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On the road again
I just arrived back in Secure Undisclosed Locationville in the Jihad Watch Maxwell Roadster, after speaking earlier today at the Young America's Foundation National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C.
This is the fourth year I have had the honor of addressing this Conference, and this year there were none of the fireworks of last year's event, when I was scheduled to speak about CAIR and those estimable moderates and patriots threatened to sue YAF before I had spoken a word, if I were allowed to go on. YAF, to their everlasting credit, was defiant, and I spoke as scheduled, and spoke about CAIR, as scheduled. You can see that one now -- here I am at YAF 2007:
In a year, much has changed, and not much for the better. Now, in certain ways that statement contradicts appearances: people laughed at CAIR's ham-handed attempt at censorship in 2007, and that unsavory little organization was nowhere in sight this year. And when it comes to the problem of Islamic terrorism, more Americans believe that it is not a significant threat than at any time since before 9/11 -- thanks to the surge, and to the absence of any large attack in the U.S. since 9/11.
But amid all this confidence few Americans are aware of the stealth jihad, which was the bulk of what I spoke about at the YAF today. Few are aware that what CAIR tried to do clumsily to me last year, Islamic organizations are doing much more cannily and effectively this year: they have compelled Canadian Human Rights Commissions to go after Mark Steyn for speaking accurately about the Islamic jihad. They have compelled the United Nations Human Rights Council to forbid speaking about Islam in connection with practices sanctioned by Muslims and justified by some Islamic jurists, such as female genital mutilation and honor killing. They are trying to bring pressure upon Western governments to modify existing "hate speech" laws in order to make it impossible for non-Muslims to speak openly about the ideology of those who have vowed to destroy us.
And amid all this, even conservative and self-proclaimed politically incorrect media figures have completely internalized CAIR's highly dubious contention that any honest discussion of the elements of Islam that jihadists use to justify violence and supremacism, and of what can be done about them, is "bigotry" and not to be countenanced. Even when they do deal with issues related to this, they do so in a misleading way: I didn't see it, but several people told me that during Fox's recent show on honor killing O'Reilly couldn't repeat often enough that the practice had nothing to do with Islam. Now, why would anyone care whether he did or not? Because Islamic law actually specifies that a parent who kills his or her child is subject to no penalty, and unless that is confronted, the practice will continue -- simply asserting that it is un-Islamic doesn't accomplish this. Meanwhile, some of freedom's former friends and supporters have gone wobbly, and the venues in which the Islamic assault on free speech and related issues continue to grow scarcer and scarcer.
I am never going to give up, no matter what. And I am sorry to throw cold water on the parade. But our freedom of speech is in grave danger, and once that goes, the agenda of those who have, in their own words, embarked upon a "kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and Allah’s religion is made victorious over all other religions” will be that much more difficult to resist. The CAIR assault on free speech at YAF 2007 was just a stalking horse for a much more sophisticated and comprehensive initiative in the same direction. But will anyone wake up to this before it's too late?
Posted by Robert at August 8, 2008 7:32 PM
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Mr. Spencer,
I agree with you that the undermining of our free speech is more insidious now. In truth, CAIR was actually helping the average American to see Islamic threat. Now, things are too quiet -- much too quiet -- as the West has become more self-muzzling in the futile hope all will be well so long as no offense is given to Moslems. In addition, 9/11 is fading from the memory of many, though certainly not from mine. That day was my wakeup call.
The mainstream media and nearly all of our political leaders are complicit in the complacency and self-censorship, as well as preferring to be blind to the dangers facing us -- the quiet (stealth) jihad.
I get very discouraged. I admit it.
But give up? NO WAY!
Posted by: Always On Watch![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at August 8, 2008 8:07 PM
Looking at the trunk space on the Maxwell, only one word comes to mind:
Subwoofer.
Posted by: MarisolJW at August 8, 2008 8:34 PM
Mr. Spencer: I believe you are a very great American. My esteem for you is unbounded. I have little doubt that you will be recorded as such by history, though this could take decades, even a half century or so. After all, a prophet is rarely received well in his own land.
In the meantime, American liberals reveal themselves as complete idiots and most American conservatives reveal themselves as semi-idiots. It's stunning to see the continued resistance to conclude that a major religion can be bad, full of things contrary to the most basic human inclinations to preserve common sense and treat with others who are different in an honorable fashion rather than subserviently or even lethally.
And yet this is the reality. Islam continues to hide behind its religious veil. Many in the West, who should know better by now, don't see what Islam really intends and those who point this out, none better than you, are the objects of derision and scorn. Stupid world at times. But I believe truth will win out in the end. I have to. What is the alternative? Despair? That's not an option. Besides, history provides innumerable examples of the good guys winning in the end, sometimes against great odds. And I'm a rank sentimentalist as well and so can't imagine evil prevailing for this reason alone. In any case, my best regards. Your informed mind and fighting qualities are an example to us all.
Posted by: Wellington at August 8, 2008 8:43 PM
Dear Mr. Spencer,
Thanks for a clear and compelling assessment of why CAIR is so dangerous. (I was so interested to hear the talk that I managed to watch the entire video with my 18-month-old near me--no mean feat!)
I am wondering why, despite the public criticisms of CAIR from such notable (and even liberal) politicians as Charles Rangel, no serious action has been taken against them by the government--and why so many news outlets continue to turn to them as THE source for Islam.
I was heartened to see that one our senators here in Caifornia, Barbara Boxer (certainly no conservative!) revoked an award her office had given to a member of CAIR last year (for which I wrote an email to her office thanking her). Why would even the criticisms of CAIR from such respected and well-known liberals as Rangel and Boxer not have affected the media's view of CAIR by now, in your opinon?
Posted by: kaffirchick at August 8, 2008 8:56 PM
Mr Spencer
I have written to an Aussie organisation, that I believe to have a glimmering of a clue about the Jihad, begging and pleading that they bring you to Australia, all expenses paid.
Would you come if someone asked you and they paid for it? I know it's an awfully long way...
If no major organisation is willing to step up to the plate, I think all us ordinary low-budget aussie counterjihadists will have to start up a Bring Robert Spencer to Australia fund and keep on passing the hat round amongst ourselves till we have enough.
Aussies *loved* Hirsi Ali. A bunch of Aussies managed to bring Wafa Sultan here, not so long ago, too; they sneaked her in past the Muslim radar by not letting most people know she was here, till she was about to depart, but they got her into contact with politicians of both parties.
I think, from what I've seen of you on video, Mr Spencer, that all the non-Muslim Aussies would warm to you very fast.
Posted by: dumbledoresarmy at August 8, 2008 9:34 PM
dumbledoresarmy:
Of course, I'll go anywhere.
Thanks
R
at August 8, 2008 9:38 PM
kaffirchick:
Why would even the criticisms of CAIR from such respected and well-known liberals as Rangel and Boxer not have affected the media's view of CAIR by now, in your opinon?
Good question. But I have no answer. I wish I knew.
Best
R
at August 8, 2008 9:40 PM
The thing that gives me the greatest case of the shivers is when I contemplate the inexorable trend in demographics in countries that have become Islamic, such as Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon and so on. It's as if Islam makes life so miserable for kuffars that they eventually convert or emigrate, leaving behind a sort of hollowed out country, without pluralism, tolerance or intellectual vitality.
As Fjordman has written, Islam has three things to offer: oil, babies and aggression.
at August 8, 2008 9:56 PM
They just don't make white walls like that anymore...
John Wayne was right, 'true grit' never gives up.
True grit is not hard to get, but it is hard to find. Few have it, the ones who do seem to have it all, sometimes we call these people hero's.
True grit walks tall, never falls on bended knee,
and 'never' gives up. Spencer has 'true grit'. John Wayne would be proud.
at August 8, 2008 10:34 PM
Dr. Spencer...
Fresh in: protecting the identity of the superb Oakland police officer I had the pleasure to speak with this very evening, I think it is prescient to this article to relay some of the conversation we had.
In essence, the officer relayed that he has had first-hand experiences in the last 3 years that convince him that "there are cells" fomenting under the hood across our country. In one recounted incident, he entered a house to service a ill defined cause-for-action complaint (arrested no one), and was struck by the situation being "odd" on many levels. al Jezeera playing on the tube, Islamic texts exhorting Jihad lying about (he reads Arabic as a hobby), and the whole thing decidely un-homely, and very much 'odd refuge warranting further investigation'.
He called the Homeland Sec. hotline; a couple of days later upon checking the place, it was stripped, abandoned, without evidence that anyone had been there. HLS hadn't taken them away, and the neighbors reported that they just 'evaporated'.
We do have cells here. Apparently in Oakland, undoubtedly elsewhere. As "Officer Frost" recounted, this was just one of many similar incidents in the last 3 years. Being a well read man, he also adduced that it is likely that we're not being 'attacked from within' while there are all our troops Over There easily shot at.
His theory: when we leave, they're going to then attack from within.
Not my theory. A sworn officer of the Law.
Good guy too.
GoatGuy
Posted by: GoatGuy at August 8, 2008 10:42 PM
Mr. Spencer,
I just want you to know that, as a daily reader of JW/DW for the past few years, I so appreciate your efforts in enlightening all who will listen.
I also appreciate the fact that you give up so much of yourself to do this.
As one of the 'enlightened' ones, I have lost family members over this issue - my younger son comes to mind. But I know that, sadly, some day they/he will come to see that we were right.
I can't imagine what you have lost in terms of personal freedom, privacy and security. Please know that I, along with many others, bless you for your strength and perseverance.
May God be with you...
Posted by: mepeteart at August 8, 2008 11:10 PM
"Duty then is the sublimest word in the English language. You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more, you should never wish to do less." -- Robert E. Lee
As free men, it is our duty now to stand foursquare against the tyrannical doctrines of Islam, to expose the vile Mohammedan agenda, and to bring about the utter defeat of the Jihad in all its forms. Our most powerful weapon in this quest is the truth. But the struggle will be long, and we will suffer many setbacks.
Odds are we won't live to see the final battles. Islam is not a transient overlay on society like the Communist dogmas of the Soviet Empire--Islam is rooted in the deepest, darkest, and cruelist pathologies of the reptilian part of the human brain. But we must have faith that what we do now will help tip the balance in those battles to come.
The motto of my college graduating class comes to mind:
"Ut fatum faceremus" -- "In order that we might shape our destiny."
So let's press on with our duty, in faith that we will make a difference somewhere, somehow.
Thank you, Robert Spencer, for lighting the path, and for providing such an inspiring example in every way.
Posted by: Stendec at August 8, 2008 11:43 PM
Robert Spencer's anti-jihadist position is immutable, like the Qur'an. That much is obvious, especially after Robert's post here this evening.
His scholarship of Islam remains unchallenged by those that would love to refute it.
The challenge remains, still unanswered to date.
Islam is indeed, the enemy, for any knowledgable person realizes that. Individual Muslims are completely irrelevant, when compared to the ideology of Islam.
Islam is as Islam does, as it has always done and as it has done, historically. Islam never changes. This is an unfortunate reality, but reality nonetheless.
Spencer's challenge is still valid...Prove him wrong.
The short answer is that no Muslim can, not unless they profess adherence to a heretical form of Islam, read:(NOT SUPPORTED BY ANY OF THE FOUR MAJOR SCHOOLS OF ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE.) Those heretical clowns of Islam. Those heretics that true, pious Muslims would gleefully behead to prove their point.
I've read a fair amount of Spencer to date. This posting by Robert is in the top 5 in my estimation, for it cuts through the minutiae and attacks the core.....Islam.
We have so few allies, unfortunately.
What say you all?
Posted by: awake at August 9, 2008 12:12 AM
Robert,
I've already pre-ordered on Amazon, your upcoming book, "Stealth Jihad". Western Civilization needs you now more than ever. Godspeed.
at August 9, 2008 12:32 AM
'Stealth Jihad' rearing its ugly, head in Canada .....
Go to ezralevant.com and review archives dateing back to
January 2008, including You Tube videos...
at August 9, 2008 12:56 AM
Please don't ever give up Mr. Spencer. I give you a hard time sometimes at Hot Air but I'm trying not to do that anymore because I know how valuable what you do is. I just get so frustrated. Not really with you, but for you. I don't know how you do it, or how you can stand it.
Beslan was the end for me. I just gave up after that. I posted on a liberal message board for years. From 1999 until 2005. When I first started learning about Islam I posted quotes from the Koran and Hadiths. I copied and pasted articles from Muslims and their defenders and tried to show how that compared to what was happening in the world. How words don't mean the same thing to a Muslim as they do to the rest of us. Peace. Oppression. Aggression.
It didn't do any good. Liberals would just respond with Bible quotes or Fred Phelps crap.
But Beslan was different. The day the seize at Beslan ended I thought, now, finally, people would understand what Islam really did allow. I was so naive.
I couldn't believe what I read on the board that night. The "root cause" people were all out in force. Even after Belsan. The deliberate targeting of a school. Little kids shot in the back as they ran for their lives. And still, still, it was all Russia's fault. They were oppressing those poor people and the only reaction they could have was to shoot little kids in the back.
I couldn't believe it. I replied to a few and asked these people "was there no other target they could choose? An army post? A police station? A town hall? ANYTHING other than a school?". Not for the "root cause" people. The root cause always starts with the West and ends as Islams door.
I still cry when I think of Beslan. I don't understand people. I just don't.
Thank you for what you do and I'm sorry I have given you a hard time sometimes. I've just lost all hope.
But you gave me a little bit of hope when I read that you never will give up.
Posted by: Jaynie59 at August 9, 2008 1:58 AM
Robert, I'm from the UK and read your site every day. Just wanted to say, keep up the good work, and don't let them grind you down.
There's not many who openly stick their head above the parapet and take all the crap that comes with it.
Your analysis of Islam has been invaluable in helping people understand it and the threat it poses to Democracy.
I'm sure there are many who read this site who can now articulate their arguments better thanks to you and they do so on other websites (although with the considerable benefit of doing so anonymously). A bit like the ripple effect really.
Posted by: Celsius at August 9, 2008 3:51 AM
Robert - heard you on Savage a few days ago, when you mentioned how the Muslims consider slander anything they do not like (paraphrasing), and then this same thought a few nights ago. That is a great point and needs more emphasis along with taqiyya and kitman. Basically they are lying whiners and want to be (our) overlords.
From GoatGuy above
"He called the Homeland Sec. hotline; a couple of days later upon checking the place, it was stripped, abandoned, without evidence that anyone had been there. HLS hadn't taken them away, and the neighbors reported that they just 'evaporated'. ..."
With the FBI and HLS heavily staffed with Muslim agents, it is probable that they were warned by an in-house Muslim Brotherhood spy. It would not be the first time.
at August 9, 2008 3:56 AM
Let's hope that there's some in-house monitoring and counterespionage going on over there, too, Jimmy Bones. Everybody, from time to time, needs to clean house.
Posted by: John C at August 9, 2008 5:10 AM
Dear Mr. Spencer,
Thank you so very much for doing what you do. I greatly appreciate it and I am sure that my children, grand children, and great grandchildren will appreciate what you do, in due course. The intense hatred from the Muslim world that you must somehow endure, is more than anyone could ask another to bear.
I want you to know that I will read every book that you publish and use them as teaching guides to everyone who will listen. They are written in a plain and easily understood manner that I really like. I have learned more about the true nature of Islam from your writings than any of your contemporaries.
The general public must have a way of getting the truth. They certainly do not get it from schools, media, or the government. I only hope that enough of the public will learn the truth before it is too late. Please keep up your greatly appreciated efforts to tell the truth about this insidious threat called Islam.
Posted by: Spot on at August 9, 2008 6:02 AM
Just adding my thank you to all the others. Mr. Spencer, I respect you so much for what you do. Against all the odds, you continue to toil away. spreading the message to all who will listen, and even to those who don't, or won't. May we all learn from the persistence and courage you and the other members of the JW/DW team exhibit.
Posted by: ImNoDhimmi at August 9, 2008 8:51 AM
Mr. Spencer, all i say say is "hear, hear".
Posted by: theygottago at August 9, 2008 9:53 AM
For the first time I hear a note of discouragement in Robert's voice.
We have to keep up our support and do our best to spread word of the danger that Islam presents to the world.
It's terrifying that 1.3 billion people are to various degrees inculcated with this ideology of hatred, violence and supremacism and actually believe God approves what they believe and do.
Two hundred years ago our founding fathers had a very clear idea of the evil of Islam. It cannot be said better than how President John Quincy Adams said it.
Islam hasn't changed, but denial seems to be for Americans (and too many Europeans) the much easier course. Facing up to the truth is so difficult, why bother, in the long run we're all dead anyway. In the famous words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" Unfortunately, such words were just echoed by presidential candidate Obama in Berlin, who has a very relaxed view of Islam.
We have to buy Robert's books, give them as gifts and buy some for the local library. And send a few dollars along to keep the site going.
We will prevail. We must prevail.
Posted by: Fran at August 9, 2008 2:14 PM
I didn't realize there was a new book coming out! I look forward to reading it.
Thanks to everyone here at JW for all you do. Like everyone else, I get discouraged too. It's difficult to keep trying to talk about something that no one wants to talk about. But we cannot give up.
Posted by: Mo at August 9, 2008 2:37 PM
NEVER GIVE UP ROBERT!! THERE ARE MANY OF US BEHIND YOU AND IN TIME THE INFIDELS NATIONAL AND WORLDWIDE WILL WAKE UP!!
WHEN I STARTED READING ABOUT ISLAM IN 2001, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE INFORMATION AND NEWS ON WHAT WAS
GOING ON ABOUT ISLAM. NOW THE NET IS FULL OF INFORMATION...AND ITS NOT POSITIVE NEWS AS MOST OF YOU KNOW....ITS EVIL NEWS
EUROPE AND ASIA ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT THE EVILS OF ISLAM AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIND NEWS AND SEND THEM ON TO ALL. RIGHT NOW I HAVE OVER 2,000
EMAIL FRIENDS WHO RECEIVE YOUR NEWS AS WELL AS OTHER ISLAMIC NEWS WORLDWIDE.
WE MUST NOT GIVE UP NONE OF US!!! WE ARE BEHIND
YOU DOING ALL WE CAN AND THERE ARE MANY OF US
IN A QUIET WAY SPREADING AND EXPOSING ISLAM
GOD BLESS YOU!!!
at August 9, 2008 4:37 PM
"Odds are we won't live to see the final battles. Islam is not a transient overlay on society like the Communist dogmas of the Soviet Empire--Islam is rooted in the deepest, darkest, and cruelist pathologies of the reptilian part of the human brain. But we must have faith that what we do now will help tip the balance in those battles to come."
Posted by: Stendec
It is so true that Islam appeals to the most primitive parts of the human psyche. It’s like Mohammet managed to put human evolution of mind in reverse, so it grovels in its submission to his primitive god Allah as an obedient slave to his power, devoid of any love or compassion given to natural human beings; they are his zombies. While the rest of humanity is reaching for higher truths and mental abilities, the Mohammetan mind goes brain dead as soon as it accepts the vile teachings of this mind numbing ideology hiding under the thin veneer of religion. It is NOT a religion but a vicious mind killing Cult, resulting in a slavery of mind undoing all the great and beautiful things we are capable of. But Freedom will win out.
Kudos to Robert for his indefatigable fight against this evil Islamic mind bending cruel injustice visited upon the world’s humanity, fighting it with superior mind and truth. This is a fight we must win to preserve future humanity. We will win out.
at August 11, 2008 3:24 PM
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