Richard Dawkins criticizes all religions, and the concept of religion itself. But criticizing Islam is forbidden on the Left, and so KPFA canceled his appearance: “we didn’t know he had offended and hurt – in his tweets and other comments on Islam, so many people.”
The station insists that “while KPFA emphatically supports serious free speech, we do not support abusive speech.” But who is to decide what is legitimate criticism of Islam and what is “abusive speech”? The purveyors of the “Islamophobia” fiction have never clarified that or pointed to any critic of Islam whom they don’t consider “abusive.” They haven’t because they can’t. There is no criticism of Islam that they find acceptable. Dawkins can criticize Christianity and KPFA will cheer, but when he turns to Islam, he immediately becomes “abusive.” The objective of labeling such criticism abusive is to silence it. Every critic of Islam, even those on the Left such as Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Bill Maher, is accused of “bigotry” and “abusive speech” for daring to utter even the slightest negative opinion of the Religion of Peace. The objective is to intimidate people into fearing to utter any criticism of Islam, which will allow the jihad to advance unopposed and unimpeded.
And so the West’s quiet acceptance of Sharia blasphemy laws continues.
“Richard Dawkins deplatformed at a book talk in Berkeley for ‘abusive speech’ about Islam on Twitter,” by Jerry Coyne, Why Evolution Is True, July 21, 2017 (thanks to V.):
Richard Dawkins was supposed to speak at this event in Berkeley on August 9: a talk about his new book, Science in the Soul: Selected Writings of a Passionate Atheist. As you see, the talk has been canceled.
But why? You can guess. The talk was to be sponsored by a Berkeley radio station, KPFA, and they made this announcement—but didn’t even inform Richard before deep-sixing the event. Through the ticketing agency, Brown Paper Tickets, KPFA sent out this email with the “reasons”:
From: Brown Paper Tickets
Date: July 20, 2017 at 2:04:53 PM PDT
To: [NAME REDACTED]
Subject: Notification for Richard Dawkins: Science in the Soul: Selected Writings of a Passionate RationalistDear Richard Dawkins event ticket buyers,
We regret to inform you that KPFA has canceled our event with Richard Dawkins. We had booked this event based entirely on his excellent new book on science, when we didn’t know he had offended and hurt – in his tweets and other comments on Islam, so many people.
KPFA does not endorse hurtful speech. While KPFA emphatically supports serious free speech, we do not support abusive speech. We apologize for not having had broader knowledge of Dawkins views much earlier. We also apologize to all those inconvenienced by this cancellation. Your ticket purchases will automatically be refunded by Brown Paper Tickets.Sincerely,
KPFA Radio 94.1 FMThere you have it, ladies and gentlemen: the termites have spread to Berkeley, and have dined well on the wooden heads of the Deciders. Although there are undoubtedly a few authoritarian Dawkins-bashing atheists who will be pleased at this, it’s a terrible blow for free speech, and likely a big disappointment for those who hoped to see Richard. I’m sure that some of the Perpetually Offended, with perhaps Muslims among them, complained to the radio station, and KPFA caved….
The Istanbulian says
Are you sure the Turkish education ministry didn’t have a hand in this?
murad says
Real democracy and real genuine free speech only exist in the west. That’s why we went and changed regimes in Afghanistan. Iran, Iraq, Libya. We turned them into islam-habitable caliphates. Wise are we not? You cannot find in muslims such geniuses as us.
gravenimage says
There is no doubt that many hopeful but clueless Westerners believed that Muslims wanted freedom just like civilized people–but they did not take the vicious creed of Islam into account.
Demsci says
Yes, real democracy and genuine free speech only exist in the West. they are IMO part of the “Values, Tenets, Laws” (VTL) of the “Western Democratic Ideology” (WDI). It’s adherents believe this ideology with it’s VTL the best. I suppose we have to be very careful to export it with violence however. But when we don’t do that, the next condemnation coming from Muslims and leftists is that” we condone and support oppressive regimes”. So when we finally stopped doing that and those oppressive regimes were pestering both their own citizens and us, look what Muslims now chastise us with: “we changed regimes and turned them into Islam-habitable caliphates”.
When Muslims chastise the West for cooperating with and allowing dictatorial regimes, they should praise the West’s intervention to topple these regimes. Or vice versa, when Muslims chastise the West for intervention then it must praise the West’s effort to coexist peacefully with the dictatorial regimes.
Chastising the West always, no matter what they do or do not do, makes chastisement of the West by Muslims and leftists completely worthless because the West then can do no good.
Demsci says
“WE turned THEM into Islam-inhabitable caliphate”?
First consider: Are the WE here “guilty devils” and the THEM here to be considered “the innocent Angels”???
No one with knowledge of humans would argue that, I think.
So consider that we do criticize for their behavior humans who are adult and sane and presumably able to change, but we do not criticize animals, children or the insane who presumably are unable to change, for their behavior.
So I think you see the We (Westerners) as sane adults capable of change, but the inhabitants of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya as either “animals, children or insane” and incapable of change.
jihad3tracker says
HERE IS A LINK FOR KPFA, to let its personnel know what you think of their cowardly surrender to Islamic supremacism: https://kpfa.org/contact/
Some of the top people at the station are listed — so ask for one of them specifically by name.
Remember that the radio station is in the United States most western time zone, and, if you want to actually speak to someone, time your phone call to mid-day at that location.
Let me suggest that you include a short bio of yourself, including how you went from cluelessness to knowledge. Also be SURE to have several website URLs ready to recommend for the person who answers. JIHAD WATCH at the top of the pile, of course!
Finally, to really piss off that Leftist Multicutural Mindbot, end the call by asking for a promise that the person will visit the websites you mention.
Mac-101 says
Islam WILL be the forced religion of Satan’s NWO Beast. U will be beheaded for refusing to renounce Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and refuse to take the mark of the Beast!
john spielman says
yup I believe you are correct!
but in the end, Jesus Christos nikka – JESUS CHRIST- THE VICTOR
Mac-101 says
Amen! Looks like REVELATION Is playing out!
Mary says
The RCC will officially rejoin Islam, and when the two have united, the bloodshed will be staggering. (If I have understood correctly.) My reasoning is this…
Mohammad’s first wife was RCC. Keep in mind, he founded Islam (went to the caves, had the demonic visions) after they were already married. This might be irrelevant, till you start noticing the similarities between the RCC and Islam. Both use prayer beads, neither one acknowledges Jesus fully. RCC has people praying to and through Mary, (1st Timothy 2:5) Islam regards Jesus as a respectable prophet…but nothing more. Both regard the Bible as a holy book….officially, in their doctrine, but neither group wants their people to read it!!!
The Catholic Church has quite possibly got an even dirtier/bloodier history than Islam does. Between the crusades, the inquisition, the atrocities recorded in “Foxe’s book of Martyr’s”, camp Jasenovic, the Vatican rat-lines, those convents in Mexico with the lime pits built in. (Used for dissolving human bodies, go tour one, I did not make that up!) the Cathedrals made of artfully arranged bones of martyrs. (Feel free to look that up too.) I could go on and on.
If this isn’t enough, one of the recent popes stated “Christians and Muslims worship the same God”. (He meant Catholics, obviously ….because no sincere, genuine, practicing Christian I know would agree with that statement.)
You are right, Revelation is playing out! Re-read it to see who wins. Rev. 17 refers to the RCC, see chapter 18:4 if you are involved with that group.
All the best.
John Hawk says
All the more reason to criticize Islam for the hateful and vile hot mess that it is. Islam is the projection of a morally bankrupt mass murderer and pedophile about a psychotic deity who existed nowhere except in his twisted imagination.
Mary says
We all want credit for our work. So we sign our name, right?
Go to YouTube, type in “Jerusalem, I will put my name there” (about 8 minutes of your time. No, am not recommending everything the person has posted…but I find this one useful.)
The creator of Islam also wants credit. Signed his name too.
Koran chapter 3, verse 54.
(Older translations read ‘deceiver’, newer ones read ‘plotter’.)
Cretius says
This is a prime example of how leftist media are selective in their version of free speech and just debate.
In all honesty, there is much to debate and criticize with a belief system that is totally incompatible with western secular democracy. Sad that leftist politicians think so little of our secular democracy that they are actively betraying it’s values and practices.
Benedict says
What’s motivating the Left, in its support of Islam, could very well be a profound but not realized form of islamophobia and cowardice disguised as tolerance. Who in his right mind can find anything attractive in this puppet and parrot religion?
Guest says
I love this: ““while KPFA emphatically supports serious free speech, we do not support abusive speech.”
LOL, let me correct that for you KPFA:
“while KPFA emphatically supports serious free speech, we actually don’t.”
Westman says
After looking at this station’s offerings and the Pacifica Network, the conclusion is that it’s far left of NPR and in the heart of the destructive demonstrators (rioters) at Berkeley. This is a Minority First, SJW radio station with the leftover attitude of a hippy commune. Free love it might promote; however free speech from all points of view is not on its agenda. An interesting tidbit from 1999:
http://freepacifica.savegrassrootsradio.org/fp/0714sfexamniner.htm
isabella van der Westhuizen says
I must say I despise this fatuous blow hard Richard Dorkins, but I would never dream of stopping him speaking
Ironic but when he is insulting Christianity there is no outcry from the left
But he starts with Islam then it is a problem
mortimer says
Exactly… you are identifying the RED/GREEN AXIS OF EVIL.
JW_Reader says
It is particularly sad as Prof Dawkins started his career at Berkeley. One would hope, that he will have a warm welcome. In stead, canceling his talk really proves how far left all these Islamophile have shifted from reality!!
gravenimage says
True.
mortimer says
Question for KPFA:
“There are 4,200 different religions. Why does KPFA defend only ONE RELIGION from criticism? Scared?”
Guest says
Of course they are. If at least they admitted that, we would have an interesting talking point. I actually wouldn’t mind so much if politicians and venue managers etc came out and admitted:
“We’re s**t scared of Antifa and islamic violence. Our insurance won’t cover the possible damage and we can’t afford the security to make the venue safe. Please discuss at a political level.”
Guest says
Instead they mumble about ‘respect’ and avoiding ‘hurtful speech’, ‘hate speech’, ‘abusive speech’.
Because they are too scared to even admit that they are scared.
Jack Holan says
Robert, not that this is a numbers game but does KPFA say how many people have been offended by Mr Dawkins? What specifically did he tweet that offend this unknown number of people? Have any complaining organizations themselves offended others in the past?
KPFA any serious dialogue or critical thought is going to offend! It’s worth your while to take a step back in Broadcast history to the early 60s to look at what the government prevented from broadcast through censorship boards! Yes you and your Professors weren’t born yet but a group of brave Professors and students risked being blackballed (a fear Islamists and Leftists don’t have today) to bring y’all the Full Freedom you have today that you’ve turned into thuggery! You cannot stand diversity of opinion or argue issues on their merit.
jihad3tracker says
Hello Jack —
I would bet serious money that “Islamophobia” fascists around our country contacted KPFA to get him cancelled.
They are on constant duty looking for truth-tellers regarding the Religion Of Shredded Anatomical Pieces.
mousey says
Here are a couple of his tweets:
Liberal hypocrites refuse to criticise vile Islamism, so leaving the field to rightwing xenophobes
Adam & Eve’s children must’ve been incestuous. Seems logical. But don’t DARE point it out in a Pak “university”
[on an article about fgm] But it’s “their culture” and we need “diversity”. How dare you be so racist & Islamophobic as to object?
“You’re a homophobic misogynist.”
“But I’m a Muslim.”
“Oh, SORRY, I didn’t mean to insult your culture.”
mortimer says
What is ‘SERIOUS FREE SPEECH’? Does KPFA mean ANYTHING at all by the word ‘SERIOUS’ ???
What is the DEFINITION of KPFA for the word ‘SERIOUS’? Here is the dictionary meaning of SERIOUS: demanding careful consideration or application; acting or speaking sincerely and in earnest, rather than in a joking or half-hearted manner; grave in nature or disposition; thoughtful; marked by deep feeling; in earnest; sincere; grave, solemn, sedate, staid, sober, not light or frivolous; demanding or characterized by careful consideration or application; solemn or thoughtful in character or manner; requiring or meriting deep reflection.
Scientist Dawkins is a VERY SERIOUS, SOBER MAN… he is SERIOUS and THOUGHTFUL in everything he does and says.
KPFA is applying the HECKLER’S VETO in fear for possible rioting and destruction of property. They are cowards.
John A. Marre says
The left plans to use Islam to eliminate Christianity. They then plan to move the country into atheistic materialism. They will be disappointed. Once Islam is firmly established, there will be no Christians or atheistic materialists (leftists) remaining – they will all have had their heads removed from their bodies.
Gart says
Naughty you Mr Spencer, ripping the termites from the late great Hitchens 😛
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axHR8AOxxkc
WPM says
Thank you Gart,I am a Christian and what the late Christopher Hitchen said is true and good. You do not have to be a Christian to know what is good, true ,right and noble.
Chand says
“what the late Christopher Hitchen said is true and good. You do not have to be a Christian to know what is good, true ,right and noble.”
hear! hear! Great words.
gravenimage says
Bravo, Christopher Hitchens!
Savvy Kafir says
As a left-wing critic of all religions nyself, I’ve gotta say — this politically-correct BS is VERY annoying.
The one religion that needs to be criticized most is simply off-limits in the MSM. It’s sheer insanity. Suicidal insanity.
Guest says
Hi Savvy Kafir, nice to meet you. I’m a bit of a liberal myself and often feel out of place here. But I check in for the news because as you say, not looking at the jihad topic is suicidal insanity.
Chand says
Feel the same here, Savvy Kafir and Guest.
gravenimage says
I stand with you both, Savvy Kafir and Guest!
Guest says
My friends are so surprised when they begin automatically mouthing off against Trump, assuming that I’ll agree with them, and I simply ask ‘have you ever heard any of his speeches? Can you tell me exactly what he said that makes you call him racist? Can you tell me what is wrong about keeping out illegal immigrants, knowing exactly who is coming into one’s country?’. None of them have heard a single speech of his. None of them can answer what supposedly makes him ‘racist’. None of them can answer why a country shouldn’t keep out illegal immigrants.
J_not_a says
It’s not called Berserkley for nothing. And been called that for a long time. Looks like nothing’s changed, except for the worse.
mohamonator says
You might be surprised to learn this, but KPFA’s intolerant and cowardly decision is not going over well with its very liberal audience. Read comments at the following link:
https://kpfa.org/event/richard-dawkins-2/
RichardL says
Cool. Thanks for the link!
gravenimage says
Thanks, mohamonator.
Check out the comments on this story at Berkeleyside, a local site:
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2017/07/21/kpfa-cancels-richard-dawkins-speech-tweets-islam/
All of them are critical of KPFA, and several of them are refreshingly Islamo-savvy!
Muhammad's Ghost says
It’s appears that they couldn’t take the heat, because they removed that page from their website. Yep…clearly big fans of “serious free speech”.
Jon Sobieski says
The left is cannabilistic! They eat their own. So do most political parties.
livingengine says
Remember Spencer being canceled at the last minute by the ALA?
http://pamelageller.com/2009/07/cairs-jihad-on-the-west-robert-spencer-silenced.html/
gravenimage says
Berkeley, California radio station KPFA cancels Richard Dawkins event because he criticized Islam
The station insists that “while KPFA emphatically supports serious free speech, we do not support abusive speech.”
……………………..
What crap–Richard Dawkins, as noted, criticizes *all* religions. He has not been “abusive” to Islam.
But knowing KPFA as I do–it is a local station–this does not surprise me.
WPM says
To gravenimage
I agree I do not like everything Richard Dawkins says, but I believe in his right to say it. It is time to take the protective P.C. cover off this violent cult Islam. Islam does not need or should have the whole world as its own “safe space”.
Lydia says
Double standard as usual.
Only they are all wrong and Christianity is right, but when they find that out, it will be too late for them.
Yes, freedom of speech must continue to be exercised so the truth can advance against the invasion of lies and deception and violence. I will do my part and that includes criticizing islam. It is an abusive religion.
Eric says
I was on the email list of a progressive organization in NYC. I sent an email stating that the Bush family was in the pocket of the royal Saudi family. For this comment I was dropped from their email list without explanation. This was in 2007. I thought I was only telling the truth. There was nothing racist about my comment. At first I was upset. But as time went on I said good riddance. The American Left has become Stalinist. This is one of the many reasons I am politically independent today.
It seems the left has been protecting Islam for a long time. Islam is only using the Left as useful idiots.
Eric
Chand says
How true. And the Saudis are still going scot-free and spreading the core of the darkness, Salafi Wahabbism officially, globally.
LR says
Eric,
I do not understand that, since ‘the left’ was very Anti-Bush and going into Iraq, and is very anti-Saudi too because of how rotten they are with women’s/people’s rights and all…
LR says
KPFA should not be defunded, but they should continue to be criticized for their lack of support of free speech in this instance.
I am appalled that this happened…
Free speech is THE important value to uphold our democratic rights. Doesn’t matter if Dawkins has insulted Christianity, Islam or whatever.
Free speech rights have already been compromised in the West by being afraid to publish Mohammed cartoons. This is very bad.
People of the western, modern world either believe in free speech or they don’t.
It is not the right of Muslims, nor anyone else of any other persuasion to not be ‘offended’, or ‘insulted.’
Shame on KPFA.
Richie says
Most leftist atheists usually give Islam a pass
Chand says
ya, the pseudo leftists and the pseudo atheists.
Lawrence says
Dawkins is just fine with Islam when it makes war on the Jews, but when it makes war on the beloved chosen European Race, he gets upset.
Twerzig says
I’ve always thought his idea about memes was really powerful.
Chand says
And his theory of the natural selection of the genes instead of the individual organisms, developed with the American biologist George C. Williams.
And his concept of the extended phenotype.
R Russell says
Did you see the youtube video of Dawkins’ Gaffe? It’s only 5 mins long and funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ4DAXmW8I8
Dawkins in realising evolution is impossible is doing what he accuses Christians of doing – he accuses them as having a ‘God of the Gaps’
However Dawkins now believes in the ‘aliens of the gaps’. Because science has proved the impossibility of evolution, Dawkins believes we came here from outer space.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqg7S3scnpM
He doesn’t seem to realise he needs to face the same problem one step back.
Dawkins is a very angry man. He is very angry because if there is a God, then Dawkins cannot be the ‘fittest’. Sadly for him, the Bible God does exist and Dawkins hasn’t much time left to get to know him before Dawkins goes the way of all flesh.
Chand says
R Russell says: “Sadly for him, the Bible God does exist and Dawkins hasn’t much time left to get to know him before Dawkins goes the way of all flesh.”
But if God does not exist then Dawkins will not have missed out on anything before he goes.
Paul says
I see that KPFA has now completely scrubbed all reference to the event from their website. If you go to the events page, there is nothing for August 9, whereas yesterday the were a notice that the event had been canceled. They probably took it down because they were rapidly accumulating a large number of negative comments, even from their own listeners!
Chand says
As an atheist and a disciple of Dawkins I find this sad but futile. The march of reason, free speech and science will not be halted by pseudo-secularists and pseudo-Leftists. Don’t think Dawkins and others like him can be stopped so easily.
Eric Thekafir says
What I find amazing is the fact Dawkins offends so many Christians with his speeches and books – yet – the only way to get him to shut his pie hole is to pin an “Muhammedaphobia” charge on him.
It is sick and twisted how intolerant and exclusive those who feign being tolerant and inclusive really are.
Chand says
Scientific materialism, including Darwinism, should prove to be the gravest danger to Islam. American philosopher, Daniel Dennett from the Richard Dawkins camp, named it the ‘universal acid’, capable of eating away at all erroneous beliefs of the past, including supernatural explanations for material events.
Mo says
A bigot getting his due from other bigots? Now that’s hilarious! Too bad the concept of karma is not a factually based one.
Maybe now he’ll wake up and realize it’s biblical principles, not Islamic ones, that have given him the freedom to make a career from spewing filth about Christianity!
Paul says
Here’s what I just wrote to them:
Dear KPFA,
It was already bad enough that you canceled the Dawkins event because of unsubstantiated claims of “abuse speech”. But the fact that you have expunged any trace of the event/cancellation from your website is beyond the beyond. It proves you are cowards who haven’t got the integrity to take personal responsibility for your own decisions. Many of us out here know that you were rapidly accumulating a huge number of negative reactions to the cancellation, and what did you decide to do in response? Try to pretend it never happened! You are an utter disgrace to the cause of intellectual freedom and inquiry, and I am greatly embarrassed to have ever considered myself (many a long year ago when I lived in Oakland) a proud KPFA listener/supporter.
LR says
Good for you Paul.
This is going to continue to be a battle…for free speech that is.
I hope you keep up the conversation regards to free speech, where ever you can and where ever the ‘shut down’ may occur.
It seems many people give lip service to ‘free speech’, but when it comes to truly supporting it, if highly offended is the challenge.
UNCLE VLADDI says
They must be defunded at once!
Any and ALL legislators, judges, and educational administrators who put hurt feelings above facts should be fired and JAILED.