“Islamophobia”? Really? This “poem” was actually lampooning “Islamophobia,” offering a standard Leftist view of what opponents of jihad terror and Sharia oppression of women are really all about: they’re white supremacist rednecks (the Confederate flag) and violent bullies (snatching the hijab). Those who complained about it, and Aurora Public Library officials, are apparently so intellectually bereft that they cannot see that the “poem’s” author, George Miller, is actually on their side. And so it had to go. If Muslims and Leftists are offended, it doesn’t matter whether they’re right or wrong. They must be placated above all other considerations.
“Aurora Library Removes Poem After Accusations Of Islamophobia,” by Jonathon Sadowski, NBC Chicago, April 23, 2018:
The Aurora Public Library is facing criticism for displaying and subsequently removing a poem some have labeled as hate speech that condones violence against Muslim women.
The poem, “Hijab Means Jihad,” was part of an exhibit called “Placeholders: Photo-Poems” on display at the library starting Friday. Over a background of a Confederate flag, the poem begins “Every kid should be like my kid / And snatch a hijab.”
Members of the public quickly denounced the poem as Islamophobic on social media. Poet George Miller, chair of the philosophy department and professor at Lewis University in Romeoville, said the piece was satirical, according to the library.
Miller did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The library posted three Facebook messages addressing the controversy over the course of the weekend.
“There is a lot of discussion about Dr. Miller’s poem titled: ‘Hijab Means Jihad,’ which is superimposed on a Confederate flag,” the library wrote Friday morning. “Some have commented on the satirical nature of the poem…. Others view it as ‘hate speech.’ We are pleased that people are talking.”
But that post did not dispel the backlash. Dozens of people commented on the post, not satisfied by the library’s explanation.
Miller appeared at the library to discuss his exhibit the next day, according to a Facebook post. Hours later, the library made another Facebook post announcing it would remove the poem from the exhibit.
“While the intent was satirical according to the poet, we are aware that this is not the message the panel is sending to our community,” the post reads. “We want everyone to feel safe and welcome at Aurora Public Library, and we will remove the panel before we open for business tomorrow.”
Library board president John Savage on Sunday wrote an apology on Facebook, saying that once he was aware of the backlash, he made the decision to remove the poem. The library, he said, is committed to inclusivity and providing “a meaningful experience for our patrons.”
“When I read the words in that display, my heart ached,” Savage wrote. “I was disgusted by the language and saddened by the fact that very person who read it could believe this was condoned by the Aurora Public Library because it was allowed to be on display in our main branch. I am angry that still in 2018 these examples of hate and prejudice are alive and well—and now being shrouded under the banner of ‘art.'”
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin wrote in a statement on the official City of Aurora Facebook page that he personally requested that the poem be removed from display. The poem, he wrote, “should never have seen the light of day in our city.”
Irvin also criticized the library for its initial post because it “nonchalantly stated” that it was happy with the discussions surrounding the poem….
Tuvia Fogel says
The enforcers of totalitarian regimes soon lose all capacity to detect irony, so giving over satire to their opponents.
mortimer says
Irony? Satire? What’s that? The Leftards and SERIOUS MUSLIMS agree … HUMOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED !!! We decide what YOU can say. Free speech for ME, but NOT for THEE.
“There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious…” -Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
Peter says
Thank you Mortimer. I was going to post the quote by Khomeini but you already have.
J D S says
Our friends…and I hope they are still our friends, the NATIVE AMERICANS, Should be the ones upset with the phrase in the poem, “danced around like an Indian with a scalp” instead of these foreigners from another world..the Muslim world…even if they were born here…. stupidity breeds stupidity and it seems that the Muslims, who were given a country are the best breeders. It looks like they would respect the country that their parents, or grandparents or them selves were given and at least bend with the wind instead of always trying to destroy the best nation in the world and make it into a mid eastern nation to become the worst nation in the world.
God save us from stupid people
Linnte says
Freedom of speech be damned! We are losing it folks. Since when can’t POETS speak?
JawsV says
Since Muhammed. Who killed poets that criticized him (7th century).
mortimer says
The poets who were not KILLED, made a hasty exit from Arabia. Some of them went to the Roman Empire, where they had more freedom of expression.
Mohammed had no OPEN critics in all of Arabia, but his silent critics ASSASSINATED HIM.
Muslims are allowed to vote in ONE WAY ONLY … by ASSASSINATING the leaders.
gravenimage says
Besides, this poet is not “Islamophobic”–instead, the poem is castigating a cartoon “Islamophobe”.
somehistory says
Free speech takes another hit.
Notmoron says
Freedom of speech USED to EXIST till Muslims population grow by UNCONTROLLED birth and immigration
boris says
‘Islamophobia’ is a misnomer. A phobia is an irrational fear which can ruin lives if not treated. Fear of islam is certainly not irrational, just as fear of totalirian communism was not irractional but very real. Islam is even more totalitarian as communism. Because it wants to prescribe what you wear, what you think, what your sex life is, what you eat and with which hand you eat, whom your friends are, determine your daily routine, with which hand you clean yourself after the wc, et cetera et cetera et cetera ad infinitum.
PRCS says
A carefully crafted misnomer.
George Williams says
The word Islamophobia was co-opted by the Muslims to be turned against their enemies. Over the course of 1400 years the nations of Europe and the Mediterranean have feared the warriors of Islam. Islamophobia is a valid term but should be applied to the rational fear of Islam.
JM says
A poem by the Left, satirizing anti-Muslim sentiment via hijab-pulling, is removed from a public library because it might be interpreted literally. Rednecks might attack Muslims and/or Muslims might feel offended. But actually the former is very rare, while the latter is very common. The real story is that the poem is removed to appease Islam, in hopes of staying alive.
But a sordid play in Europe depicting Jesus Christ raping Muslim women is sold out. The message could easily be interpreted literally, yet there is no need to placate outraged Christians, or to subdue stupid Christians who might see this as an example to follow. The real story is that Christians tend to stay calm even in the face of the worst sacrilege.
Islam and Christianity are mirror opposites.
gravenimage says
Spot on, JM.
AlphaDelta says
I fail to see the difference between Islamophobia and so-called anti-semitism.
George Williams says
Islam is a religion, not a race. Judaism is a religion, not a race. Anti-semitism was a term made up in the 19th century to describe bigotry towards secular and non-secular Jews. Hitler’s persecution of Jews included the genocide of any who had so-called Jewish blood/ancestry, whether they practiced Judaism or not, even those who converted to Christianity. It was a complex and confused policy that even the Germans had difficulty in sorting out. Islamophoba is a more modern term that was devised by Muslims as a means to slander and libel critics of Islam and discredit them as bigots. Muslims, in an effort to avoid condemnation for their supremacist beliefs and actions under Sharia hope to cow non-Muslims into silence by making critics social pariahs. If you wish to understand the origins oaf ant-semitism better, I recommend the book “Why, Explaining the Holocaust” by Peter Hayes. It’s just reaching the public libraries and makes fascinating reading.
gravenimage says
I see that AlphaDelta is pretending that criticizing the horrors of Islam is no different from murdering Jewish people. *Ugh*.
American says
Freedom of speech is being threatened, it’s only a matter of time before history repeats itself only this time instead of Nazi Germany it will be the United States! I really would like to know the numbers of the people that really see what’s going on here, and how many are willing to fight to keep our liberties alive?
DogOnPorch says
Big Mo killed the poets…
Dwight Hogg says
John Savage’s heart ached because he was so upset that someone would insult Islam…poor baby. Does his heart ache for all the people Muslims have slaughtered and tortured. Does it ache for the women who are treated like dogs and forced to live inside a shroud? Does his heart ache for the little girls who have been subjected to FGM? Does he ache for the poor young girls who have been killed by their own fathers for not behaving. Does his heart ache for the women who are stoned to death for supposed improprieties? Does his heart ache for the gays who are tortured and thrown off roofs?
PRCS says
Wonder if Piss Christ and Dung on Virgin Mary caused his heart to ache?
Dwight Hogg says
Does John Savage’s heart ache for the thousands of young girls who have been raped, tortured and prostituted by Muslim rape gangs in England?
Carlos Danger says
Yet another group of quislings so willing to give up OUR right to freedom of speech. the fact that they were too stupid to understand what they were so quick to ban is not important. What is important is their eagerness to bend their neck to the hajjis’ yoke.
jack cade says
Savage is a fitting name for a lover of barbarians.
UNCLE VLADDI says
Re: “The library, he said, is committed to inclusivity and providing “a meaningful experience for our patrons.”
Wait til you see what islam has in store for your library and you librarians once it takes over more completely!
The Caliphs used to routinely burn down the Great Library of Alexandria!
After all, once you’ve got the Qur’an, who would ever need any other books?!
FYI says
What they say is islam
“The religion of peace”..
…is belied by the mayhem
which seems not to cease.
the koran calls for hate
-the Left fail to note-
(too busy perhaps
to win islam’s vote?)
the dhimmiwits think
if dissent goes away,
“all will be well” ..
and islam will stay..
. a “religion of peace”
but that’s not the way
the islamic path
ever was in its day!
{So be a fool
like the left if you need
but do not deny
the truth-so,pay heed}
islam :a religion of peace?
it is not!
it spews violence and hatred
and war is its lot
It was always the case:
that islam’s been so
Just read the koran,
the hadiths of mo.
That “prophet” of islam
who broke all of God’s laws
whose boast about terror
…the jihadist’s main cause.
Dedicated to:
God bless the USA and Free speech and the excellent work done by JW
.
Vicky says
Excellent poem! Thank you.
Lee says
The library better get rid of Jonathan Swift’s “Modest Proposal,” which says this:
“I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.
“I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine; and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom; always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter….”
gravenimage says
Of course, this was satire.
Giacomo Latta says
If I were to quote a passage from the Koran and claim it for my own opinion, and these library idiots decided to attack me for hate speech, I wonder how long it would take for them to realize that it was originally from the Koran.
Politicianophobia says
My heart aches when I see there are over 90 Muslims running in the 2018 election in the United States Of America. (Most are running on the Democratic ticket).
Soros and the Muslim Brotherhood are working hard to undermine the USA.
JWhite says
Let’s just say we’ve been seeing the hijab a LOT more in the past year here in Southern Illinois.
Aaron says
First that coward mayor needs to wake up and study Islam
Censorship is not now you show inclusivity
Tell me when the people of this country will grow a back bone and defend our. Culture and Christian heritage
Or have we surrendered
Looks like the major has
By the way Islam means submission
Tom Clowes says
A poem that would encourage kids to engage in a violent hate crimes is not appropriate in a library.
gravenimage says
This is *ridiculous*. The poet is slamming “Islamophobes” (never mind that this crime barely appears to exist). He is not encouraging children to swipe Hijabs, but castigating the filthy Infidels who allegedly do such things.