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May 24, 2006
Iran & The Faux Law, Backtracking
The infamous Jews and Xians have to wear special clothes fiasco has now seen a full retraction, although for those looking for reasons to bash something, our dear Saudi cretins appear to be still in the business of producing hateful rubbish in the service of the Wahhabi hate mongers who so dearly love to dress themselves up in more-Muslim-than-thou clothing.
In other matters, Hirsi Ali - Magan has taken her US media campaign to a new level with a fine NYT piece of puffery about the poor oppressed media darling. Or as the phrase in the arty goes, "her daring approach to Islam, her arranged marriage in Africa, her exotic beauty." Sexy it is, Sexy.
A fair comment, however, from the arty goes:
"She irritates me deeply with her one-sided view of Islam," said Jan Beerenhout, a former Amsterdam municipal official and a convert to Islam. "But I feel ambiguous. She was offensive to the Muslims from rural areas who practice an archaic form of the religion. But if she had not spoken out, many wrongs would have remained taboo."
Certainly it does appear to the causal observer such as myself that Dutch society and social commentary suffers from a bit of constipation in re the Muslim minority - my impression is of little balanced convos, but rather black and white. Could be wrong, of course, relying on second hand knowledge.
Posted by The Lounsbury at May 24, 2006 12:15 PM
Filed Under: Gulf
, Islam & Politics
, Islam General
, Op-Ed
, Religious Minorities
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Comments
It doesn't matter that the comment has been retrated. The purpose of putting out lies like that is so right-wing news outlets in the United States and other countries can publish it. Then, forever after, people with a prejudice against Iran can point to that as "evidence" of Iran's evil. They repeat the lie and ignore the correction, because it reinforces their hatred. The same thing happens in the other direction with items prejudicial against Jews, such as the bogus "Protocols of the Elders of Zion."
Posted by: Bukko in Australia at May 25, 2006 03:58 AM
Holland is a particular case. It had long been the liberal of liberals among nations. Legal hashish, very open migration, legalized prostitution, and, I believe, though I might be wrong, euthanasia.
The problems with immigration were buried under PC. The murder of Theo van Gogh just made it *snap*, but it had been building up to that snap for quite a while, with the murder of Pim Fortuyn and some swelling crime rates. The Dutch went from soft to hard in an instant. From a distance, it does seem a little like going from one ditch to the other.
Posted by: Klaus ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.aqoul.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at May 25, 2006 06:44 AM
OK, so who's going to write the letter to the editor of the New York Times?
Posted by: Eva Luna at May 25, 2006 07:47 AM
The National Post is utter drivel on a good day.
As for the Hirsi Ali article, well, perfect timing.
Posted by: eerie at May 25, 2006 10:22 AM
Damn, now I'm tempted to write a letter to the editor myself, just to point out the hypocrisy re: immigration policy and liars.
Posted by: Eva Luna at May 25, 2006 10:38 AM
I'm not a letter to the editor sort, marhaben bikoum
Posted by: The Lounsbury at May 25, 2006 12:20 PM
Umm, translation please?
Posted by: Eva Luna at May 25, 2006 12:33 PM
dear eva,
marhaban bikum = you're welcome.
--raf*
Posted by: raf* at May 25, 2006 01:09 PM
Actually, it may not be such a hot idea - my company has a policy on public declarations of opinion on matters that may be viewed as partisan political statements by company employees. Wonder if it would apply if I didn't list my employer affiliation?
Posted by: Eva Luna at May 25, 2006 05:07 PM
