I’m all for teaching more in schools about Islam, but Biden wants a fantasy version that is entirely positive to be taught, while I would prefer an accurate presentation that explains the theological and ideological roots of jihad violence and Sharia oppression of women.
Note also that he vows to end the “Muslim ban,” which does not exist. What does exist is a ban on immigration from several countries, most of which are Muslim, that cannot or will not provide accurate information about prospective immigrants. The list of countries was devised during the Obama administration, while Biden was Vice President. Most Muslim countries have no such restrictions.
“Islamophobia,” which is what the addled Biden means by “Islamicphobia,” is defined in the New York Post article as “prejudice against Muslims.” Prejudice against any group is never justified. All too often, however, the term is used to refer to honest and accurate analysis of the ways in which jihadis use the texts and teachings of Islam to justify violence and make recruits among peaceful Muslims. Biden would end all that, and effectively criminalize criticism of Islam, including all opposition to jihad terror.
I hope y’all will bake me a cake with a file in it.
Joe Biden speaks to Million Muslim Votes Summit: “Under this administration, we’ve seen an unconscionable rise in Islamic-phobia.” pic.twitter.com/KjbpPgTS7i
— The Hill (@thehill) July 20, 2020
“Biden wishes schools taught more about Islam,” by Kathryn Krawczyk, The Week, July 20, 2020:
Former Vice President Joe Biden received endorsements from several Muslim American leaders before addressing the Million Muslim Votes summit on Monday.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), were among several Muslim American officials who signed a letter endorsing Biden on Monday. Omar’s endorsement was especially notable seeing as she was a big supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and continues to be a leading progressive voice in the House.
Biden then went on to open his speech with a request: “I wish we were taught more in our schools about the Islamic faith,” calling it “one of the great confessional faiths” that “come[s] from the same root” as Christian religions.
Later in his video speech, Biden promised viewers he would end President Trump’s ban on travel from several Muslim-majority countries “on day one.”
The Million Muslim Votes Summit is organized by Emgage Action, the U.S.’s largest Muslim American PAC. Hillary Clinton didn’t attend any Emgage events during her 2016 run, The Washington Post notes, and former President Barack Obama was “cautious” about doing so.
“Biden vows to end Trump travel ban, ‘Islamicphobia’ in call with Linda Sarsour,” by Ebony Bowden, New York Post, July 20, 2020:
Joe Biden railed against what he called “Islamicphobia” and vowed to end the Trump administration’s travel ban on his first day in office during a call Monday with the nation’s largest Muslim-American PAC — including anti-Israel activist Linda Sarsour.
“If I have the honor of being president, I will end the Muslim ban on day one, day one,” Biden said during the “Million Muslim Votes Summit” call hosted by Emgage Action which endorsed his White House bid in April.
The travel ban signed by President Trump in January 2017 blocks most immigrants and travelers from Iran, Libya, Somalia, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.
But Biden didn’t stop there, also lamenting that US schools don’t teach more about Islam.
“One of the things I think is important, I wish we taught more in our schools about the Islamic faith,” he said, while accusing President Trump of “fanning the flames of hate.”
In a rambling speech, the presumptive Democratic nominee also railed against what he called “Islamicphobia” in the call attended by a handful of Muslim political activists — including anti-Zionist Sarsour who told Americans to rise up against what she called a “fascist administration.”
The correct term for prejudice against Muslims is Islamophobia.
“Under this administration, we’ve seen an unconscionable, an unconscionable rise in Islamicphobia and incidents including kids being bullied in schools and hate crimes in our communities,” Biden said, repeating the misnomer over and over.
“He’s named people with a history of open Islamicphobia — open, straightforward, who have no business serving in high positions in our government — to key leadership roles in our Department of Defense and the US Agency of International Development,” he continued….
“Our community is committed to ending the occupation of the Palestinian people, our community is committed to Muslims who are oppressed all over the world,” Sarsour said, vowing to push Biden to support her anti-Israel agenda.
“We want to see Joe Biden in the White House but we also want Joe Biden to know that we will hold him accountable to our communities,” she continued.
“We will be at his doorstep to ensure that we are heard in this administration and we will fight for the things that we believe in and we are not going to end our work on election day,” she said.