Letters to the Editor
Majorajam
Published Letters: 304 Editor's Choice: 12
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Anti-Muslim rhetoric is counterproductive, not to mention a dead-end
[Read the article: Jamie Kirchick's fantasies of the grave Muslim threat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Glenn,
Your point is well taken and well substantiated. I furthermore think that, while Muslim-baiting is not a new phenomenon, it continues to gain momentum and play a larger and larger role mainstream political ideology and policy. Only recently I had as a response to a post on another blog arguing that the helicopter on the embassy roof moment in Iraq is inevitable that I should be prepared to put my wife in a burka and take my daughters out of school. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't detect any sarcasm. So, this is not going away and left unchecked will only become more diabolical.
I do think though that it would behoove you to develop this line of argument by incorporating more than an assessment of its plausibility. For instance, it would appear that we are, at least notionally, trying to win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world- to convince them that America is not their persecutor, is not at war with Islam, and that advocating violent terrorism against her citizenry or interests is not legitimate jihad, i.e. justifiable or honorable armed struggle, but rather murder. That message is directly contradicted by what any Muslim with an internet connection could easily deduce, i.e. read or have translated, is the pervasive view of one of two major political parties in this country. Is it not obvious that this cuts the legs out from under any moderate in the community trying to make such an argument- that it ultimately makes us less safe?
More topically, we are less-notionally trying to win the hearts and minds of the Muslims that are Iraqi, and Jerry Falwell 'Muhammad is a terrorist' type rhetoric hugely undermines that effort. Should we really be surprised that Iraqis have zero confidence or trust in Americans- or, more to the point, consider us a mortal enemy- when, in addition to coveting their oil ministry and providing fraudulent pretexts for invasion the political rhetoric of the Commander in Chief's own party amounts to 'Muslims are Evil murderous what-have-yous', i.e. threats that need to be taken care of? The capacity for cognitive dissonance amongst these types borders on telekinesis.
Of course the best reason why we cannot afford to entertain such rhetoric does not regard its plausibility, effect on diplomacy, logical merit or lack thereof, but rather its implication. If Muslims really are a 'special case' of human beings, i.e. impossible to reason or negotiate with, impossible to trust, particularly given to intolerance and violence- assuming all of that can be demonstrated by anecdote and grainy video, then what are we to do? We can't possibly sit back and allow them to kill us right? We have to defend ourselves, don't we...? Speaking of, Golden Boy, if you'd like to discuss paradoxes, I suggest you start there.
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Mr. Rosendall
[Read the article: Jamie Kirchick's fantasies of the grave Muslim threat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I would also describe myself as unapologetically and stridently critical of radical Islam, and critical of the flaws in Islamic culture that has allowed it to flourish. That doesn't mean I feel these views have a place in a critique of the ultra-xenophobic, anti-intellectual and ignorant anti-Muslim right wing whose flourishing points to flaws in our own culture, (or that not including them implies refuting them). Why would that not be so?
It bears noting that the latter of these is both highly topical and important while the former is academic. Malcolm X used to say there was nothing that White America could do for Black America, that Black America was the only salvation for Black America and that White America was only capable of helping itself by eliminating the scourge of racism from its own ranks, for its own ends, (i.e. to ease the debauching effect of racism as it permeates society). In this context, that means we cannot help the Islamic world with its problems, but we can help ourselves. By doing so, which necessitates such expression as GG's post, we will be doing the only thing it is in our power to do to help the Islamic world address its own problems.
Golden Boy and his ilk want to intern Muslims and throw away the key while we pursue invasions and bombings of Muslim countries so as to preempt them imposing Sharia law on the United States by committing heretofore unprecedented homegrown perpetrated terrorism. In this context, you may want to weigh whether Glenn should make a greater effort to speak to flaws in the Muslim world, or not.
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Anonymous
[Read the article: Jamie Kirchick's fantasies of the grave Muslim threat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Your tedious snark precedes you. If you indeed revel in the cloak of anonymity, as you claim, you should really mix it up now and again with a point, or hell, even throw in a few facts. Otherwise people are going to know it's you after the first perfunctory zinger and move on.