Comment

Audio: Richard Holbrooke on 'Evil Incarnate'

334
cenotaphium12/16/2010 8:38:06 am PST

This is indeed emblematic of why I always distance myself from “critics of Islam”. The issue is so marred with those who would use it only as a vessel for the same hatred and bigotry they claim to be opposing. And what they would demand of muslims, they themselves refuse to do - distance themselves and renounce the unvarnished racism and evil deeds of their alleged comrades.

It strikes me that this isn’t unique to the opposition against Islam. In the far right resurgence in Europe, people are keen to label themselves as “concerned” about immigration, immigrants (well, muslims and africans), but in no way motivated by racism. This may very well be true in many cases. But again, the refusal to make a clean break with members who cross the line, or supporters who are actual neo-nazi party members makes me distance myself from that issue as well.
I find the attitude of “well, we can’t be held responsible if some racists happen to agree with us” to be utterly unsatisfactory, especially in topics which lie so close to the path of intolerance.

And it breaks my heart, because I believe all topics should be open to debate, and both immigration and the bad sides of Islam are very important topics that deserve to be illuminated and discussed in earnest. Though never at the price of enabling those who would condone ethnic cleansing, as the example of Geller seems to show.