Monday, October 27, 2003

[10:28 PM] Muslims are into the second day of Ramadan. This is the month to best see how little Americans know about Islam and how insensitive (although a good part is unintentional) and patronizing they can be. And you don’t have to talk to the man on the street, you can just watch the news. I’ll try for the month to demonstrate this.

Today on NPR’s morning edition (NPR!!!), Jacki Lyden referred to Ramadan as the Muslim Holy Month of Fasting (we’re fascinated by that fasting aspect). Yes, let’s focus on practice and not what Ramadan celebrates. Christmas, the Christian holiday of gifts…

Then of course there’s CNN’s Lou Dobbs, who should not be allowed to do stories on anything but finance. Tonight he took to task an emailer who objected to Dobbs’ use of the words “radical Islamists.” Dobbs got hot, adopted a tone, and told the emailer, whose name is Hashim Hamandi, that the radical Islamists were the problem. Dobbs said “As you know, Hashim, every act of terror against this country has been carried out by radical Islamists.” I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt and think that he meant on September 11. Cynically I think that Dobbs tips his own hand and reveals some prejudice by forgetting about Timothy McVeigh. If you think that’s a leap, check out the entire exchange


And on the subject of my use of the term "radical Islamists," to describe terrorists at war against this country, from New York, New York, "Your repeated quotes about radical Islamist terrorists is really a veiled attack on Islam and Muslims. Have some decency. You are only helping those terrorists bolster their argument. CNN should be ashamed of having someone like you on their staff." That from Hashim Hamandi.

The Bush administration has chosen to call this war, Hashim, against those radical Islamists a war on terror. As you know, Hashim, every act of terror against this country has been carried out by radical Islamists.

I chose long to go to call the terrorists what they are, radical Islamists. I notice you didn't deny that fact. Calling terrorists what they are, radical Islamists, is not a veiled attack or any other kind of attack on Islam, nor on Muslims.

My audience is very smart and clearly understands the difference between as Muslim and a radical Islamist. I'm only disappointed you are more concerned about my language than you are about the very real attacks on your very religion by those who murder and terrorize in the name of your religion.

You might notice that Hashim never identified himself as a Muslim; Lou just assumes that based on his name. And the most egregious part of the exchange is really ugly, “You ought to be concerned with your nasty Islamist brethren than with me.” I guess Lou will take responsibility for General Jerry Boykin’s ugly comments.

# posted 10:28 PM