Jonah Goldberg's Delusion That Islamophobia Doesn't Exist
Posted: Wednesday, August 25, 2010
by Roschelle Nelson
Jonah Goldberg, founding editor of the National Review Online , had a few choice words about the preposterous notion that our nation is in the grips of an anti-Islamic movement and sentiment unparalleled by anything we've ever seen before.
His statistics are some my 4th grade son would have to raise a furrowed brow about.
First off, comparing hate crimes committed against Muslims in America to the terrorist attack carried out by fanatical Muslim extremists is a far stretch. It's like comparing hate crimes against Japanese-Americans to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The terrorists didn't single out one particular group to inflict their punishment on. They orchestrated an attack against America. Their hatred extended far beyond our religion, our ethnic background, our gender, our political affiliations. They attacked our way of life - our freedoms. One of the very freedoms those who have such a visceral opposition to this "Ground Zero" mosque are spitting in the face of.
You also mention the fact that the number of hate crimes (mostly nonviolent in nature, anyway) have continued to drop since 2001 attempting to validate your denial that Islamophobia exist. The thing is you don't have to commit a crime to hate or fear a certain group.
Islamophobia isn't about breaking the law. It's about fracturing and subjugating a group of people based solely on the religion they choose to practice.
It blows my mind that before anyone that's not a Muslim begins to explain why he/she disagrees with the anti-Muslim climate this country is steeping in feel compelled (almost out of some warped sense of superiority sprinkled with a dash of tolerance) to announce I'm not a Muslim but....
Our own president, who did nothing more than remind all of us about the rights afforded to every American via the First Amendment, has been scrutinized worse than ever. About what? Foreign policy? No. The national debt? No. Ending the war in Iraq? No. The latest tom foolery coming from those on the right and quite a few on the left is the concern about whether our Commander-in-chief is Muslim or not.
His response:
I am not a Muslim. I am a Christian, who takes my faith very seriously. I have daily devotion and yada yada yada
What he should have said is:
I am not a Muslim. I am a Christian. However, if I were a Muslim, what difference would it make? Does one's religion or lack of make him a wiser leader, more diplomatic in how he handles decisions, less likely to be capable of hating based solely on the actions of a few.
The number of letters I've signed expressing my sympathy to mothers, wives, husbands, and other family members regarding the loss of their loved one, who happened to be a Muslim American, in battle have reinforced many things for me. We live together. Sometimes we die together. But we are always always Americans, first and foremost.
Then Mr. Goldberg, you even attempt to gauge the hate-o-meter by asking why anti-Jewish incidents, which have also been on the rise, have taken a back seat to anti-Muslim incidents.
Everything has taken a back seat to anti-Muslim sentiment. The mob is running the show and the 24 hour news media is eating it up. People seem to love dissension and the havoc it wreaks on a cooperative agenda.
Once decisions start being made based on the actions of those with a mob mentality...the next who-can-we-be-intolerant-of-this-week is just around the bend. Hate breeds hate and don't you ever forget it!
Muslims today. Jews tomorrow. Gays on Friday. Women after Thanksgiving.
Another point you express:
Americans have shed a lot of blood for Muslims over the last three decades: to end the slaughter of Muslims in the Balkans, to feed Somalis and to liberate Kuwaitis, Iraqis, and Afghanis. Millions of Muslims around the world would desperately like to move to the U.S., this supposed land of intolerance.
I ask you Mr. Goldberg, are some, maybe millions of Americans NOT Muslims too? You speak of America like it's comprised of one group of people. Well it's not. It's the proverbial melting pot of every race, every nation, every culture, every religion - we are unique in the fact that there's no other country like us. E pluribus unum - OUT OF MANY, ONE.
Does that ring a bell? Have we forgotten the reason those wretched, misunderstood pilgrims, sick of religious persecution and weary of intolerance decided to tell the mother country to kiss their ass because they weren't taking it anymore!
There is no denying. Our country, my country, your country indeed has a history of intolerance. That's not to say it's not one of the most desirable places to live. And you know why?
Because even with it's ugly past - racism, slavery, intolerance, etc.; we've still always managed to let cooler heads prevail. We've overcome every obstacle thrown at us so far. And we'll get through this too.
I still have faith in America. That faith might get a little shaky at times. But never unwavering.
Another point you express:
Americans have shed a lot of blood for Muslims over the last three decades: to end the slaughter of Muslims in the Balkans, to feed Somalis and to liberate Kuwaitis, Iraqis, and Afghanis. Millions of Muslims around the world would desperately like to move to the U.S., this supposed land of intolerance.
I ask you Mr. Goldberg, are some, maybe millions of Americans NOT Muslims too? You speak of America like it's comprised of one group of people. Well it's not. It's the proverbial melting pot of every race, every nation, every culture, every religion - we are unique in the fact that there's no other country like us. E pluribus unum - OUT OF MANY, ONE.
Does that ring a bell? Have we forgotten the reason those wretched, misunderstood pilgrims, sick of religious persecution and weary of intolerance decided to tell the mother country to kiss their ass because they weren't taking it anymore!
There is no denying. Our country, my country, your country indeed has a history of intolerance. That's not to say it's not one of the most desirable places to live. And you know why?
Because even with it's ugly past - racism, slavery, intolerance, etc.; we've still always managed to let cooler heads prevail. We've overcome every obstacle thrown at us so far. And we'll get through this too.
I still have faith in America. That faith might get a little shaky at times. But never unwavering.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)This phobia against Muslims does exist. The mob mentality is beginning to take a grip in certain sections of society. Fear continues to spread because we do not take the time to learn the whys of others that may be different from us.Your article is a masterpiece of calm reasoning on a subject that is on the verge of hysteria. Thank you for sharing this with us.GracePlease log in to respond to this comment.Grace, thank you so much for commenting and adding even more value to the conversation. the climate of hatred and intolerance in this country is like nothing i've ever witnessed in my lifetime.Please log in to respond to this comment.
I read his article, Roschelle; he's very rational, in a superficial kind of way, and I see what you mean about his arguments - they leave out a significant portion of reality and truth. How about his use of the word "Conservativo-phobia"?Please log in to respond to this comment.
Thank you. Bigots must be exposed and written about vociferously. Never give up. Write, write ,write, and write some more. A friend of mine had Rush Limbaugh in his car radio yesterday and I marveled that people actually believe this fool. Makes me really worry about America and if it's too far gone to recover from its stupidity. I will be checking out other countries to move to. Asia looks like the next safe haven. America is getting way too violent.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Jonah Goldberg lives in a world all his own. Those that follow in his goosesteps need to realize that it takes all kinds of people to make a world. We accept him in it don't we?Please log in to respond to this comment.
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