LGF posted this classification of "Islamophobes" from the MPAC-UK forum last week (apparently it originates with our old friend, the venomous and mendacious Umar Lee), and I was not going to comment on it, but since people keep sending it to me, here it is:
Category 1: The Seed PlantersExamples: Steve Emerson, Daniel Pipes, Bernard Lewis
Usual Profession: Academics
Main Motivation: ZionismCategory 2: The Theological Warriors
Examples: Robert Spencer, Craig Winn, Pat Robertson
Usual Profession: Christian preachers
Main Motivation: Religious bigotryCategory 3: The Media Voices
Examples: Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, Fox News, Ann Coulter
Usual Profession: Radio and TV personalities
Main Motivation: MoneyCategory 4: The Fringe
Examples: LGF, Joe Kaufman, Jewish Task Force
Main Motivation: RacismCategory 5: The Politicians
Examples: George W Bush, John McCain, miscellaneous Republican politicians
Usual Profession: Politicians
Main Motivation: Need to court the anti-Islam voteCould a similar system be used to classify British Islamophobes?
This list is stupid in many, many ways. Emerson is not an academic, but a journalist and researcher. I am not a "Christian preacher," and defy anyone to find any Christian preaching on this site. Even my book Religion of Peace? was designed to combat the fashionable moral equivalence that saps the will of Westerners to defend themselves against the jihad -- not to proselytize or to discuss the truth claims of Christianity and Islam.
Just as silly and inaccurate is the inclusion of people like George W. Bush and Sean Hannity on a list of "Islamophobes," as if their only difference from people like Craig Winn and Pat Robertson were motivation.
But the crowning stupidity of this paranoid little Enemies List is its utter unreflectiveness and displacement of responsibility. In this view "Islamophobic" or Islamorealistic people can only possibly be energized by base motives. You don't see "Main Motivation: Muslims Blowing Things Up" anywhere on this list. It never occurs to the originators and propagators of this list, or they are trying very hard to make sure it never occurs to you, that maybe "Islamophobes" are born every time a Muslim shouts "Allahu akbar" and murders someone in the name of Islam. Every time a Muslim in the West declares that Islam will soon dominate and subjugate non-Muslims, another Islamorealistic person opens his eyes.
But go on thinking it's all about Zionism and religious bigotry and money and vote-getting, guys, if that makes you feel better. Just be aware that as long as you do, and as long as you continue to refuse to clean house and separate yourselves from the Islamic jihadists and Islamic supremacists you profess to abhor, you will just be creating more and more "Islamophobes."
And that, of course, may be just the game, because victim status, as our own CAIR well knows, can be very, very useful.
The dogs bark, but the caravan passes.
The marginally-educated Umar Lee posts baseless topics like this every so often. These lists are just statements, devoid of any supporting evidence.
It almost seems like he was willfully trying to recall every conservative name (who has ever had a critical comment on Islam) he could and then haphazardly tried to categorize them.
Even though there is no validity to the statement, Robert, you must admit that being labeled a "theological warrior" does sound kinda' cool, in a superhero sort of way.
It reminds me of the comments in the Qur'an which say that infidels reject the truth of Islam only out of evil or base motives, even though their souls know it is true.
Victims. Eternal, whining babies.
You're so right, Robert.
No matter what I read on jihad, when islamothugs are quoted, their words are full of pissy lies and distortions designed to make the fools of this world wring their hands in despair for the "injustice" suffered by the ummah.
Bullshit.
Don't they know you're "Freakin' Batman"?
Has anyone ever accused Umar of being intelligent?
How about-
Main Motivation: A Kuffir who read the Koran
I see a more sinister motivation in this finger pointing: Its meant to incite those not so moderate Muslims to do a little jihad against those named. Its actually quite vile and hateful what they're doing...
I"m going to asterisk 'theological warrior'above the name of RS on my "Robert Spencer Loves Me" T-shirt
JeffS - I think you've nailed it.
Beautifully written...because it's so true!!!
I love your term "Islamorealistic!" The term "phobia" is used today against anyone who doesn't agree with the left. When you recognize something is wrong or stupid, it is usually from historic realities, as you imply with your term above...YES!!! Keep it up!