Muslims out of Andalucia and called themselves Los Reyes Catolicos--the Catholic monarchs. Any non-Christian was seen as a political threat--the Jews must be siding with the Muslims--and the Inquisition was created to enforce Isabella and Ferdinand's absolute authority. Isabella's language, Castillian, became the official language despite the MANY languages (not just "dialects") being spoken throughout the peninsula--again, to maintain control. If the Queen doesn't understand you, you must be plotting against her. Point is, the Inquisition was not backed by Christianity and in fact had little to do with the piety so often attributed to the ruthless and greedy Isabella and Ferdinand.
Judaism is more than 4000 years older than Christianity; I hardly see how Christianity can be considered more legitimate than Islam, which began less than 1000 years after Christ.
Al Quaida are no more Muslim than Hitler was Christian. You can call yourself anything you like, quote and claim to represent whatever you please, but every tree is known by its fruit.
Denise at 3:13PM on Aug 7th 2007