All Comments (16)

http://www.thespiritualsanctuary.org/Inspiration/Inspiration14.html

If you're saying that secularists shouldn't be indignant that Muslims get offended things like the Danish cartoons, then I agree with you. The fact that a secularist wouldn't be offended by some cartoon about Hume or Holyoake doesn't matter. It's not for you or me or anyone else to tell a person what they should or should not be offended by. If a Muslim was offended by the Danish cartoons, then that's that. It doesn't matter that it was free speech. Free speech can still offend. And you're right, too many people fail to understand that Muslims might just have reasons for being upset.

However, it IS for us to say how people respond to that offense. What should NOT be condoned or accepted in the slightest is the response of many Muslims--including some Western Muslims--to the cartoons. In some cases this crossed the line of peaceful protest to violence. In others it called for the prosecution of editors who publish the cartoons. In still others it called for these editors to be killed.

It is wrong for people to lump "Islam" and "terrorism" together. It is also wrong for people to think that something like the violent outcry to the Danish cartoons is justified because SOME Muslims were offended and perceive their religion to be under attack.

Vallely clearly doesn’t understand the Enlightenment’s tradition of freedom, tolerance, and democracy. It doesn’t include the toleration of Nazism, Communism, and Islam. These are to be condemned unequivocally. They may be legally tolerated but no moral sanction is implied. They are loathsome.

Islamophobia is just a nonsense name given to the understandable fear of a vicious doctrine: Islam. We aren’t fooled by the bigotry baiting of the author. We will speak out against this injustice just as my father spoke out against Communism and my grandfather spoke out against Nazism.

As far as the Danish cartoons are concerned, they shouldn’t be merely tolerated, they should be praised! It is true that Mohammad was a violent man. Without liberty to speak the truth, there is no liberty worth speaking of.
http://libertyandculture.blogspot.com/2006/02/dying-by-post-modern-sword.html

Well said.

Judging from the many Islamophobic and virulently hateful anti-Islamic posts, I think you hit the nail right on the spot!

Anti-Islamic bigotry is the new "acceptable" and softer form of anti-Semitism.

Though if history judges me right Muslims and Arabs are Semitic in origin, therefore Islamophobia IS Anti-Semitism.

Interesting article. Do Muslims ask themselves “What would that item have sounded like if I were a _____?” Listening to most of the rhetoric, I've not seen any evidence of that. From the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, we saw many outraged Muslims justifiably unhappy with what they saw. We also saw many unjustifiably threaten violence, but that is another story. More interestingly, we heard many bitterly complaining that Jesus or Jews or take your pick would "never" be portraited as such...er, obviously they haven't been paying much attention to the media. Also interesting is the contrast; a crucifix is dunked in human urine and passed off as "art," and while there was outrage from the Christian community there wasn't the threats of violence like was seen from the Muslim community with the cartoons. Likewise, while perceived attacks on Islam by the Pope meet violent opposition, the reverse isn't true -- attacks on the Pope by Muslims raised no violent opposition.

"But, in the minefield in which western and Islamic cultures meet, the rest of us have a responsibility to educate ourselves on how things looks from a Muslim point of view." Um, no. How 'bout "But, in the minefield in which western and Islamic cultures meet, each of us have a responsibility to educate ourselves on how things looks from anothers point of view." I might buy that, but I'm not hearing any Muslims saying that. Respect is a two-way street, but Muslims seem to only want things to go their way. Dangerous oversimplifiation? Certainly, and I'm willing to change it if given evidence to the contrary. I challenge anyone to show it.

Excellent article. As a Muslim, it feels good to know others can understand our point of view.

And to respond to Michael's comment above, many Muslims are Westerners too, born and raised. We *do* see things from both perspectives. If you haven't seen anybody from amongst the Muslims who want peace, then see me and know that every single Muslim that I know (and I know alotta Muslims both here and abroad) yearns for peace. We dream of a world where everybody has the right to worship their Lord without persecution or fear. And Michael, the only reason the author chose to explicitly state the responsibility of the West to understand the perspective of the Muslim is because he is staying on topic...he's addressing Islamophobia here. He did inquire each of our communities to take a look in the mirror, and it was a point well-made and well-taken. If you haven't seen any Muslims trying to reach out to the Western world, then you may not be taking a very serious look, or you would have found me and many people like me willing to bridge any divides that might exist...

Michael wrote:

"More interestingly, we heard many bitterly complaining that Jesus or Jews or take your pick would "never" be portraited as such...er, obviously they haven't been paying much attention to the media. Also interesting is the contrast; a crucifix is dunked in human urine and passed off as "art," and while there was outrage from the Christian community there wasn't the threats of violence like was seen from the Muslim community with the cartoons..."

Christopher Responds:

Michael, you might have a valid point about these issues, except you're acting like these incidents take place in some sort of vacuum. They do not.
Non-Muslim armies are being stationed in Muslim lands and have been for decades. Trade sanctions against some and massive subsidies for other authoritarian regimes during the Cold War have been stoked the populations of many countries, and this doesn't even include the Israel/Palestine issue. For many in the Muslim world, these incidents are seen as just the most egregious incidents in a larger pattern of aggressive cultural and military imperialism. Rightly or wrongly, this is the context many understand these events in. One cannot compare Christian reactions to Andres Serrano's "Piss Christ" and the caricature of the Prophet, simply because the Christian community, by and large, has not had the same bitter, hostile, and at times mutually aggressive (like Operation Ajax) relationship with Western governments and policies in the 20th and 21st centuries. Nor is there incentive for the U.S. government to see anti-Serrano protests in the streets, while there is significant political advantage for Muslim governments to use the caricature issue to politically solidify their populations.

When you analyze events taking place and how they are perceived, you must take into account historical and political context, or you will miss everything important.

Hello Brethren(s) Vallely, Sistar(s), et al;

Greetings From Brookly, N.Y. The Most Culturally Assimilated City On Earth. Of Course it has its share of Violence but, All 1st, 2nd & especially 3rd Generation Folk and Beyond, Regardless If Islamic, Sunni, Shiat, Sulfi Muslums/Muslems/Mosloms et al, all eventually Assimilate in their respective Nations!

Note: You Wrote:

"... in the minefield in which western and Islamic cultures meet, the rest of us have a responsibility to educate ourselves on how things looks from a Muslim point of view. Instead of insisting they answer our questions, we must answer theirs..." [Similar said].

Guess What Paul? You Hit It Right On The Head. This is the Key to meeting All Community's half way, like an invisible "Olive Branch" and knowing the Basic tenents of "THE-MESSAGE" not so mucxh the Messenger(s)! So show respect for their Community's diverse faith-Based-System(s), if any. The Key is knowing Oneself & the Creator, by any other Name. .

Note: You should Know What the Super Jewish Orthrodox Boys & Girls go through Also. And You would Be Shocked to know the Rebeliousness Therein and Thereof , between , secular attraction, staying home under Subjugation or Running Away, or getting Excommunicated and Disowened for thinking Openly & thus Questioning their IndoctrinationS..

I'm Tired, but I'll get to that "Hassidic" Story of their Lives in a jewish Fundamentalist Conservative religious World Soon. Meantime. Vert Cppl headed & good Obverse Squaring IT! The Crux of the Matter That Is. Beautiful! Ya Ya.

“We dream of a world where everybody has the right to worship their Lord…” – ibnmasood

What an obscene lie! The penalty for apostasy if death. If a Muslim wishes to worship as a Christian, Jew, Hindu, or Zoroastrian, they risk death. Why are Christian missionaries afraid for their lives in Islamic nations? Why are churches not allowed in Saudi Arabia (and many other Islamic nations)? Christiano-phobia is orders of magnitudes greater than any so-called Islamophobia. And the hatred of Jews in Muslim countries (from Pew Center polls) is greater than the anti-Semitism in 1939 Germany.

Let’s remember that Christian and Jews – “people of the book” -- are spared their lives is they submit to Islamic law as Dhimmi. These are harsh “Jim Crow” laws for the oppressed. Polytheists and atheists can not be tolerated. They must convert or be killed. Notice that Ibnmasood’s statement leaves out atheists. As an atheist I find this statement offensive. Islam requires my death. Put yourself in my shoes when you hear someone saying they are a Muslim. To my ear this is like telling a Jew that you’re a Nazi. Someone who says they are a Muslim is admitting to believe in a religion that requires my death even if they don't fully accept that part.

Don't fall for the Islamic propaganda (taqiyya). Read the truth. Read Serge Trikovic, ibn Warraq, and Bat Ye'or.

One of the funniest things I've ever seen in the press was the Muslim reaction to the Danish cartoons about Muhammed. The ENTIRE POINT of those cartoons was to question Islam's propensity for violance. And the response from the Muslim world? Hmm...give me a moment here to remember...oh right, more violence!

And of course I don't really mean it was the "funniest" so much as the most wildly hypocritical. It instantly proved the point of the cartoons as well as finally revealing to the world that the vast majority of Muslims follow their "religion of peace" only so long as you don't say, do, think, imply, suggest, or even remotely appear to be hindering them in any way, at which point they will immediately kill you.

Anti-semitism is hatred of the Jews because they supposedly have "big noses" or "hoard money" or run some ridiculously theorized world conspiracy. It's ludicrous and routinely based on constantly debunked garbage like the "Elders of Zion" protocols. It is usually used to scapegoat and demonize Jews to distract people from the ills of their own society and governments.

So-called "Islamaphobia" is a completely different animal. Nobody is picking on Muslims because of some physical trait. Nor are they being scapegoated for ills in societies for which they have no basis. In contrast to anti-semitism, more and more people dislike Muslims not because of who they are but WHAT THEY DO. If you want to stop hearing supposedly "islamaphobic" news reports then stop blowing people up! Stop blaming Western countries for your own problems! Stop claiming everyone is picking on poor, weak little Islam when it is Islam that conquered much of the historically Christian Middle East! And if you are one of the allegedly "moderate" Muslims (I think I saw one of these riding a unicorn a few days ago) then stop your fellows from blowing everyone up!

Anti-Semitism is a baseless form of racial scapegoating used by despots and fascists the world over as a means of social control. Islamophobia is not "bigotry" or "hate speech" - it is the natural reaction to truthful, real-time news reports around the globe of the wanton violence predicated by Muslims against anyone of any other faith. I mean, you have to work awful hard to pick a fight with Thai Buddhists, among the most friendly and peaceful people on earth, but somehow Muslims found a way. The simple fact of the matter is that if I wrote this comment about almost any other religion it would offend people, but they would debate it with me like civilized people. Most Muslims would probably stand around with cell phone cameras while a few particularly aggressive fellows stoned me to death. That's the difference.

Islamophobia will be overcome when islamofascism is overcome..

CHURCHES IN SAUDI ARABIA:

First of all there is no christian Citizen in Saudi Arabia, secondly before coming to the Saudi Arabia from other countries they had to give undertaking to obey the rule and regulations of the land. Secondly, Islam is the only religion which teaches 2+2=4, all other teaches 2+2=3, 2+2=5. All other teaching is falshood, in view of this muslims never allows any other religion to practice and worship. All other religion comes under the category of KAFIR, it is quite natural that all Kafir make a GANG against muslim.

ibnmasood said, "If you haven't seen any Muslims trying to reach out to the Western world, then you may not be taking a very serious look, or you would have found me and many people like me willing to bridge any divides that might exist..."

Actually, you're making my point for me here. Not just me, but most people aren't many finding Muslims that are willing to bridge any divide, even part way. Just take a look at the above post by American to see what we're hearing. As for reaching out myself, I've looked; I have found very few who wanted to "bridge divides," but usually were passive about it--they simply wished to live and let live, and bridging that divide was quite easy. Those individuals were all from western cultures as well, usually second or third generation at that. I never found that to be the case when I lived in Saudi Arabia, there simply was no half-way or even part way about it. Were I even to speak of my religion, the best I could hope for was arrest and deportation. In fact, I was actively encouraged to abandon my religion and convert. If I didn't convert, well, I simply would be killed when the Jihad came, and some even noted that would be sad as they had come to like me but that simply was the way it would be.

Oh, and just for the record, most other religions also teach that "2+2=4," so Islam doesn't have a monopoly on that truth. It is interesting to see where some are asking for tolerance and understanding, along come others who simply re-state again that "All other teaching is falshood, in view of this muslims never allows any other religion to practice and worship." You guys really wonder why it seems that the rest of the world seems a bit cautious of Muslims?

Well said! It's a pleasure to read not narrow minded people. Unhappily islamophobia is getting more place, and we can find exemples in this site.

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