the conservative political machine: manufacturing islamophobia

All I know is, I was sitting in the nail salon with my sister a few weeks ago getting my pedicure done, heh, and there was some dude on CNN running for office somewhere (I never did figure that out) talking about how we have to stop the spread of shari'a law in this country and he was being taken seriously. It's one thing to have your nut jobs running around being nutso in cheap paperback books and on public access tv, it's quite another for them to have a venue on the largest, most pervasive news organization in this country with a reporter nodding solemnly and treating him like he is reasonable.

I think you underestimate what is going on.

 

When anti-sharia legislation is introduced in 13 states in the last year (enacted in two states) and those 13 bills are almost identical word-for-word to a "model" bill written by one of the fear-mongers identified in the report then it is more than coincidence and more than a "tiny misinformed portion of the people."

 

Most of those sodomy laws are 100+ years old so I dont see the comparison to one in four states introducing virtually the same bill in one year...a bill written by someone who doesnt even live in those states but has an agenda he is trying to spread nationally, and to some degree, succeeding.

I think you underestimate the reach of these guys. Start with the handful of the most extremist, have it spread by the next level of talking heads and internet news sites (the limbaughs, becks, townhall.com, etc) with a larger audience, and it goes viral. Before you know it, it is law in two states and still under consideration in many others.

 

First, I see something wrong. I am willing to admit and discuss my issues. I ask honest questions. I am bombarded with conflicting information. I honestly don't know where to start.

Second, given real people (like me) with real issues (some share my issues, some have their own, some simply hate) we all get lumped together and treated with a mocking attitude and condescension. I also see something wrong with that.

 

I think you are both are avoiding the issue by dismissing it as nothing more than the work of a small group of extremists that exists on both ends of the political spectrum or falsely mischaracterizing how myself and others here have attempted to discuss the issue.

 

I know there are a variety of views and interpretations, hence the confusion. More important to the point of this thread is the notion that a PR campaign can be effective in promoting fear and hate - fundamentally I disagree.

In my statement regarding religions freedom and conflicts in US law, I worded in such a manner that a variety of religious beliefs could be inserted. My issue is not specific to Islam. For example in the US woman can have abortions that is how our Constitution has been interpreted and is the law. I "fear" extremist Christians who would indiscriminately kill because the law of the land is in conflict with their religious belief. That is intolerable to me. The way Sharia Law is practiced in some Muslim countries is intolerable to me.

Perhaps the problem is in my interpretation of what you folks write or the way you write it. To me it appears as if you lump everyone, even those who have questions, in the same category of being Islamaphobic or whatever you want to call it. Perhaps you can be more precise, so we know what and who you are talking about. I don't hate anyone. And when I use the word "fear", please understand that it may not mean "fear" in the sense that I would run and hide.
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Well how about this: Take a trip to your favorite Muslim nation practicing Sharia Law with a female companion, and dare not be with her every moment ( or someone you trust with her) that she is in public - and report back to us.

In the US some people may be against gay marriage but would never think they have a license to execute a gay person. Perhaps it is you who is avoiding the issue.

 

Spreading those seeds of hate and having "model" legislation introduced in 13 state legislatures, and more importantly, enacted by the majority in two state legislatures is effective.

I agree that is your (mis)interpretation of what I and others wrote.

 

Thanks for the clarification.

 

Again, it appears to me that you are framing the issue in a way that allows you to limit the impact.

The fact alone that these bills have been introduced is enough to spread the hate and fear. And when they are overturned, the response is predictable by those same talking heads and internet newsies...."activist courts."

 

"shrug"

We agree that the hate and fear wont likely be institutionalized in law.

We disagree on the impact it still has on the attitudes of many Americans to Muslims...more than just a handful of extremists.

 

Discounting groups like those in the OP due to some perceived lack of significance can sometimes have the effect of ensuring that groups like those in the OP become larger and more powerful.

 

Those checks are meaningless when you consider the goals of the organizations in the OP.