Political Correctness

Sighhh ......................

UW students tout ignorance of Islam: "This brings me to -- drum roll, please -- 'Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week,' celebrated at more than 100 campuses across the country, including the University of Washington. Last week's nationwide event was aimed at fostering awareness of the terror threat posed by a fraction of those in the Islamic faith. Organizers also wanted to blast the 'silence of feminists' over the oppression of women of Islam. Their effort would have been better served by looking at how extremists everywhere, across the spectrum of beliefs, crap up the world. Robert Jamieson, Seattle PI columnist. ."

Image from, Handmaid's Tale, by Margarett Attwood.

Dear Mr. Jamieson,

I doubt you remember me but we met a few years ago at an African-American Jewish coalition meeting. You spoke that night and I remember you as a nice, sincere seeker of peace amongst folks, Good enough,

However, in this case you are the one who shows ignorance. There needs to be a line somewhere between tolerance and uncritical acceptance of behavior because it is dictated by someone's religion.

First, I suspect you and I would agree on the malintent of thegroup at the UW. Sure the Bushistas have exploited Islamic extremism. The UW Republicans are not even the mainstream Young Republican group on camous. They are a splinter group willing to trade some hype for a more visible presence on campus. I hope very much that President Obama or President Clintin will bring back some balance to our lives.

Balance, however, must not mean pretending there is no problem with Islam., The problems are real and can not be easily equated to other contemporaneous religious fundamentalisms.

The problems within Islam are not local to the Iraq mess fostered by our incompetent President. Saudi Arabi is rules by a bizare theocracy cum feudal aristocracy worthy of the worst times of European history. From Nigeria to Indonesia, efforts at Democracy are threatened by the success of organizations similar to Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. These devout folks DO follow the Quran, DO believe in fairness for Muslims, and DO practice sharia .. including the laws that make you a Christian and I a Jew into dhimmi, tolerated people with far less tha equal rights. In that capacity though, we are far better off, my friend, than the Buddhists, Hindus or pagans sentenced, even to death by laws recited 1400 years ago in the name of Gabriel and Allah by the Prophet. The hero of Achebe's "Arrow of God," a nativist priest, could LEGALLY be sentenced t death for blasphemy in Sharia ruoles parts of Nigeria.

Nor is this issue restricted to traditionally Muslim lands. Any true democrat would treasure the French concept of tolerance, but even in France tolerance assumed that immigrants would accept common principles of French law. Not so for the Islamic minority. Nor is our own country free of worry. As recently as four years ago, a study by Freedom House of New York showed wide spread dissemination of extremist literature in American mosques.

Since i suspect you do not remember me, let me tell you I am known for being critical of devout religions in general. Some blog entries that might interest you include my comments on Christianity, the papacy, and so on. However, as unfair as some see me toward Christianity, even I would NEVER equate anything in modern Christianity to the norm of the Muslim world.

Mybe I can make my case by moving the focus to another religious group. What would YOU say if the Mormons:

1, Outlawed possession of a bible or celebration of the Mass or Xmas within Utah?
2. Insisted that Mormon law and Mormon courts rule the loves of all people in Utah As WELL AS in Washington State where M's are minority?
3. Forbade any Mormon to marry outside the Church on pain of death,
4. Required all non Mormons to pay a special tax, required non Mormons to carry ID indicating their status, and prevented any non Mormon church from being as large as the smallest mosque?

Reading what I just wrote, I feel badly. I know the church of LDS does nothing of the sort described here. But parts or all of these 4 rules obtain as law in Nigeria, Indonesia, Pakaistan, Saudi Arabia, .. basically all Muslim ruled states . Moderate Muslims advocate just this sort of law in Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. Official antisemitic propaganda follows close on.

Have Christians been as bad as this? Yes, and there are horrid current examples, but comparing Ann Coulter to the majority of Muslims in Egypt or Iran is just wrong. A

nd my people, the Jews? Frankly how can you equate the half dozen or so orthodox Jews who have done bad deeds to the existence of entire states that preach hatred and even extermination of the Jews. Tolerating such behavior will not end with peace.

If you have time, please do take a look on at blog entries I wrote, some in some anger, about the error of tolerating unacceptable behavior in the name of religion.

Thanks for listening

Seattle Jew