Scott, the word isn’t un-PC. It’s anti-semitic. And your email below is filled with a mix of anti-Semitic slurs and just simple ignorance. For your sake, I hope you’re young and will be able to look back at a later point as something you grew out of, like some people who were racists but then grew, changed over time. Like Robert Byrd who briefly joined the KKK as a young man but went on to become very progressive on race. Give some thought to the anti-Semitic tradition you’re a part of. It’s filled with darkness and mass-murder. JMM

On Sat, Sep 5, 2009 at 1:03 AM, Scott Conner wrote:

I was looking at your staff and it appears it’s really Jewy up there. I really don’t care, don’t believe myself anti-semitic, though I am a bit of a defender of Muslims/Islam though not an advocate. This may actually have me defending Islam/Muslims.

I’ve come to notice the amazing number of Jews in the media. I suppose this is a credit to the hard work and vision of Jewry worldwide. I am most sensitive on this issue as it relates to Israel, and what I believe you’d admit has become too often a blind allegiance to Israel.

I say this as an Irish/Scotish/British heritage white male Texan. Just tonight my grandfather gave me the love it or leave it speech regarding my critiques of this country. Further, as an Irish–last name Conner I’ve always had a slightly sympathetic ear for the Irish plight. I can by this insight into my own self see how my heritage has affected my views. I can understand how Jews would feel an understandable affiliation with Israel.

It’s not really possible to discuss matters with my grandfather as I wish. He sees my criticism of American mega corps as hating America. Though, I wish I could get him to understand that I criticize because I love her ideals and see her on a bad and unsustainable path. I love America, but those who earn their princely incomes from less than competitive markets love her like a drunk slut they hope to exploit. Silence isn’t love when that which we care for is doing wrong.

Anyway, if your names are indicators of a Jewish heritage, it seems your fine blog, which appears to be fair relative to the Palestine issue could be criticized for a lack of diversity. I want to state that I find most of my information relating to the Israel/Palestine issue from those extraordinary Jewish reporters and commentators that are as willing to criticize Israeli wrong-doing as I am American wrong doing.

Rob’t Reich is a favorite economic commentator of mine, as are Uri Averney, Finklestein, Glenn Greenwald, Jim Lobe and others. Since I’m treading on thin ice here, let me say that I have found no passages in the Quran, or even in the Muslim tradition that compares to the Book of Joshua which celebrates genocide and atrocity without an inkling of hesitation, doubt or reservation.

I believe the (noble) essence of each of the 3 faiths (and near all faiths for that matter) rests in the Golden Rule. I never found the Trinity in Jesus’ teachings hence I turned toward the Judaic and late Muslim traditions. Now, all faiths are run and composed of Men, hence they all have their failings. Though I think the Jewish tradition carries some unique teachings that are uniquely problematic.

The Quran never suggests that Muslims are chosen or “elect” to choose the Christian equivalent. With this specialness it must be hard to “love your (inferior) neighbor as yourself. This seems to me to be a fair test of any Jew, Christian or Muslim. Supporting violence for any reason but defensive action is unacceptable by anyone.

The fact of the matter is that as Americans we should consider our own traditions before pointing to the flaws of others. I imagine you agree, if uncomfortably with what I am saying. Muslims seem to get plenty of criticism as it is. I must say that I have Jewish acquaintances who believe themselves superior for their Jewishness. More troubling is the odd racial aspect of Judaism. Is there another race based faith? Surely you understand the possible pitfalls here. Again, I don’t assume these issues of all Jews.

Though, I do actually hold this test up to all people. If you think yourself exceptional you’re all too common. I know this is an incredibly provocative argument/discussion. I am not trying to offend, though an old song lyric frequently comes to mind, “Pancho was a bandit boys, his horse was fast as polished steel, wore his gun outside his pants, for all the honest world to feel.”

I live in TX surrounded by many American equivalents of what I’m denouncing in some Jews. Further, when Muslims that I know drift into even subtle anti-semitism I wear my guns outside my pants as it were. I’m an old rugby player and always appreciated the honest asshole far more than friendly folk–they can’t be trusted. I believe I suppose in fair play, and hypocrites are cheaters. Hypocrisy is essentially what I am opposing in this entire essay, exceptionalism carried to a global reach here in America is the most widespread.

Anyway, this is my first day to actually visit your blog, though I’ve seen it referenced in a good light many times. You may see many posts from me. I believe I’m always being fair and earnest–unless I am channeling some satirical ugliness. I’ve seen plenty of racism and hope I am fair an charitable. I suppose I’m fishing for a response, an honest reaction. I hope you find this fair even if harsh or relentless. Shalom, Assalum Alikum, Peace.

John Davidson, if your contributions wouldn’t be so hysterical some people might actually listen, there surely are problems in the larger region.

But as a German your contributions remind me very much of Johann Andreas Eisenmenger’s Entdecktes Judentum/Judaism unmasked.

Islam unmasked? What would be our present day Eisenmenger’s and are they all Jewish?

For you to suggest the defense never objected is totally false, and indicates utter ignorance of how trials work. The judge offered concessions to the gov’t that had our local journalists amazed, saying quote, “they’d have the Red Cross convicted of terrorism.”

Remember when Hamas won an election in Gaza yet the US repudiated the vote? Well, we may have, at the behest of Israel declared all of Hamas at that time a terrorist organization. Though Israel herself had vetted and approved those charities previously. These were post hoc charges as EVERYTHING that happens in Palestinian lands passes through Israeli customs, border crossings and the like.

HLF had worked through official channels in Israel and the US. Again, it was the politicized demonization of Hamas’ schools, again previously accepted by Israel as legitimate charities that hung HLF. The most contentious items sent were two computers that were two years old. Otherwise they sent money, food and clothes to these schools.

The relationships with the other charities you mention is tangential at best. Yet their involvement was sealed in court and made at the behest of and “anonymous” Israeli expert who interpreted “Assalam alikum” as a terrorist greeting. You can take that and run with it–go tell your echo chamber that “peace be unto you” is terrorism.

Here’s another challenge, go and look up the quotes you cite in context in the Quran. They do not mean what you say. Read it yourself. If you do, you will find you’ve been mislead by out of context quotes that are so qualified–not paragraphs or pages later, but immediately in the proceeding and ensuing CLAUSES.

For you to take such a sweeping interpretation of Sharia which has the same complex body of differing opinions as US case law. Only theirs is over 7 times more vast than our own, and pre-dates even Common Law. But hey, your simpleton readings of complex arguments–or rather the politically driven interpretations you’ve read are flatly silly and wholly ignorant.

You wrote: ““…we certify that the above-mentioned translation corresponds to the Arabic original and conforms to the practice and faith of the orthodox Sunni Community. There is no objection to printing it and circulating it.” No Muslim can claim such a thing. No interpretation of the Quran can be called “the Quran” Again, I didn’t study one interpretation but at least 4 different interpretations and further studied a literal interpretation, which isn’t accurate since language is idiomatic.

For instance let’s review your quotes: 2:216-17 You may be called to fight even though you dislike it, but it’s possible you dislike things which are good for you and like things which are bad for you. Allah knows better than you.

4:88-90 Why are you divided regarding the hypocrites? These people aren’t earnestly guided. They wish you’d reject your faith as they have, so don’t trust these people to protect you until they return to the way of God, but if they turn renegades fight and kill them where you find them. Except those who seek peace or who approach with restraint from fighting you or their own people. If they withdraw from you and fight you not and send guarantees of peace the Allah has opened no way for you to fight them.

9:36 the first half of this verse says that of the 12 months Allah made 4 are sacred and fighting prohibited in those months. “So wrong not yourselves therein, and fight the Pagans all together as they fight you all together. But if you know that Allah is with those who restrain themselves.” This chapter deals with how to deal with people who violate their oaths, saying they wish peace yet fighting covertly.

Let’s compare these qualified injunctions with the Bible. Joshua 6:20 …They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed everything in it–men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

Time prevents me from listing the other 11 cities that bear a similar bloody fate just in the Book of Joshua. The Quran offers qualified permission to fight those who interfere with the lives of Muslims. The Bible gives blind license for the Hebrews to murder everything in sight with abandon. Your hypocrisy is glaring, your ignorance of our own Western traditions vast.

“Jihad means to war against non-Muslims and is etymologically derived from the word mujahada, signifying warfare to establish the religion…
The scriptural basis for jihad, prior to scholarly consensus is such Koranic verses as:
‘Fighting is prescribed for you’ (2:216)
‘Slay them where you find them’ (4:89)
‘Fight the idolators utterly’ (9:36)”
[Book O, Justice, o9.0, p599]

“When a person who has reached puberty and is sane voluntarily apostatizes from Islam, he deserves to be killed. In such a case, it is obligatory for the (leader) to ask him to repent and return to Islam. If he does, it is accepted from him, but if he refuses, he is immediately killed.”
[Book O, Justice, o8.1 and o8.2]

“The Objectives of Jihad. The caliph makes war upon Jews and Christians, and Zoroastrians (provided he has first invited them to enter Islam…)…
‘Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last day and who forbid not what Allah and His messenger have forbidden…”
[Book O, Justice, o9.8]

“When an adult male is taken captive, the (leader) considers the intersts of Islam and the Muslims and decides between the prisoner’s death, slavery, release without paying anything, or ransoming himself in exhange for money or for a Muslim captive held by the enemy.”
[Book O, Justice, o9.14]

“Lying. Permissible Lying…it is permissible to lie when he goal is permissible..and obligatory to lie if the goal is obligatory.” (note: this applies only to lying to non-Muslims. Jihad is obligatory.)
[Book R, Holding One's Tongue, r8.0-r8.2, p744-745]

There is no authoritative Islamic Law that does not contain these core principles because Scholarly Consensus was reached on these issues and they find their basis in the Qur’an – the direct word of God according to Islam – meaning it can never be annulled or amended.

You condemn Sharia, though you clearly know little of it, even more telling is your evident ignorance of your own traditions. Are you familiar with the book of Joshua. The Quran, Haddiths and Sharia contain nothing as repulsive as the Book of Joshua–you know where the Hebrews came to dinner under false pretenses, murder every man woman and child. Of the dozen cities razed and looted according to the Biblical accounts sometimes they killed all the animals other times they took them as booty. Similar inconsistencies are shown regarding their gold and other treasures.

As to the Holy Land Foundation the Elashi brothers tried to engage in due dilligence seeking State Dept approval for a couple of computers they sent to Syria. They recieved that approval only to have it held against them later. A local White Christian reporter commented during the trial that the Red Cross should be charged under the odd claims made by Bush’s heavily poiticized Justice dept.

The charities that HLF worked with in the occupied territories were all approved by Israel herself. Only to have these standards shifted for political convienience. The Gov’t showed images of Afghan Mujuhadeen from Reagan’s days conflating their US supported “jihad” with the HLF despite the fact that these Afgan warriors were active 12yrs before HLF was even formed.

The first trial was a mistrial and the verdict you trumpet is under appeal. If and when this unjust verdict is reversed I imagine you won’t retract your accusals.

The only wars allowed under Islam are defensive. Perhaps you are familiar with the “Go kill them where you find them.” verse. I wish you’d look up the context of that quote. The textual context so undermines this claim that anyone who’d take that out is totally disingenuous. Basically the verses read; if you are beset with people who violate their oaths, call for treaties and violate them, then it says go fight and kill them where you find them, but if they ask for a truce or peace you have no cause to fight them.

All faiths are followed by flawed men. No human institution is perfect.
But the claims you make of Islam are flatly wrong, I’ve studied the Quran, Haddiths and much of Sharia in Arabic and English. There are many who for political purposes will say anything to disparage Islam and Muslims.

You ignore Jesus’ challenge for us to love our enemies and our neighbors as ourselves. I don’t know if you believe we have the right to invade other countries, support dictators and oppress, starve, humiliate and dominate an entire people as over 3000 IDF soldiers have charged. Christians, Muslims and Jews all proclaim the Golden Rule. It seems you think the US exceptional, elect, or chosen. I don’t know how anyone can reconcile that attitude with the Golden Rule.

John Davidson, you have a lot of reasearch to do for you ignorance and bigotry are vast.