Philosopher threatened by Islamists

I'm now going to smash my head up against a concrete surface (a cinderblock would suffice although I'd prefer a hardware store floor for the impact). There is no sense of irony among these people, none.

I hate the world.

Don't hate the world, hate ignorance and prejudice. Note that Rebeker himself failed to do this when he praised Jesus (and by implication Christianity) for being a prophet of love. Like that wonderfully Christian leader Arnold-Aimery, clearing Languedoc of heretics at the behest of Innocent III, said, "Kill them all. God will know his own." Oh yes, Christianity is the religion of love...

I agree, but it's also by extension something that is getting to irritating on all sides. The ignorance and prejudice never seems to stop.

I guess it's just the fact that I do not understand the thought process of these people. It seems to just be "I'm good, they're bad. They should therefore die and burn for eternity." For some reason that just doesn't compute for me, and I have no idea what it's like to actually believe that.

An additional risk in all this is that oppression (whether through threats of violence or through other means) easily leads to self-censorship in various forms.

From teachers down-playing evolution in science classes (to avoid conflict with fundie parents) to the latest example, a German opera house cancelling a Mozart opera (Idomeneo, because the severed heads of religious leaders, including Mohammed's, appear in one scene) these are indeed sad developments for those of us who believe in an open exchange of ideas, including some that some may find offensive.

People are inviolate, ideas are fair game!

Except for the xian bit, Redeker is right. But this still seems to be a put up job. Redeker is on the editorial committe of the magazine "Temps Modernes" run by zionist Claude Lanzman.

If you check Redeker's website with a search on "isra�l", you will find that he seems to be obsessed with zionism, nazism, and israel. He also seems quite religious, "Qu�est-ce que l�homme en g�n�ral? Deux sources, jamais d�pass�es, manifestent � la d�couverte de l�homme �: la raison grecque et la r�v�lation d�Isra�l."

http://www.robertredeker.net/lectures_voegelinetlenazisme.htm

His supporters also include well-known zionist Pierre-Andr� Taguieff, Directeur de recherche au CNRS, who recently wrote a defamatory column in Le Monde criticizing John Le Carre as anti-semite for an article he wrote criticizing Israel's attack on Lebanon.

So, though on the factual basis, Redeker is mostly right, I think there is a hidden agenda behind this incident. What he said was well said, but why did it happen now and in this manner? Why didn't he use a pseudo?

I find a lot about this suspicious.

All good points, bernarda, but despite that, death threats are beyond the pale. From either side.

The thing that makes me just shake my head about these Islamist extremists, is that every time someone criticizes the nastier or violent elements in Islam, these people immediately start protesting in ways that ironically confirm the criticism, in spades.

"I'm not violent! And I'll kill anyone who says so!!" Yeesh -- do they not own any mirrors, or something?

Consider, though, that a significant minority of Muslims believe or strongly suspect that the West (whatever that is) is engaged in a Crusade to wipe out their culture and religion. And it's a fight they expect to lose. However unrealistic, a lot of folk genuinely believe that the forces of Christendom are poised to bomb their countries, rape their women, and swipe their oil, if only they can work up enough public opinion.

Any statement that would seem to support this view will spark a lot of anger. They see it as adding to the weight of consensus in western society, and as part of an effort that will ultimately result in the destruction of their very way of life. Scared people are angry people.

Is it an appropriate response? Of course not. But the every side has its nuts.

...and of course they respond more, ahem, directly than their nutty Christian counterparts. An American redneck can confidently rely on his country to bomb the bajeezus out of the infidel, and to protect him from invasion. A Muslim redneck is on the losing side, and knows it. Frustration, fear, anger and slighted machismo is a bad combination.

What's going on isn't exactly a crusade since it is not officially religious, but we are engaged in imposing an American ideology on Middle Eastern countries by military force. Most folks may not recognize the legitimacy of opposition to Democracy, but then the Europeans of the eleventh Century didn't recognize opposition to Christianity as legitimate either.

John W. There was a case--continuing--a couple of years ago about the very successful black comic Dieudonné. He gave a short sketch on television mocking Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Immmediately there were cries of "anti-semitism", though his sketch was strongly focused. The result was that he received threats, even from an apparently organized group. People physically attacked fans going to his show. Smoke bombs were thrown into a theater were he was on. Owners or managers of venues were threatened leading to the cancellation of many of his engagements. He is blackballed from television, not just one channel, but all.

I don't remember seeing one of these people showing now solidarity with Redeker ever defending Dieudonné. So it is hard for me to accept this as simply defending free speech. There appears to be a lot of hypocrisy here.

In Dieudonné's case, there has been actual physical violence. Nothing of the sort has happened with Redeker. No one knows the source of the supposed threats. No one has been named, accused, or arrested. The threats are anonymous posts on chat groups. Dieudonné also lost a lot of his income. No one talks about compensating him.

Redeker and some of his friends at the magazine "Temps Modernes" and elsewhere are supporters of the Iraq War. There seems to be a very tight clique around him.

For me, this seems to be a planned confrontation.

I agree that he has the right to say what he wants, but the standard should be the same for everyone.