OPINION & EDITORIAL
Lichtenheld’s criticism ignorant
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Letters to the Editor:
- UW Law School acts irresponsibly, irrationally (November 2, 2007)
- Plan ahead for Plan B (November 2, 2007)
- End silence on domestic violence (October 29, 2007)
- Don't buy police detox rhetoric (October 29, 2007)
- Gameday behavior sours UW image (October 26, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Hillel rejects Horowitz (October 18, 2007)
- 'Awareness' weak on Islamic reality (October 17, 2007)
- Our campus has higher standards (October 25, 2007)
- 'Islamo-Fascist' moniker meaningless (October 22, 2007)
by Letters to the Editor
Monday, October 22, 2007
In his recent attack piece on our upcoming Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week — a campus protest which will take place Oct. 22-26 on over 100 college campuses nationwide — Adam Lichtenheld reveals his immense ignorance, both about the Muslim religion and the reasons for our protest week (“Awareness’ weak on Islamic reality,” Oct. 17).
The term “Islamo-Fascism” was not coined by myself or by “radical Zionists” as Mr. Lichtenheld claims. It was originated by Muslims in Algeria who were attacked by religious fanatics who now call themselves the al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb. They slaughtered nearly 200,000 Muslims in the years 1990-2002. In fact, Islamo-fascists have killed more Muslims than any other group, making the very use of the term a statement of support for peaceful Muslims everywhere.
Ignorant of this crucial point, Mr. Lichtenheld goes on to demonize several of the experts and scholars participating in Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week, using ad-hominem attacks and isolated quotations in an effort to discredit them and claiming that they “lack the qualifications or general credibility to foster intellectual discussions on Islam, terrorism, or women’s rights.”Â
Well, let’s see: Daniel Pipes, one of the scholars he decrees unworthy, received a Ph.D. in history from Harvard and has written twelve books and hundreds of articles on Islam and related topics. How many books on Islam has Mr. Lichtenheld written?
Far from perpetuating “intolerance,” Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week will offer support to peaceful Muslims against the forces that have hijacked their religion and will defend women, gays, Christians, Jews, Hindus, and other groups who face attack from Islamic radicals.
I encourage Mr. Lichtenheld and all UW students to attend my campus speech tonight and other Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week events to obtain a more nuanced perspective on these crucial issues and the stakes in the War on Terror.
Sincerely,
David Horowitz
President
David Horowitz Freedom Center
Los Angeles, CA
Sara Dogan
National Campus Director
Students for Academic Freedom
David Horowitz Freedom Center
sara@studentsforacademicfreedom.org
Rebecca Dill (October 22, 2007 @ 12:49am):
People can also come to events sponsored by the Muslim Students Association in place of Islamofacism Awareness Week sponsored events and let Muslims defend themselves. These events are:
Tuesday 10/23 - Location TBA - 7pm - The Contemporary Muslim, a panel discussion featuring Professor of Sociology and Indian Studies - Dr. Joseph Elder
Professor of History and Religious Studies and Lubar Institute Director - Dr. Chuck Cohen
PhD candidate in Islamic Studies and Senior Fellow for the Lubar Institute - Uwaymir Anjum
Vice President of the National College Democrats - Awais Khaleel,
In Your Hands Organization Chair - Maha Hilal
PhD candidate in African Languages and Cultures - Reem Hilal
Wednesday 10/24 - Location TBA - 7 pm- Hope not Hate Series Video screening
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 8:17am):
Oh, please. David Horowitz cares about the persecution of women, religious and ethnic minorities, or gay people? Ha!
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 9:43am):
Those attending MSA events should be aware this Muslim Brotherhood offshoot remains an unindicted co-conspirators in the Holy Land Foundation trial (whose verdict is pending today). MSA fascists have helped fund Hamas terrorism.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6175
The MSA are Wahhabists (like Osama bin Laden) and are not the authentic voice of Islam. Join the Horowitz Freedom Center in supporting the Secular Islam Summit
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID={D1E0FABB-6447-4AFF-B229-999EED5C2CED}
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 10:45am):
How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.
A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities -- but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.
-Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition,
Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899)."
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 10:53am):
"Well, let's see: Daniel Pipes, one of the scholars he decrees unworthy, received a Ph.D. in history from Harvard and has written twelve books and hundreds of articles on Islam and related topics. How many books on Islam has Mr. Lichtenheld written?"
PLEASE. How many years has it been since Pipes was published in a peer-reviewed journal? His alma mater kicked him off campus and now he's been extradited to Pepperdine University... where Christian surfers congregate with those who couldn't cut it in the UC system.
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 11:58am):
way to use an ad-hominem attack on Adam right after calling him out on one.
look at Horowitz's campus watches and widespread condmenations of academics and intellectuals in attempt to silence anyone who disagrees with him. seems to be a little academic-fascism goin on.
and don't worry about the Muslims hurting you, the Qur'an prohibits suicide and encourages freedom of thought and speech. hence, the MSA's stance on this. i think you should learn about islam from academics and muslims themselves, not conservative right-wingers with pathetic political agendas.
and his agenda is so incredibly similar to the religious extremists who pose just as much of a threat to global security. he silences anyone disagrees with him, discredits any co-activist who has dissimilar approaches, and furthers a simplistic black-white, extremist view of the world-- do good, kill evil. nothing in life is that simple.
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 12:04pm):
To the comments regarding joining Horowitz's cult: apparently you don't have better things to do with your time than to troll student newspapers and write inflammatory comments.
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 12:21pm):
Horowitiz: Take your thinly veiled hate-mongering to Fox News, where Billo can massage your fanatical shriveled bo-bo. What a coward you are.
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 1:53pm):
"i think you should learn about islam from academics and muslims themselves"
who should i believe? academics and muslims, or my own eyes?
stand back - or i'll draw a cartoon of muhamed with a dog face!
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 3:12pm):
"Muslims in general don't really seem to be big supporters of womens rights, or of gay people even being alive."
Neither do Republicans, weird.
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 9:08pm):
But then Republicans aren't into "honor" killing their daughters if they date a non-Republican. And they seldom hang gays!
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 9:47pm):
The bomb blasts that struck the homecoming procession of the former opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, killing 140 people, were caused by two suicide bombers.
They must not have read that part in Koran that prohibits suicide?
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 10:13pm):
"Violence in Iraq has dropped by 70 percent since the end of June, when U.S. forces completed their build-up of 30,000 extra troops..."
According to the Iraq Interior Ministry.
And bin Laden pipes up and tells his people they've been "lax."
Anonymous (October 22, 2007 @ 10:16pm):
So you think that not wanting gays to marry each other is that same as hanging them?
Weird.
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
