The Islamofascists Would Kill Me First

I am a Muslim who has renounced Islam. I am an apostate. I have had very unflattering things to say about the Prophet Mohamed (number one no-no of all time in the eyes of radical Islam). If an Islamic theocracy were to take over, I would be the first one strung up.

Islamic radicals are not known for their patience for Muslims who denounce Islam and the Prophet Mohamed. They're known for killing them.

Nonetheless, here are three reasons why I am not scared of the Islamofascists:

1. They're not a real threat. These childish neo-cons run around trying to scare everyone into believing these guys are the new Third Reich. Really? Are they about to roll over the Czechoslovakia (or now the Czech Republic and Slovakia)? Is Cleveland next? Should the residents of Boca Raton look for new retirement communities because the Islamofascists are coming?

Don't be ridiculous. This is a made up threat that in no way, shape or form endangers the United States of America. Al Qaeda is a few thousand cave dwellers that have managed to hit us on several occasions through good planning, but it's not like their armies are going to roll into San Diego and occupy us. Iran is a country that is gaining some regional power, but to claim they threaten Europe or America (or even a nuclear-armed Israel) is ludicrous. Which European country do you think Ahmedinejad will take first -- Germany or Great Britain?

This is not tot say that you ignore the real threat that groups like Al Qaeda pose, as the Bush administration did before and after 9/11 (why did we pass up a near certain hit on Osama bin Laden just two months ago, for example). But you have to understand the proportion of the threat in order to be able to deal with it intelligently.

I don't want Iran taking over anywhere. They literally endanger my well-being. But there is a smart way of dealing with Iran and then there is the Bush way. The Iranian people can be won over by our culture and the lure of liberty and democracy (and more importantly, capitalism). Time is on our side. But if we attack them, we will definitely push them toward nationalism, militarism and fundamentalism. Ironically, we will create more Islamic radicals to fight, not less.

2. Islamofascism does not exist. It's a made up word and made up concept. There are plenty of Islamic radicals and Islamic fundamentalists. In fact, I think the "war on terror" should be renamed the "war on fundamentalism." But these radicals don't believe in fascism. They don't think the state should be merged with corporations. Corporations? Are there a slew of Islamic corporations threatening the world?

Fascism has many elements to it, not just the corporate aspects. But a thoughtful look at what makes up a fascist state will not reveal any resemblance to fundamentalist Islam. They share the fact that they both believe in repression of the citizenry, but so does nearly every dictatorial regime in the history of mankind. So, why don't we call them Islamocommunists or Islamomaoists or Islamoimperialists? Why, because it's silly. Just call them what they are -- Islamic fundamentalists.

Of course, the reason the neo-conservatives made this "Islamofascists" word up is so they could compare Iran and Ahmedinejad to the Nazis and use it as a pretense to attack Iran. It's so obvious that it's a bit pathetic.

3. The third reason why I am not afraid of the so-called Islamofascists is because I am not a coward. I don't run away from American principles and the U.S. constitution just because we were attacked. I believe in America and what she stands for. These colors don't run.

I guess there are some people so weak and frightened that they will argue that we should change America so that we become more like our enemy in order to defeat them. But I'm not in that camp. I'm in the camp of standing by our flag, standing by our constitution and standing by our principles.

If we can't beat them by being Americans, then what's the point? Do these neo-conservative cowards believe in America at all? Do they believe in the America that respects its citizens' rights, that treats everyone -- even their prisoners -- fairly, that is the shining beacon for the world? Do they believe in the America that beat the real Nazis without having to be Nazis? That beat the Stalinists without having to become like the Stalinists?

Or do they think we should torture, spy on innocent Americans, start first strike wars and violate all of the principles that made this country great? You be the judge. But I, for one, am not afraid of the boogeyman, even if the boogeyman has my name first on his list. The America I know and love can beat any real or imagined boogeyman. And we do it by having the courage of our convictions and staying true to who we are.

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Comments

[khargushoghli]

Yashasin Cenk! You're the greatest!
As Ataturk said, "One Young Turk is worth the whole world of radio blab!"

[seewhy]

i'm completely lacking in fear of terrorists or anyone else. five years ago i was supposed to be obsessed and cowering about saddam. the same guy who shot 35 junky missiles at israel in '91 and two or three of them hit something? and he was beaten down with 12 years of sanctions after that?
the chance of any of these people attacking our soil or trying to take over the US are slim to none. how can i take any of this seriously?
and forget about the geopolitical posturing for a second, and consider how completely counterproductive our actions have been, if we're really there for our stated objectives, and not for oil.

[outnow]

A couple observations about the religious, if I may, from the front pages of major newspapers in the United States.

Regarding catholics, who have paid similar sums in the hundreds of millions to children in Boston, Los Angeles, and San Diego:

Friday, November 2, 2007, The Sad Diego Union Tribune, Judge's tears, rebuke close case, "Chapter 11 is not supposed to be a vehicle , a method, to hammer down the claims of those abused." Judge Louise DeCarl Adler, on the diocese filing for bankruptcy and then requesting the case be dismissed after being accused of bankruptcy fraud in avoiding claims of sexually abused children. The diocese asked the judge to pay the damages of almost 200 million dollars out of her own pocket (as a member of the diocese). She was so angry and upset that she could not longer hold back the tears.

Regarding ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel:

The New York Times, Friday, November 2, 2007 "For Ultra-Orthodox of Israel, a Modern Marketplace grows:"
"on Oct. 21, five ultra-Orthodox Jews assaulted a woman and and Israeli soldier on a bus bound for Beit Shemesh. The men demanded that the woman sit in the back of the bus; when she refused and asked the soldier to sit next to her, they beat them both. When the police came, dozens of ultra-Orthodox men attacked them while the assailants escaped."

Regarding Muslims in Pakistan in The New York Times, November 2, 2007:

"Militants Draw New Front Line Inside Pakistan:"

"For much of the last century, the mountainous region of Swat was ruled as a princely kingdom where a benign autocrat, the wali, bestowed schools for girls, health care for everyone and the chance to get a degree abroad for the talented...

Now the region is the newest front line in the battle between Islamic militants, who are sympathetic to the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and the Pakistan's nervous security forces. For the first time, heavy fighting has moved beyond Pakistan's tribal fringe and into the more settled parts of the country..."

[itmaybetoolate]

Excellent!! But, I go one step further. Neocons are not only cowards, they are traitors. Why do we avoid this word? If you do not support the Constitution, you are a traitor. End of story. No argument; no if, ands, or buts allowed. I say we start asking the following: "Do you support the policies of GWB? Yes? You are a traitor and I will have nothing else to do with you." It is time for a hard line folks.

[Sephirothii13]

here here, what makes us able to be a great nation is the place we take at the table of respect at the table of the world, stalin couldn't tell us how we shouldn't be japanese americans in camps as he was murdering his own, we now can't talk about not torture people when we do it ourselves.

[RobertPaul]

Cenk
One of the finest pieces of writing you have done!

Thank you, you remind me of a part of me that BushCo has tried to wipe out with their continual use of Fear Fear Fear!

The only thing we REALLY have to fear is the BushCo administration and what it has done (and is doing) to this country.

Our Shining Apple of a country has a rot at the core.

Let us hope that a new spring will bring a new crop of rot free apples...although, I gotta say...the blossoms I see on TV are not terribly impressive so far!

Well...I guess we can hope!

[paddymick]

Cenk,

You differentiate between the "smart" way and the "Bush" way--inferring that Bush isn't smart. Wrong. He just has different goals than you do. Creating more terrorists is EXACTLY what he wants to do. Without enemies, we cannot justify military spending. Without military spending we cannot make Halliburton (Bechtel, KBR, GE, Lockheed-Martin, etc., etc.) CEO's rich. Without rich, contract-grubbing CEO's, there is no way that spoiled, useless brats could get elected President of the United States of America. And without continued strife, there is no way those CEO's would set up said useless brat with a nice "retirement plan" of think tank memberships, board positions, and speaking engagements.

Bush ain't dumb. He just wants something other than what the rest of us expect from him.

[ihavenobias]

Instead of dropping bombs on these people we should be dropping porn, pizza and Entertainment Weekly.

Here in the US we have a perfect template for how distraction (coupled with easy credit) can mask a mediocre (at best) life.

We need them to open up that chest of guilty pleasures so that chants of "Death to America" will be replaced with "Leave Brittany Alone!"

It's sadly true that the US has become the #1 importer of goods. But if we try hard we can again become the #1 exporter of pop culture, a far more powerful tool for squashing the radical elements of the world. After all, why do we think *our* radicals only picket and try to change laws (okay, a murdered abortion doctor here and there, but still), which is better than suicide bombs and the like.

It's because we have HBO and American Idol and movies like (fill in the blank movie with fart jokes, boobs and explosions) and deep fried Twinkies and triple double stacks of burgers and fries and and on and on. And hey, if we're broke, no problem, we have free money (credit cards)!

We also do a much better job placating our nerds. Who needs 72 virgins when we have lube and a PC or DVD player? Who needs real friends when we have online message boards, role playing games, comic books and X-Box 3,600?

(Note: Some of that might seem crass and crude, but have a sense of humor, there's a lot of truth in it IMO)

[Ravenlea]

Well said. Thank you for continuing to speak good, practical sense. Like others, I wish we could get your voice to a wider audience of listeners.

[cynara]

From one none religious person to another: "Amen, brother, amen". Well written and well worth reading.

[outnow]

I had a relative who was really high up in the intelligence establishment in the United States.

I had to ask him one burning question back in 1979. That question was, "Where is the greatest threat to America coming from, the right or the left.

We both know the answer to that question then and now. The treat to this country is coming from the right. It is unfair to conflate Islam with fascism. Terrorists are basically sowing chaos, not fascism.

I feel that all religions are used to control people. The Rumsfeld snowflakes tell you all you need to know about fascist propaganda - and it happening right here in the U.S.

I do not see the erection of tents or the establishment in La Jolla, California. The real estate agents would kill ever one of them. A Caliphate is never going to happen even in the Middle East. The Holy Roman Empire will not come back, either. Thanks for the post.

[Kansas Evans]

Really great post Cenk. I can't figure out the big whoop-dy-doo either. Like Al Qaeda is running NYC? Er...um...no.

[lwise1129]

Cenk, you did good! What a beautiful descripion of our country! I think you should post this on every right wing blog that will let you in. and I'm sending it to all my neocon friends and relatives.
I listen to you every morning. You are the best.
Keep up the good work.
Liz Wise

[Durango]

"Islamofascism does not exist. It's a made up word and made up concept."

Exactly. They are attempting to use the general ignorance in America, and in particular, the American media, to lump many disparate groups together to claim "the greatest threat to America" ever.

They use Islmaofascists as shorthand so they don't have to explain that Hezbolah, Hamas, Badr Corps, Iranian fundementalists, Osama Bin ladin, the Taliban, hell even the PLO, HAVE ALMOST NOTHING IN COMMON.

Except, of course, they are all Muslims.

In fact Osama and his gangsters are a much greater threat to the Shia of the Middle East than they have ever been to the West.

And an even greater threat to the secular regimes of the Middle East. Regimes such as Saddam's.

Rather than attacking the real threat and destroying Al Qaida and ,Bush has taken us off on a Crusade against forces that had nothing to do with 9/11.

And hope to take us over the cliff with a war against Iran.

The Liberalization Movment in Iran is the single most promising event in the Islamic world. If we go to war it will destroy that movement for a generation, at least.

[larry278]

While I freely admit that I'm a coward-I've learned not to fear death. Death would free me from dealing with fear mongers who are selling Islamofascism as the flavor of the month. W's fear mongers would have us believe that the sky is falling too. They blame that on radical Islamists. I'd like to see more episodes of hope among politicians who deal with adversity with a quiet resolve & self-confidence but hope, resolve & self-confidence are scarce items in the USA in 2007. No one can expect a quiet politician. I'll have to settle for politicians & others who purvey hope, resolve & self-confidence & be grateful.
Thanks for the liberal dose of hope which flavors your blog today.