| FrontPageMag.com | By Robert Spencer | By Hugh Fitzgerald | Books | Jihad Watch | Robert Spencer | Islam 101 | Qur'an Blog |  |
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
In the Rudd Government's first statement on Muslims, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs Laurie Ferguson yesterday told The Australian it was time to tackle the myths surrounding Islam, arguing religious leaders were not representative of the mainstream Muslim community."We can't prescribe how the Islamic community is to organise itself," Mr Ferguson said.
"But we certainly must make sure that the fact there are international tensions and terrorist issues doesn't kind of stereotype the whole community in Australia." -- from this news article
It was Laurie Ferguson who, as federal “Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs,” introduced Tariq Ramadan as the main speaker at a Griffith University conference.
When Muslim and Jewish leaders expressed their concern about Tariq Ramadan (and among them was a former Howard government adviser on Islam, Ameer Ali, who urged national security authorities to keep him under close surveillance) Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, dismissed those fears, and described the American government’s preventing Ramadan's entry into the United States in 2004 as "over the top."
Here are some questions for Laurie Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, who is worried about “myths” being created about Islam and Muslims, and worried about “stereotypes” about Islam and Muslims that might be fostered if the wrong representatives keep on representing Islam. For, as Laurie Ferguson sees it, his portfolio is to make Australians feel comfortable with Muslims, to allay whatever fears or anxieties may somehow have been created in them by Muslim behavior, including the behavior of Muslim spokesmen. For the next step, a step which must under no circumstances be encouraged, would be for large numbers of Australians to begin to look for themselves into the texts of Islam, into the tenets of Islam, into the attitudes and atmospherics of Islam, and even perhaps to read books other than the pabulum of the apologists, but the real books, by the real Western scholars, of Islam. And that would never do, not for Laurie Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs. That would be hellish. That would be wrong.
So for Laurie Ferguson it is time, past time, way past time, “to tackle the myths surrounding Islam.” And that can better take place if more plausible and crowd-pleasing “representatives” of Islam come forward -- not the clerics who so far have had the lack of common sense and tact to hide much of what Islam teaches, in order to replace those hairy men with smooth men (a Jacob for an Esau, forsooth!). There is a need for smooth men, just like Tariq Ramadan, the fuss about whom Laurie Ferguson finds simply “over the top,” who can do a better job of presenting Islam to a still largely-ignorant, and therefore still credulous, audience of Australian Infidels. At no point in any of this is there any indication that Laurie Ferguson has read or studied Islam on his own. There is no indication that, as part of his preparation for admitting, and even serving as introducer of, Tariq Ramadan, Laurie Ferguson read Caroline Fourest’s Brother Tariq or Paul Berman’s excellent 15-page essay on Ramadan in The New Republic. There is no indication that he, Laurie Ferguson, has been studying Qur’an, Hadith, and Sira, or the surest Western guides, written by non-apologists, on the subject of Islam’s contents and its conquests, over 1350 years, of vast non-Muslim lands, and the subjugation of the non-Muslim populations that followed upon those conquests, with the same dismal islamization and attempts, often successful, at arabization that followed.
No, there is none of that. And since, despite some highly intelligent people in Australia who cannot be fooled, because they are too well-prepared, and these include the Anglican writer Mark Durie, the journalist Andrew Bolt, the politician Peter Costello, and many others, most people in Australia, like most Infidels everywhere (in Western Europe, in the United States and Canada, in Israel), remain still ignorant of Islam’s texts and tenets and attitudes, and their ignorance makes them dangerously credulous.
The Muslim clerics whom Laurie Ferguson wishes to replace because they feed into “stereotypes” about Islam and therefore, he says, cannot possibly be representative of Islam, may indeed be replaced. But the question is: do those clerics adequately represent what Islam teaches, what Islam not only teaches but inculcates? If so, would it not be useful to keep them on, rather than to replace them with those who also know what Islam teaches, but are also keenly aware of the need to obfuscate, to hide or distract or confuse, because the position of Muslims in Australia is not yet so firmly entrenched that they can now, with impunity, tell the truths that those clerics have been unsettlingly telling?
One thing is clear. Whether or not those clerics represent “Muslims in Australia” (to be distinguished from adequately representing the tenets of Islam or are unrepresentative representatives of “the Muslim community”), Laurie Ferguson, the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, has given every sign of being a perfect representative of the vast majority of Infidels in Australia who remain ignorant of Islam, and therefore almost willfully credulous.
Well done, Laurie Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs. You deserve your high office. Your high office deserves you.
Posted by Hugh at March 15, 2008 8:36 AM
Print this entry
| Email this entry
| Digg this
| del.icio.us
It is always easier to deny or to minimize the existence of a real and intractable problem than to acknowledge and confront it.
The teaching of multiculturalism is the host culture's effort to stifle its collective gag reflex from having an incompatible new culture forced down its throat. Maybe it would be better to simply listen to our gag reflex.
Dealing with the problem of Islam is impossible from within the mindset that multiculturalism is the answer to every problem, and if multiculturalism does not seem to be solving that problem, the answer is more multiculturalism.
There are some other cultures that have arrived on our shores and brought us wonderful things. When confronted with a compatible culture and a compatible people who arrive seeking acceptance, we accept the new culture into our midst without much difficulty. For example, the Vietnamese refugees were able to assimilate into our society without the problems we see with the assimilation of Muslims, and have brought a great and positive contribution to areas they have settled. We did not have to lecture people about multiculturalism to quickly get to the point where they were accepted, law-abiding, contributing members of our society.
Not so with Islam. All too many Muslims are unwilling to assimilate, as assimilation to the main culture would represent a loss of their identity. Most Muslims instead see their arrival in a host country as an opportunity to convert or conquer and dominate a host culture.
Posted by: Karl![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 15, 2008 10:08 AM
Hey Hugh,
Don't be too hard on Laurie, he and the rest of the government are still getting used to being in power after over a decade spent out of office. There are bound to be a few mistakes along the way.
After all, they have done some things right - after the daft Archibishop of Canterbury's statements re how elements of Sharia Law could be adopted in the UK, the new Labor Govt in Australia immediately and firmly ruled out any intention to adopt elements of Sharia Law in Australia; and while they'll be withdrawing from Iraq (in line with their election committment), they've just as firmly continued their committment to the conflict in Afghanistan (and openly criticised the EU for not doing enough).
I think Laurie's just guilty of some woolly thinking in trying to use a religiously defined body to promote non-religious role models. His proposal is similar to suggesting there be a govt advisory council on Christianity that didn't involve anyone from the Catholic, Orthodox, CofE or other protestant churches. Or it'd be like having a sports advisory body that didn't involve any professional or Olympic athletes, just a few people who like a slow walk along the beach. It just doesn't make sense.
If he wants to promote non-religious islamic role models (the motivation reported in the local papers for his proposal), I think he would be better using nationally/culturally based bodies to identify and promote them (e.g. an Austrlian-Iraqi refugee group, or an Australian-Turkish cultural group, or an Australian-Saudi Arabian student group, or an Australian-Muslim Apostasy group etc). This would show young muslims that there are other foundations for personal identity apart from their religion.
As Robert has pointed out himself many times, there are moderate/tolerant muslims even though Islam itself may not be moderate/tolerant and I think Laurie is just trying to find some of these moderate/tolerant local muslims and give them some public air.
So, I'll give Laurie the excuse of being new to the job and I'll wait a bit longer before making up my mind about his performance. While I agree that Ramadan is someone to be wary of I don't think he should be banned from entry or speaking, anymore than I think David Irving should be banned from entry/speaking (no matter how offensive I find either of their thoughts/beliefs). I'm a firm believer in free speech, especially the right to offend/ blaspheme/ insult - otherwise it can't really be called free can it?
It is early days for this government and we have yet to see whether it will be a Dhimmi administration as per those running the EU countries or whether it will stand up for freedom of speech and freedom of/from religion.
There are a few things that I'm hoping they will do which the Howard government didn't, such as:
1. Ensure all Australians are aware of their freedom to renounce Islam or any other religion (including Christianity) and enforce strict punishment against anyone trying to force someone to continue to observe a religion they no longer wish to support. This should include TV ads similar to those used in campaigns against domestic violence.
2. Ensure that membership of all inter-faith dialogues are reviewed and are only open to those who publicly declare their acceptance that members of their religion can leave at any time without penalty/coercion/punishment.
3. Introduce mandatory reporting for all religious authorities to advise police immediately any members of their congregations discuss or act in a way suggesting they have or will take action against an apostate.
4. Mount sanctions against countries such as Malaysia, where people are being thrown in gaol because they want to change their religion. There isn't any possible way that can sit well with the Australian Labor Party.
at March 15, 2008 10:09 AM
The new Prime Minister, Mr. Rudd, was once the doctoral student of sinologist and writer Pierre Ryckmans (who writes under the name Simon Leys), who wrote, among many other works, "Chinese Shadows." That's the reed, I hope not a slender one, that I'm holding onto.
Posted by: Hugh at March 15, 2008 10:52 AM
"Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs"
They waste that power, time and money on such dreck. They should instead use the money to provide trips and moving expenses for disgruntled people to go back to countries where their inferior cultures are practiced.
at March 15, 2008 1:26 PM
Veil416; thanks for the 'on-the-scene' analysis, this sort of news seems to evolve as it passes through the various wire services and media. :)
My only issue would be on the Freedom of Speech point. Having that freedom doesn't require anyone(else) to offer the platform or to facilitate in any way the speakers' agenda. It also doesn't oblige anyone to listen, or for that matter, to be subjected to the abuse. It's a thin line between one person's right and the harassment of others.
at March 15, 2008 2:07 PM
Ameer Aly is the slime. You should listen to this slick tqiyya doctor as he pulls the Islamic wool over the eyes and ears of some unsuspecting, naive radio jock:
Go to Hot topics and click on the link 'misconceptions of Islam' ameer ali:
http://www.mytalk.com.au/Stations/Talk/6PR/Pages/default.aspx
at March 15, 2008 3:52 PM
Laurie Ferguson ( and Julia Irwin) are MP's that have electorates with large Muslim communities. So this is just simple local politicing dressed up by the stupid title he has. Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs- what a joke! The Howard government got rid of the "multicultural" reference in his Ministers portfolios , only for Rudd to re-introduce it ..though it is very much diminished.
Rudd has just lead the Australian Parliament in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel. I think this is the more pertinant statement of intent by Rudd, than anything Laurie does. Of course , useful loony and perpetual parlimentary deadwood , Julia Irwin lead the usual denouncations of Israel aided and abetted by bitter Whitlam-ite leftie pundit Alan Ramsey ..who has become a shill for apologists of Hamas and Hezbollah in his Sydney Morning Hearld columns.
To give a taste of what Ramsey does see:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/dont-mention-the-war-as-israel-lauded/2008/03/07/1204780063505.html
In it Ramsey published the "Australian Committee for Truth in the Middle East" web statement. Perhaps because he thinks its the objective truth , such statements need to be elevated out of obscurity.
"Israel has lived the life of a spoiled brat for the past 60 years. Even more unfortunately, if Israel continues on its present path (and there is no indication of change) it will continue in this manner of throwing a tantrum whenever the international community indicates that a bit of adult, civilised behaviour would not go amiss. The current tantrum is the killing of 126 Palestinians in Gaza in response to the relative pinpricks of [homemade] Hamas rockets fired into territory illegally occupied by Israeli settlers..."
This above quote was published without comment or qualification , let alone CORRECTION by Ramsey.
Ramsey also published Ali Kazak , head of the Palestinian Delegation in Canberra. Here's what Kazak had to say:
"Australian politicians should not forget Australia has a moral and historic duty towards the Palestinian people [because of Australia's 1948] support of the establishment of Israel in Palestine on their blood, bones and tears. How far are politicians prepared to go in damaging Australia's international reputation and standing for the sake of Israel and some petty cash?"
Ramsey endorses these views and disseminates them without qualification. His articles are invariably a string of propaganda quotes strung together with his narrative of supposed injustice and indifference by Governments inthralled by the pro Zionists and their money. Hence giving what is essentially unremarkable boiler plate Palestinian propaganda the creditablity and audience of a main stream newspaper.
Posted by: David Xavier at March 16, 2008 5:57 AM
One of his advisers is called Khaldoun Hajaj. Used to be in Palestine Solidarity, Sydney.
Posted by: carpediadem at March 16, 2008 3:50 PM
There would be no "myths" surrounding Islam for these people if they would all cease their outrageous derelection of duty and just read the godammned Koran, and wise up.
What the hell are they waiting for?
A knife at their neck?
Posted by: profitsbeard at March 16, 2008 4:22 PM
It may help Mr. Ferguson to appreciate the moslem problem.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=30a_1204991129
at March 16, 2008 5:24 PM
veil416
don't make excuses for Laurie Ferguson. He's been around in public life for long enough to know the situation.
He just don't want to.
Most muslims here vote for his party - no surprises.
Posted by: Gramfan at March 16, 2008 10:17 PM
Did someone mention Khaldoun Hajaj?
Here's what he had to say at a forum in 2005, Re: 911
"For me it's simple. You treat people like animals and they behave accordingly. For the past century, colonial powers have treated coloured people like slaves. Why should a slave have any compassion for his master? In French Colonial Ageria there were signs all along the beachfront forbidding Dogs and Moslems. Yet we were shocked by the atrocities that were committed against the French colonialists in the war of independence. In the West Bank and Gaza people are treated worse than Animals by the Israelis, and yet people are shocked that Palestinians are so reckless that they are willing to blow themselves up and kill innocent jewish people in the process.
Maybe we need to re-assess our understanding of world affairs. The people of the Islamic world have their backs to the wall. They all have facist dictators that have been installed by the West and we wonder why they hate us. Mr Howard, they hate us because you stood and clapped while Sueharto was slaughtering Indonesians."
Hajaj's tortured illogicality doesnt need the Quran or anything OBL has written..he's 'channelling' Edward Said...whose texts are perhaps more damaging to the West than any of the Islamic holy books themselves. If you parse his above comments you realise that no matter what 'we' do ( barr capitulation) there will always be an excuse for the 'people of the islamic world' to kill us. And we havent yet got to the Quranic reasons yet , where still in Said-world..though if the West does capitulate, the Quran would probably kick in , and provide more than enough reasons to continue the bloodletting.....
Posted by: David Xavier at March 16, 2008 11:29 PM
Comments are turned off and archived for this entry.
(Note: Comments on articles are unmoderated, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dhimmi Watch or Robert Spencer. Comments that are off-topic, offensive, slanderous, or otherwise annoying may be summarily deleted. However, the fact that particular comments remain on the site IN NO WAY constitutes an endorsement by Robert Spencer of the views expressed therein.)