A couple of final reflections (for now, at least) on my man Omid Safi, the Colgate University professor who in his course, Namecalling 101, is busy indoctrinating his hapless students into the names they should use for those who discuss Islamic jihad honestly (“Zionist,” “Christian triumphalist,” etc.) and introducing them to the perils of “Islamophobia,” i.e., books like mine and those of scholars whose stature Safi can never hope to attain, i.e. Bat Ye’or, Samuel Huntington, etc.
1. He told me that he would not accept my challenge to debate or dialogue until such time as I would “publish a book by a credible university press.” But it has been pointed out to me that the lone book that Safi has yet published, Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender, and Pluralism, edited by my man Omid, was published by Oneworld Publications. Although based in Oxford, Oneworld is not a university press; it describes itself as “an independent publishing house based in Oxford, England.” Oneworld also publishes such luminaries as Mark LeVine.
Now, in fairness I must also point out that Omid has a book coming out from the University of North Carolina Press. UNC is my alma mater, and I will always have a few fond memories of the place, but I must also acknowledge that it was the site of the notorious post-9/11 controversy over the assignment of Michael Sells’ Qur’an translation to incoming freshmen. (Safi lists Sells as a reference.) Sells’ book only contains the early suras of the Qur’an, thereby omitting most of the book’s violent and intolerant passages. I have also heard that other, more balanced perspectives were rejected by the planners of this freshman indoctrination session: they were consciously pursuing an agenda that casts doubt upon their academic objectivity. Thus pardon me if I am unimpressed that Safi, marching in the same lockstep, is published by UNC.
2. I do not have the Ph.D. Safi demands, but many others on his enemies list do. Why doesn’t he invite Daniel Pipes to Colgate for a debate? Assuming Dr. Pipes was willing to go, I could go along too and make a full report. I could even ask Dr. Pipes to bring his diploma. How about it, Omid?