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Dinesh D'Souza, who has come in for almost as much flogging here at Jihad Watch as he gives his books at his blog, is a very happy man these days. Flogging his latest book, he's in full Von Hugel mode, debating atheists left and right, and noting their grateful admiration for his efforts at his blog. In "God and Man at Harvard" from May 7, he marvels at his own prowess, so formidable that leaves his opponents muttering his praises:
I'm not sure why atheists praise me so much. [...]Then Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great, complimented me on the occasion of our first New York debate, saying I was a formidable debate opponent on any topic. [...]
The latest addition to my atheist fan club is Dan Barker, head of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. [...] Recently I debated Barker at Harvard University, after which Barker wrote me to say that of the hundreds of opponents he has faced over the years, "you are clearly one of the best debaters I have encountered." [...]
So the best these atheists can do is to call me arrogant. But even the atheists I debate seem to think that this arrogance is justified. In reality, as people like Shermer and Hitchens who know me will testify, I'm not arrogant. [...]
Is there any doubt why Sam Harris seems to have changed his mind about debating me, and why Richard Dawkins is still hiding under his desk? How come these "brights" seem to have fled into the cover of darkness? Do any of the atheist organizations offer an annual Wimp award?
Arrogant? Not on your life! But satisfied? Certainly. Yet before Dinesh leaves this old world with a satisfied mind, I'd like to issue him another challenge to debate.
Now, to be sure, Dinesh and I have debated before, at CPAC in 2007, and on several radio shows, on whether Islam was a religion of peace and related topics. But none of these have been the extended-format, well-organized events he has been putting on around the country with the atheists. The radio shows were generally local affairs, and the CPAC debate was maddeningly brief and marred by a moderator, Suhail Khan, who was so openly biased and hostile to me as to make the debate practically two against one.
Now, I am quite happy with how the CPAC debate and all of our encounters turned out -- and I do not share the atheists' awe at Dinesh's skills as a debater. But I do think it would be illuminating and enlightening to a great many people if he and I mixed it up one more time, this time in a more formal debate setting that allows us both the time to explain our positions, and examine each other's, at length and in depth.
So how about it, Dinesh? Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins may be hiding, but I'm not. After all, you have a book to flog on this issue too, and no less a luminary than John Esposito to lean on.
What do you say, Hoss? Let's go!
Posted by Robert at May 9, 2008 6:38 PM
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I'm not sure why atheists praise me so much. [...]
Then Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great, complimented me on the occasion of our first New York debate, saying I was a formidable debate opponent on any topic. [...]
The latest addition to my atheist fan club is Dan Barker, head of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. [...] Recently I debated Barker at Harvard University, after which Barker wrote me to say that of the hundreds of opponents he has faced over the years, "you are clearly one of the best debaters I have encountered." [...]
So the best these atheists can do is to call me arrogant. But even the atheists I debate seem to think that this arrogance is justified. In reality, as people like Shermer and Hitchens who know me will testify, I'm not arrogant. [...]
Is there any doubt why Sam Harris seems to have changed his mind about debating me, and why Richard Dawkins is still hiding under his desk? How come these "brights" seem to have fled into the cover of darkness? Do any of the atheist organizations offer an annual Wimp award?"
-- RS quoting Dinesh D'Souza on Dinesh D'Souza
And for still more examples of the self-effacing Dinesh D'Souza, to find out still more what Dinesh D'Souza really thinks of Dinesh D'Souza, do visit Dinesh D'Souza's website at www.dineshdsouza.com.
It will not disappoint.
Posted by: Hugh![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 9, 2008 7:01 PM
Hugh you seem to want to inflict pain on us when visiting the site of this Dinesh wimp. You can undersand why Dinesh does not want to openly debate Robert on any forum that would let others to see how utterly ridiculous he really is!
Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at May 9, 2008 7:22 PM
Damn him with faint praise, Robert.
Posted by: John C at May 9, 2008 7:31 PM
I would say Sam Harris gets it
Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks.....
This is easily one of the best article I've ever read on the subject of Islam and the West, I can't recommend it highly enough. And it's on Huffington Post of all places. It's rather long so I'll just link it. I will also make a not so bold prediction, this article will be linked to death in the blogosphere by tomorrow morning (I hate the word "blogosphere" by the way, this is the first time I've used it, but only out of necessity).....
Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks- by Sam Harris (Huff Po)
http://www.weaselzippers.net/blog/2008/05/losing-our-spin.html#comments
Posted by: Elric66 at May 9, 2008 7:32 PM
Elric66:
Read Dhimmi Watch!
Harris's article was posted several days ago:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/020897.php
Cordially
Robert Spencer
at May 9, 2008 7:46 PM
"Ladieees and gentlllmen; tonight, for your entertainment a match like no other you will see this year: In this corner, weighing in as a heavyweight pretender with a record of four wins, two by forfeit; Dinesh "Da Loooza" D'Sousa!
And in this corner, weighing in at none of your business, with a record of countless wins, the man his opponents cannot lay a glove on, the true Heavyweight Champion of the Anti-Jihad World...Righteous Roooobert Spenseeeer!"
This is a match I would dearly love to see.
Hurt him Robert. Hurt him bad.
Posted by: USBeast
at May 9, 2008 8:35 PM
Hi Robert:
Your old friend Ali Eteraz did his same old song & dance routine around the issues. Have you seen it?
" Islam isn’t Islamism" Ali Eteraz mental acrobatics.
Remember "I could have masturbated in that time.."
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ali_eteraz/2008/05/islam_isnt_islamism.html
at May 9, 2008 8:36 PM
Dinesh D'Souza is a classic example of what happens when someone who is religious does not even consider the possibility that a religion could eventually come along, in the course of mankind's history, which was not intrinsically good or at least innocuous. It did. It's called Islam. He doesn't get it and he's stuck in a metaphorical bog of his own creation, as are far too many non-Muslim religious folk who are intent upon labyrinthine exculpations of the world's only truly troubling faith. Wake up, Dinesh.
Posted by: Wellington at May 9, 2008 9:20 PM
Was kann das Dinesh D. dafür, daß er so schön ist?
is the official theme-song of the Dinesh D'Souza website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EihQHmFcdQ&feature=related
at May 9, 2008 9:24 PM
Hugh what struck me when viewing the youtube you selected for representing Dinesh D. dafur, what the faces of those smiling people,just less than a decade before the slaughter of millions at the hands of Hitler and his Nazis. Can we compare those carefree faces before the slaughter to the likes of Dinesh and his ilk?
Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at May 9, 2008 9:47 PM
"Then Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great, complimented me on the occasion of our first New York debate, saying I was a formidable debate opponent on any topic"
Hitchens must have been drunk when he said this. If not this one statement alone should preclude him from the debaters HOF.
Posted by: greatcometof1577 at May 9, 2008 9:48 PM
"I'm not sure why atheists praise me so much." by D'Souza
If I was fighting for the Atheist cause I would want D'Souza as my opponent as well. Be careful who praises you…fatting frogs for snakes…
at May 9, 2008 9:52 PM
"I'm not sure why atheists praise me so much."
Aw, shucks, Dinesh. It's because you're as close to God as they'll probably ever get, in this life, anyway.
Posted by: Lex at May 9, 2008 9:53 PM
"Then Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great, complimented me on the occasion of our first New York debate, saying I was a formidable debate opponent on any topic"
Maybe he was just being sarcastic.
A formidable opponent, but not a winner.
Posted by: duh_swami at May 9, 2008 10:06 PM
"D'Souza has been weighed and found wanting."
--Hugh Fitzgerald--
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/015544.php
Posted by: awake at May 9, 2008 10:16 PM
Didn't we have a contest about a year or so ago to give Dinesh a nickname? I couldn't find the old thread, but if I remember correctly, it was hilarious.
Posted by: RecoveringHog at May 9, 2008 10:58 PM
RecoveringHog,
The "dilettante of dhimmitude", by JW reader BrettMcS won. Link below.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/016665.php
Regards.
Posted by: awake at May 9, 2008 11:02 PM
I was right...he was drunk as a skunk...
http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2008/05/02/islam-christianty-and-modern-terrorism/
"and later Hitchens told me that I am one of the most formidable debaters that he has ever faced. I predict this debate will generate huge interest when it is posted on the web. After the debate Hitchens joined my wife and me at the bar where we downed two bottles of Pinot Noir and solved many of the world's problems."
It is the second time D'Souza has said that Hitchens praised him. Did Spencer get two bottles of Pinot Noir after the debate a CPAC? What does Suhail Khan think about this...
Immoral behavior! D'Souza! We need to get rid of such behavior so the traditional muslims will like us...
at May 9, 2008 11:19 PM
One mistake above...I should say "MR. Spencer" or "Sir Robert Spencer"...whatever
I wonder what Hitchens really said...someone should e-mail him....D'Souza has a bad habit of "playing loose with the facts".
Posted by: greatcometof1577
at May 9, 2008 11:22 PM
Dinesh D'Souza claims that terrorism carried out by Muslims has nothing to do with Islam, and has more to do with American pop culture, homosexuals, that 9/11 was caused by leftists working in tandem with bin Laden, etc. These sorts of claims will, not surpisingly, get him on television and sell books.
I think Dinesh D'Souza is making too much of these nice-seeming comments from a few atheists. By complimenting him that he is a good debater they are basically saying he can put on a show; they certainly aren't agreeing with the substance of his wild claims.
Posted by: Kinana of Khaybar at May 9, 2008 11:55 PM
awake, I still like "Lawrence of Taqiyya," LOL!
Dinesh contributed "A voice of reason among the Islamophobes." You have to pity someone so deluded.
Posted by: darcy at May 9, 2008 11:56 PM
Dinesh, why don't you debate Hirsi Ali?
Posted by: Kinana of Khaybar at May 10, 2008 12:00 AM
I can't see the point of these debates other than a nice little earner for very little work. These debates are much like spelling bees. Souza is a prick, can't we just leave it at that ?
Posted by: TooBad at May 10, 2008 12:10 AM
Introducing in the red corner; the smarmy, smug, smirking, lightweight, (mass)debator...
D'Lousa the Loser
at May 10, 2008 12:42 AM
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at May 9, 2008 8:36 PM
Ali Eteraz cut me off in his blog attempt to go after McCain for Parsley's remarks on Islam. A lengthy post of mine last night got by him, but he responded by making crude remarks about Thomas Jefferson. He wouldn't accept my brief reply this morning, which included a link to the official Jefferson site and info on Sally Heming, as well as another link to a video on Islam and slavery. Instead, he put through a post by a Muslim female who ended her post with a Dean scream.
"YEEEHAW
YEEEEHAW
YEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAW!!!!!!!!!"
He is not worth anyone's time.
Posted by: Connie at May 10, 2008 10:05 PM
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