"Fact is, progressives hate the Taliban and other Islamic fundamentalists precisely for the same reason we hate rabid conservatives at home …"This curious line is from American Taliban by Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas (page x of the Introduction). This may be the first sign that a leftist has come out and damned “Islamic fundamentalists.” Michael Moore use to call them “freedom fighters” in Iraq.
For close to a decade I’ve been reading National Review Online and they have condemned the anti-women anti-gay ethos of Islamic societies. They continually chide leftists for failing to condemn these Islamic practices. Where is the evidence that “progressives hate … Islamic fundamentalists?”
Ask Phyllis Chester, who has tried to get the left interested in the plight of women living under Islamic oppression. Ask Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who has exposed the suffering of women like herself in Islamic lands. Ask Bruce Bawer about anti-gay hatred among Europe’s Muslims. Ask David Horowitz who has continually called on the left to condemn the misogynist Islamic cultures. Ask Pamela Geller who continues to highlight victims of honor killings here in America.
The left was AWOL.
Sorry, Markos, we ain’t buying it. But if you are going to start vilifying “Islamic fundamentalists” do it ... don't posture.
8 comments:
Jason,
I think you mean the Left was AWOL, not AOW. Am I right?
Because, I don't remember Always on Watch ever been Left.
:)
Anyway, your point is very interesting; the only way the Left can bring themselves to admit they have a common enemy with the Right is to say they are just as bad as the Right.
Truth is, many on the Right, including me, often say things such as, before we can win this war, we have to defeat Leftism at home.
So, I guess this is a two-way street.
Pastorius: I don't remember Always on Watch ever been Left.
Hell, no!
Maybe I've been on Jason's mind or something.
Anyway, no offense taken as I knew what Jason meant. I think.
Thanks for catching that typo. I must have been tired last night; or thinking of visiting AOW's website but not getting around to it. I’ve change it.
In any case, I have no problem with Markos making his case against "social conservatives" and even exaggerating it. For example, he points out Dinesh D'Souza's clay feet. However, I was the 1st on the web to do that here and here.
We haven’t held back when we believe others on the right are in denial or worse, aiding the enemy. We’ve been on Grover Norquest’s case (thanks to Frank Gaffney and Paul Sperry). Where’s Markos on the left’s failure? As Horowitz pointed out, there is an unholy alliance. Otherwise the remaining people on the left (moderate left?) have been silent.
Markos was never on the rhetorical barricades fighting "fundamentalist Islam" and he still isn't. I'd welcome it even if we part ways on other issues.
Perfect expression for today's left ..we hate the Taliban because they are as bad as the american right.
JUST STFU and go back to the polling showing we miss Bush.
Support of these kinds of people is worthless and not real.
Believe me, they think Ayn Rand is worse than Muhammad, and Thomas Sowell is a turncoat Oreo of the first degree whose effect in the world is worse than Zawalhiri. If the american right is not evil, they have nothing - for it is only by making themselves into the only 'not evil' choice they can achieve.
PS I give D'Souza credit for debating the issue in private e-mails and online comments. I'd welcome Moulitsas to meet my challenge. If he's been exposing and condemning "fundamentalist Islam" I'll apologize.
However, the left's been AWOL for fearing to "play into Bush's hands." Perhaps now that Bush is out of office we'll start to see some change. Let's see it! Better late than never!
Of course, you guys are right ... he's only interested in vilifying the right which he sees as a monolith. I expect that. But the left isn't getting any credit for fighting Islam from me. (Note here he sees a difference between fundamentalists and others!)
Thing is, I considered myself Left-wing before 9/11.
It was only after I realized no one on the Left was willing to stand against Islam's treatment of women, against Islam's homophobia, against Islam's assailing of Freedom of Conscience, that I migrated right and started identifying as a Conservative.
I remember, Pastorius ... and so were Phyllis Chester, Bruce Bawer and other. The left wouldn't tolerate any criticism of Islam. Markos is re-writing history, as AOW pointed out!
This "thing" of a book is laughable.
The semi-professional (nice) left rejected it -- and my local, lefty Barnes and Noble isn't even carrying it on its shelves. And I live in liberal Austin. We'd have to order it to if we cared to heckle Markos 2nd-grade script.
Loser. Pathetic try to counter McCarthy's Grand Jihad which accurately synched Progressives with Islamists.
Could never do better than that.
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