David f

Re your post on “Islamphobia”:

With which of these statements do you DISAGREE?

The right of free expression is central to a democracy.

Free expression includes the right to subject ANY belief system or ideology to critique, analysis, satire and scorn (CASS)

The fact that a belief system is labeled a religion does not exempt it from CASS.

A partial list of belief systems / ideologies that are LEGITIMATE targets of CASS include agnosticism, atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, capitalism, conservatism, Fascism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, liberalism, Marxism, Nazism, Scientology, Zionism and Zoroastrianism.

(If any of these should be exempted explain which and why)

The critic is under no obligation to abide by anyone’s feelings about “fairness” or “informed comment”.

The critic is under no obligation to take regard of people’s feelings. Free speech specifically includes the right to say and do things that others may regard as hurtful.

While many pundits disguise their racism by attacking a belief system subjecting a belief system to CASS is NOT racism and should not be conflated with racism.

Actual incitement to violence, narrowly defined, may legitimately be prohibited. However incitement must be narrowly defined because otherwise ANY attack on a belief system could be construed as incitement. The example I usually give is:

Judaism is a stinky, rotten religion – allowed

Kill the Jews – not allowed.

Attacks on Jews because of their ethnicity is a form of racism. Attacks on Judaism is NOT racism. Only the former should be regarded as anti-Semitism.

It is important to respect the right of people to practise and evangelise for their religion. We are not called upon to respect the belief system itself.

It is legitimate to fear a belief system or ideology and to argue against its tenets being incorporated into the law of the land.

If you agree with these statements would you like to reconsider your definition of “Islamophobia” and its conflation with “anti-Semitism”.

In this regard bear in mind that many “Jews in the Nazis concentration camps were not Jews, their parents had converted to Christianity before they were born.

stevenlmeyer,

Unfortunately, the magic words 'religion and race',especially if these can be equated, can be used to intimidate otherwise sensible critics of totalitarian ideologies.

Oh dear, Peri,

You sure can spin and amplify trifles.

Sorry, didn't read the novel. What a paltry and contrived attempt you made there. Like comparing Ghandi to John Smith. Unlike your user name - mine is only nominal - ie. have no delusion to any self - aggrandizement.

Again you seem to have trouble reading, and I am not going to bother reiterating any I've already said. You're getting boring.

Now, what is your problem with the term, Londonistan? Why on earth do you so weirdly react to this term? Are you paranoid or something? Didn't you know that London is the Islamists hub of Europe?

grateful,

I really should have known better than to argue with a believer,

To explain the context of my comments, I rely on books for historical analysis,those news sites I referenced might be pro-Zionist, however they report on atrocities by Moslems against non-Moslems in Moslem majority nations. The information is drawn from local news services. Do you deny that Christians are persecuted in Egypt and Pakistan for example,I don't deny Christian atrocities or the Zionist oppression of the Palestinians.I have never,repeat never, discussed Islamic-infidel relations where a Moslem has ever taken any stance other than 'misunderstood victim'.

"That's why I say Muslims are special"-this is a ridiculous chauvinistic statement and rather disappointing,but unfortunately indicative of an apparent widespread attitude amongst Moslems. Moslems are not special.This is definitely my final comment on this topic.

Pax vobiscum.

Dear stevenlmeyer,

My definitions of Islamophobia and antisemitism did not involve criticism of belief systems. It involved hating people because they were Jews or Muslims. The people in the concentration camps regardless of their belief systems or religious identification were regarded as Jews by the Nazis.

Your list of statements included statements that had nothing with my definitions.

It may make you uncomfortable to see Islamophobia as analogous to antisemitism, but that's the way I see it. They are both despicable.

LOL David f

If I let every bit of taurine fertiliser I encounter make me "uncomfortable" I'd be in a permanent state of agony there's so much of it about.

"Islamophobia" is word that was coined in order to draw parallels with anti-Semitism. It is an attempt to intimidate critics of Islam by equating such criticism with a form of racism.

But "Islamophobia" and anti-Semitism are, objectively, entirely different. Anti-Semitism is a form of racism. It is hating Jews because of their ethnic origin.

"Islamophobia" is a loathing for the religion of Islam. It is no more "racist" than a loathing for Christianity, Judaism or, for that matter, Zionism. The parallels for Islamophobia would be "Christianophobia", "Judeophobia" or, for that matter, "Scientology-phobia".

I do not wish to deprive Muslims of their civil liberties. I respect the right of Muslims to believe what they want and to do "dawa" - ie evangelise - for Islam. But I loathe and despise the belief system called Islam. I have nothing but scorn and contempt for people who attempt to appease such a vicious ideology.

BTW why should Islam have its own phobia and not Christianity? Why should Islamophobia be despicable but not "Christian-o-phobia" or "Hindu-phobia"?

Do you want to bring back blasphemy laws that outlaw criticism of religion?

Are you saying that someone who, for his own good reasons, despises a belief system, is somehow morally defective? Or is it only people who detest Islam who have some sort of character defect?

Do you see how absurd it is to equate anti-Semitism and "Islamophobia"? (Probably you don't)

The last questions are not meant to be rhetorical. I look forward to seeing your attempts at an explanation.