Here is yet more evidence of the fact that our nation’s universities are no longer interested in free inquiry and training students to be independent thinkers, but are instead pestholes of Leftist indoctrination and propaganda. That a university professor would be trafficking in the trumped-up neologism “Islamophobia,” a term contrived in order to intimidate people into conflating resistance to jihad terror with “hatred” and “bigotry,” is bad enough. But note also the total one-sidedness of the event: neither the Saudi-funded Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding nor Daniel Varisco would ever dream of actually engaging me in discussion or debate (although I would be happy to do so) or give their hapless students any genuine understanding of what Jihad Watch and my books are all about. The students get no opportunity to evaluate my work for themselves and come to their own conclusions about whether I am defending human rights or spreading “hate” — the deck is stacked in advance.
“Daniel Varisco will offer his suggestions on ways to counteract the cyber ‘khutzpa’ of Islamophobia.” If the illustrious professor really wants to end “Islamophobia,” here is an easy way he can accomplish it. He can call upon Muslim individuals and groups to:
1. Focus their indignation on Muslims committing violent acts in the name of Islam, not on non-Muslims reporting on those acts.
2. Renounce definitively, sincerely, honestly, and in deeds, not just in comforting words, not just “terrorism,” but any intention to replace Western constitutions (or the constitutions of any non-Muslim state) with Sharia even by peaceful means. In line with this, clarify what is meant by their condemnations of the killing of innocent people by stating unequivocally that non-Muslim civilians, including Israelis, are innocent people, teaching accordingly in mosques and Islamic schools, and behaving in accord with these new teachings.
3. Teach, again sincerely and honestly, in transparent and verifiable ways in mosques and Islamic schools, the imperative of Muslims coexisting peacefully as equals with non-Muslims on an indefinite basis, and act accordingly.
4. Begin comprehensive international programs in mosques all over the world to teach sincerely against the understandings of Islam that give rise to violent jihad and Islamic supremacism, offering honest reinterpretations of the texts from the Qur’an and Hadith that jihadists use to justify that violence and supremacism, rejecting firmly, clearly, definitively and absolutely the literal meaning of those texts. This must also be accompanied by a rejection of all the teachings of Islamic jurisprudence calling for warfare against unbelievers for the purpose of subjugating them under Sharia rule. Readily share this course material with law enforcement officials and other interested parties.
5. Actively and honestly work with Western law enforcement officials to identify and apprehend jihadists within Western Muslim communities.
6. Reject, and teach and work against, the aspects of Sharia that are at variance with accepted principles of human rights: the death penalty for apostasy, the death penalty for blasphemy and heresy, the stoning of adulterers, the amputation of thieves’ hands, the denial of women’s right to testify and their equal inheritance rights, the divine sanction of the beating of women, the denial of basic rights to women and non-Muslims, etc.
If Muslims did these six things, voila! “Islamophobia” would vanish, and no events like this one would be necessary. But if you’re going to be in the Georgetown area on February 26, do drop by and ask them when their seminar on countering Islamic jihad terrorism is going to be. I’d be glad to come myself, but am not going to drop in unannounced; however, if Daniel Varisco would like to have a genuine discussion or debate, rather than simply demonize me and spread Islamic supremacist propaganda, I am available.
“‘Khutba vs. Khutzpa: Islamophobia on the Internet’ with Daniel Varisco,” from EventBrite, n.d. (thanks to Steve):
invites you to a briefing:“Khutba vs. Khutzpa:Islamophobia on the Internet”featuringDaniel Varisco
Professor of Anthropology
Hofstra University
Wednesday, February 26, 201412:30 pm – ICC 270
Cyberspace is a potent breeding ground for Islamophobia, giving voice to extremists and a range of negative representation of Islam and Muslims. The Norwegian terrorist Anders Breivik posted his anti-Islamic manifesto on the Internet, including a Youtube video. Numerous websites are devoted to attacking Islam, at times claiming only to be against “extremist” Islam, such as “Jihad Watch” by Robert Spencer. As an anthropologist who has conducted ethnographic research among Muslims in Yemen, Egypt and Qatar and as a historian of Islamic history, Daniel Varisco will offer his suggestions on ways to counteract the cyber “khutzpa” of Islamophobia. He will discuss the online journal CyberOrient, which he founded in 2006, as an academic forum to assess the role of the Internet and social media in the contemporary world.
Daniel Martin Varisco is Professor of Anthropology at Hofstra University and President of the American Institute for Yemeni Studies. He serves as editor of Contemporary Islam and editor-in-chief of CyberOrient and maintains the academic blog Tabsir (www.tabsir.net). His latest book was Reading Orientalism: Said and the Unsaid (2007).
Seating is limited
Lunch will be providedFor directions and more information, please visit:
http://acmcu.georgetown.edu/about/contact/Have questions about “Khutba vs. Khutzpa: Islamophobia on the Internet ” with Daniel Varisco? Contact SFS Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding