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- Energy development imperils habitat
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- Preventing a nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S.
- Closures identified: critical next steps for DPS
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- More energy needed from North America
The ‘Islamofascist’ lie
This Speakout has not been edited.
By
"Islamofascism,
Fascism, an authoritarian ideology that places nation (and often race) above the individual, is characterized by the presence of a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. These criteria are not met by any Islamist movement (or Arab government, for that matter). Even al-Qaida doesn’t resemble what we think of as a fascist movement (e.g., Franco’s Spain or Mussolini’s Italy); it lacks the nationalist and racial dimension, and its targets are for the most part the nationals of countries that are attacking Arab or Muslim countries — not quite the same thing as forcibly suppressing (domestic) opposition.
In fact, referring to Islam as a single entity is inaccurate. It is a religion believed in by hundreds of millions of people around the planet, and it is broad enough to encompass hundreds of currents and points of view. A monolithic Islam or Muslim point of view does not exist.
Not surprisingly, the most incessant warnings of potential Islamofascists lurking around every corner tend to come from neoconservatives who are staunch supporters of Israel and who advocate wars against Arab and Muslim countries in part to advance what they refer to as Israel’s security.
The list of proponents (by no means exhaustive) includes David Horowitz, founder of Students for Academic Freedom (a group that monitors the political leanings of academics and claims that professors treat conservative students unfairly) and editor of the conservative pro-Israel Web site FrontPage Magazine; neoconservative Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the think tank Center for Security Policy; one-time CIA Director James Woolsey, who is a member of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) Board of Advisors and has called for the bombing of Syria; defeated Senator Rick Santorum, who now as program director of the Ethics and Public Policy Center promotes the theme that America is slumbering while “Islamic fascism” gathers steam; Eliot Cohen, a neoconservative advisor to US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice who began advocating war against Iraq soon after the 9-11 attacks despite the lack of a connection between that country and the attack; and columnist Clifford May, who warns of “jihadists” and “Muslim supremacists” on the warpath.
Pro-Israel advocates lead the vilification campaign against Islam and Arabs — as a people, a civilization, and a culture. They would have us believe that Muslims around the world pose a threat to the United States and that their ultimate goal is to impose Islamic law on the western world — a gutsy line of attack to take at a time when Muslims are being killed in record numbers in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
And now these same feverish minds have formalized their obsessions and taken them to college campuses around the country. The vilification campaign, labeled Islamofascism Awareness Week (22 -26 October) and spearheaded by Horowitz, includes on its roster of speakers well-known vilifiers of Arabs and Islam. In addition to Horowitz and Santorum, there is Daniel Pipes, founder of Campus Watch (another watchdog group that has dossiers on faculty who are the least bit critical of Israel and its policies) and a virulent attacker not only of what he chooses to define as “radical Islam” but also of American Muslims, whose affluence, stature, and enfranchisement he views as threatening. Pipes is leading the attack against an Arabic language bilingual school in Brooklyn on the grounds that teaching Arabic leads to teaching Islam and pan-Arabism, which are dangerous to US students.
Another “expert” speaker is Robert Spencer, director of Jihad Watch (a program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center) and author of several Islam-bashing books.
The threat to the US does not come from Islam or from Muslims but rather from increasingly criminal US policies, advanced by the war hawks in government, think tanks, and in the media. Our lawless, unprovoked pummeling of Iraq appalls the world: 100,000 Iraqis killed in the first Gulf war, 1 million through the medieval-type sanctions that the US engineered, and about 1,083,000 Iraqis since the 2003 invasion (antiwar.com estimate). The same cheerleaders of the Iraq war are urging a US attack on Iran (an item high on Israel’s agenda). A campaign has been underway to demonize Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, and sanctions are being threatened. The pattern is sickeningly familiar.
When a religion is vilified, those who believe in it can be disposed of without creating a domestic uproar.
That seems to be the real purpose for using the Islamofascist label. We must reject the bogus excuses given by the US government to wage perpetual war on third-world nations for the sole purpose of securing US and Israeli hegemony over the region.
I guess the cat got Sheila's tongue.
That usually happens to people who don't have a clue of what they're talking about.
' Nuff said.
Posted by Republican Guy on November 5, 2007 12:14 PMDo not believe the infidels. Islam is truly the "religion of peace."
DEATH TO AMERICA!
Posted by Abdul on October 30, 2007 10:00 PMExcellent letter, Ida. It takes a great deal of courage to write as you have knowing those who responded would attack you personally for your opinion and your beliefs. This is what America has come to. How sad. I'm a Christian, and have done my homework, too. Frankly, you're right on the money with what I have found.
Somewhere I read a quote attributed to Ghandi: "I like your Christ, but I don't much like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."
Peace to all.
Posted by Freedom of Speech on October 30, 2007 05:15 PMHey that Islam thing sure looks fun.
How do I sign up? Then I can treat my wife like property and murder someone if they dishonor me.
What impresses me is how happy and joyful most Muslims are all the time. And islamic comedy is second to none!
What a deal!
Posted by truthy on October 30, 2007 06:51 AMShela,
Show me where I was wrong, and I'll buy you a beer.
Do a simple Google search, and you'll find that the Koran has between 111 and 168 "Jihad verses," depending on who's counting.
Here's a link that backs me up:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=jihad+verses&btnG=Google+Search
I learned all about Islam when I served in Iraq in 1991, 2004, and 2005. I also lived in Ankara, Turkey for a year in 1995 and 1996.
Additionally, I studied Islam in a Living Religions course at Park University in 1994.
Now tell me where you get YOUR information?
REPUBLICAN GUY: I have, in fact, read the Koran. Would you care to debate the issue you so erroneously mentioned in your post?
IDA: I support Isreal. I also support Muslim ideology (though, I remain an athiest.) To say that supporters of Israel vilify Islam and Arabs is false.
If people would only stop thinking 'party-line' and start, well, THINKING... changes can be made.
KISSES!!!
Posted by Sheila on October 27, 2007 10:26 AMREPUBLICAN GUY: I have, in fact, read the Koran. Would you care to debate the issue you so erroneously mentioned in your post?
IDA: I support Isreal. I also support Muslim ideology (though, I remain an athiest.) To say that supporters of Israel vilify Islam and Arabs is false.
If people would only stop thinking 'party-line' and start, well, THINKING... changes can be made.
KISSES!!!
Posted by Sheila on October 27, 2007 10:19 AMREPUBLICAN GUY: I have, in fact, read the Koran. Would you care to debate the issue you so erroneously mentioned in your post?
IDA: I support Isreal. I also support Muslim ideology (though, I remain an athiest.) To say that supporters of Israel vilify Islam and Arabs is false.
If people would only stop thinking 'party-line' and start, well, THINKING... changes can be made.
KISSES!!!
Posted by Sheila on October 27, 2007 10:18 AMREPUBLICAN GUY: I have, in fact, read the Koran. Would you care to debate the issue you so erroneously mentioned in your post?
IDA: I support Isreal. I also support Muslim ideology (though, I remain an athiest.) To say that supporters of Israel vilify Islam and Arabs is false.
If people would only stop thinking 'party-line' and start, well, THINKING... changes can be made.
KISSES!!!
Posted by Sheila on October 27, 2007 10:18 AMREPUBLICAN GUY: I have, in fact, read the Koran. Would you care to debate the issue you so erroneously mentioned in your post?
IDA: I support Isreal. I also support Muslim ideology (though, I remain an athiest.) To say that supporters of Israel vilify Islam and Arabs is false.
If people would only stop thinking 'party-line' and start, well, THINKING... changes can be made.
KISSES!!!
Posted by Sheila on October 27, 2007 10:18 AMREPUBLICAN GUY: I have, in fact, read the Koran. Would you care to debate the issue you so erroneously mentioned in your post?
IDA: I support Isreal. I also support Muslim ideology (though, I remain an athiest.) To say that supporters of Israel vilify Islam and Arabs is false.
If people would only stop thinking 'party-line' and start, well, THINKING... changes can be made.
KISSES!!!
Posted by Sheila on October 27, 2007 10:14 AMGood point about the 13th Century,Hank....This is the year 1385 of the Muslim calendar,so maybe it's the 14th century,but who's counting.I'm a little hazy on specifics,but I do recall something about leaders during OUR 14th century being long on brutal,decisive ruthlessness and deficient in (tongue firmly in cheek here)empowerment-of-others motivation modality implementation strategies,so maybe every civilization has a Middle Ages and we're just stuck with the Muslim equivalent.Sorta like the neighbors' 14 year old becoming a skinhead.
Oh,and if anyone still hasn't figured out that we're really not at war, the publication of Audeh's letter should be proof enough. I'm pretty sure that if ,for example,Josef Goebbels had submitted an op-ed piece in September 1942 to the Washington Post,it probably wouldn't have seen print.
Now I could be wrong about that so how 'bout we send Truth round to do a little research on whether Axis leaders made submissions during WW2 to print media in Allied nations.
Good point about the 13th Century,Hank....This is the year 1385 of the Muslim calendar,so maybe it's the 14th century,but who's counting.I'm a little hazy on specifics,but I do recall something about leaders during OUR 14th century being long on brutal,decisive ruthlessness and deficient in (tongue firmly in cheek here)empowerment-of-others motivation modality implementation strategies,so maybe every civilization has a Middle Ages and we're just stuck with the Muslim equivalent.Sorta like the neighbors' 14 year old becoming a skinhead.
Oh,and if anyone still hasn't figured out that we're really not at war, the publication of Audeh's letter should be proof enough. I'm pretty sure that if ,for example,Josef Goebbels had submitted an op-ed piece in September 1942 to the Washington Post,it probably wouldn't have seen print.
Now I could be wrong about that so how 'bout we send Truth round to do a little research on whether Axis leaders made submissions during WW2 to print media in Allied nations.
Ida,
Try reading the Koran sometime, and make note of the 168 "Jihad verses" that it contains.
A so-called religion that has that many calls to violence in its holiest text is pretty extreme in my opinion.
How about we all use the word "Islamo-extremist" instead of "Islamo-fascist"?
Now that I've acurately labeled the murderering scumbags, I hope you're happy.
Posted by Republican Guy on October 26, 2007 12:28 PMHey Hank, if the Allies prevailed over Hitler why do we have a Fascist government? After all the Bush family supplied Hitler with steel and money to wage his nazi wars of agression. So little has changed.
Posted by J on October 26, 2007 10:17 AMI'm dangerous? I think you didn't read the letter correctly. What does " J " stand for Jihadist.
This letter writer is anti-American,But sure likes our freedoms,Try that back in her little Muslim world.
This letter is anti-Israel and thinks Ahmedinejad is some kind of hero. Even Though he denies the Halocaust,has said openly that he wants to bomb Israel of the map,kills people who are gay, ( note to gay people ,don't book a vacation in Iran)and is actively trying to create nucleur weapons.
The letter writer is also denying that Muslims whether you want to call them Islamofacsist's or radical or whatever are not causing problems and it's America and Israel and whoever speaks out against this murderous religion killing innocent people.
I guess she forgot about , The Marine Barracks in Beruit,The Embassies around the world,Malaysia,The Phillipines,The U.S.S. Cole,The 1st bombing of the World Trade Center,all the innocent people around the world killed by suicide bombers and car bombs,bombings in Britain,bombings in France,germany,Israel,Lebanon,Afghanistan,India,Iraq,Egypt,9/11,Darfur and the list can go on and on. These murders were carried out in the name of one God , Allah. The only religion that I know of that worships Allah is the muslim religion.
Peace is not preached in the Koran. Murder is it's guide. Peace is only for it's followers and it's murderer's,there is no difference between the two.
Why are there no suicide bomb and car bombs going off in Iran or Syria?
Answer, because they are the countries arming,training and sending people to kill Americans,Israelis,and other targets all over the world.
I speakout against the muslims who are killing thousands and including past murders millions of people worldwide.
The reason Ahmedinejad denies the Halocaust is he and the Muslim world are committing their own.
Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on October 26, 2007 09:29 AMActually, Islamofascist is a slam dunk term for the kind of 6th century, ayatollah master thinking of some of these dudes and dudettes.
Let's see... Authoritarian Ideology that places "race" or nationality... or possibly religion? Check
Dictatorial leaders? yep, check
Social Regimentation? Oh yeah, ever heard of a burkha? Check
Forcible repression? Slam Dunk!
So, fascist certainly seems to fit..... Now, what religion do these 6th century wannabes espouse? Islam.... Hence.. Islamofascist is the absolute perfect term for these Neanderthals.
Are all muslims islamofascists? Nope, just like all Christians are not abortion bombers. But, there is a percentage who are and the word fits like a velvet glove.
Don't forget, the "prof" really is just calling for the silencing of groups he doesn't agree with.... Oh yeah, the normal lib tactic. He calls them villifiers, but his rascist rants against Israel are just sparkling debate..... typical.
Posted by Dravur on October 26, 2007 07:56 AMIran is going down. As soon as we satisify the rest of the sane world that a very painful financial embargo won't work against murderers, butchers and lunatics, its BOMBS AWAY. I'll give it a year, this happens by late-2008! You can put that in the bank!
There is no way that Bush trusts Hillary to do the needed job if she were to win. A nuclear Iran will terrorize the entire planet and their promised genocide will result. Bush might trust Mitt or Rudy to protect and secure the USA, but not her or the Democrats.
OBL has declared war on big satin and little satin, we are only responding to their declaration of war. We have been attacked for over 20 years and will likely be under attack for decades more. Offense is much better than defense (ala Clinton).
Posted by PAK on October 25, 2007 12:53 PMWell presented. I think people like ...Amen are dangerous in America.
Posted by J on October 25, 2007 10:13 AMWell presented. I think people like ...Amen are dangerous in America.
Posted by J on October 25, 2007 10:11 AMThe Muslim religion teaches the killing of infadels,( anyone who doesn't follow the Muslim religion).
We have been attacked over and over by Muslim radicals who think they are going to Allah and be rewarded with a bunch of virgins. Can't they find a virgin in their countries without killing people?
I'll put this in a simple American term for you Ms. Audeh, If it looks like a duck,and quacks like a duck, It's a duck.
Your biased letter is no shocker from a Palestinian terrorists from Boulder.
You should be on the top of the list for deportation.You believe in killing innocent Americans and are trying to take away the freedom of speech of the people and groups you denounce in your propaganda letter.
You probably hung on every word when Ahmedinejad spoke in this country.Now you want to silence the people who speak out against the violence committed my Muslims in the name of your God Allah.
It's people like you who are trying to pull the wool over our eyes and shield the violence like the burkas shield the eyes of oppressed woman in your religion.
I think anyone reading this letter should call Homeland Security to put a watch on this woman who wants to silence the people who know Muslims are killing American's and others in the name of her religion.
People like her are dangerous in America.
Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on October 25, 2007 09:46 AMHow about simply calling them murderers, butchers, terrorists or killers and not worry about what sect of Islam to which they belong?
"The threat to the US does not come from Islam or from Muslims but rather from increasingly criminal US policies, advanced by the war hawks in government, think tanks, and in the media." Really?
This crowd of Muslim killers and butchers has been brutally slaughtering innocent folks all over the planet--including their own-- for centuries. Their borders are marked by the blood of their victims; every islamic state on the planet has blood on its borders. More recently, these butchers have expanded their terror and mayhem to include the USA. They have become so bold as to have their own leaders publicly commit to genocide and destruction.
These are an angry people who know that they are the fabric of a failed and backward civilization; bogged down in the 13th Century without any exit strategy. And this anger forces them to lash out and look for someone to blame for their own failures. The further that their society falls behind the 21st Century, the angrier and the more dangerous they get.
Iran is about to pay a very heavy price for their public commitment to mayhem and murder. But the 21st Century will prevail over the 13th Century just as sure as the Allies prevailed over Hitler.
Posted by Hank on October 25, 2007 09:08 AM
- Obtaining legal documents a burden to Coloradans
- Will Columbus Day protesters become the very monster they deplore?
- Ready to fight right-to-work
- GUEST COLUMN: Rockies tickets, anyone?
- Energy development imperils habitat
- A Civic Center for Denver
- Preventing a nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S.
- Closures identified: critical next steps for DPS