In two weeks Bard College is staging a lecture in New York by New Republic editor Martin Peretz. You have to wonder how appropriate this is given Peretz's latest rant against Muslims and the First Amendment.
Peretz's anti Arab-racism is by now well known and an embarrassment even to the staff of his own magazine. But even those used to his rants were surprised yesterday when they opened his latest contribution to his blog, "The Mosque is in trouble," at first thinking it was a parody by a hostile critic. Indeed, his attack on Muslims recalls similar attacks on Jews, in which anti-Semites talked all about the things the Jews do and don't do when they're praying.
The State of New York has no need for more mosques, since there are plenty of them. Furthermore, Muslims living in New York do not frequent their mosques on a daily basis; usually they go to them either on Saturdays or on Sundays, due to the nature of their work. Therefore, there is no real need for the building of the Cordoba Mosque; especially as the project has already provoked the sentiments of Americans, by reminding them of the attacks on 9 September, 2001, the Islamic conquest of Spain, as well as the tragic consequences of Islamic imperialism in general.
September 9?
[Since corrected, but] That's not the only sloppy bit. What about his claim that that the community center was originally named Cordoba to be "confrontational and provocative," as a sign of Muslim triumphalism and the conquest of Spain? In fact, it was almost certainly named Cordoba because medieval Spain under Cordoba was a great center of learning and relatively tolerant toward Jews. Maimonides lived there then.
(Mondoweiss readers, please check out Peretz's post and help us enumerate the errors.)
And the crack at the First Amendment?
In my view, the really modest struggle against the mosque is probably the closest thing we've had to a genuinely grass roots effort against the casual and elitist First Amendment fundamentalists.
Wait. We care about the First Amendment. That's what this struggle is all about, separation of church and state. The authors of this post don't want to pray in a mosque but we will fight for the right of others to do so. Casual and elitist?
The State of New York has no need for more synagogues, since there are plenty of them. Furthermore, Jews living in New York do not frequent their synagogues on a daily basis; usually they go to them either on Saturdays or on Sundays, due to the nature of their work. Therefore, there is no real need for the building of another synagogue; especially as the project has already provoked the sentiments of Americans, by reminding them of the attacks on the USS Liberty in 1967, the Israeli attacks on Gaza, as well as the tragic consequences of Israeli imperialism in general.
….And don’t forget that whole schtick about crucifying Jesus! (sarcasm)
Bingo! Give that man a cigar.
why are Zionists and or Jews in general so threatened by Muslims in the US? Do they fear that their voices, e.g. Keith Ellison, will begin to have a stinging impact on Israel?
Would the ADL approve of this treatment of minorities?
As an ADL member, Hophmi should know. Please provide us
your wisdom, mate.
Racism, quite simply.
To get rid of any sympathy Americans have towards Arabs/Muslims and therefore people choose the Zionist camp and their cause. They do it in Europe as well!
The Muslims conquered Spain from the Vandals and Visigoths. Who conquered it from the Romans. Who conquered it from the Carthaginians. Who conquered it from the Phoenicians. Who conquered it from the Celts. Who conquered it from who knows. Who conquered it from the Neanderthals.
Did I leave out any conquerors? There’ve been so many.
Peretz is a total prostitute. Himmler had more honesty and integrity.
Exactly! well said Gaius.
This is good, though. It gives one a good picture of where America’s institutions stand. Consider this a purging of sorts, where the bigots come out of the closet. All that’s left is to confront them with their own bigotry, discredit them, and leave them out to dry.
Some AM talk radio show suggested yesterday that Je….I mean Muslims register, just like one registers a firearm. Most of the listeners agreed in the online poll, albeit it wasn’t scientific.
Not only should Muslims be registered, they should also wear a green crescent sewn onto their clothes.
I have some recent vintage children books to peddle with US government stipend, one is called “The Poisonous Mushroom,” another, “The Fox In The Meadow,” etc. Time to instill in our children this Muslim cancer threat so they can grown up strong and splendid under the red, white, and blue.
They’ve still got some red in the U.S. flag?
Then indeed there are a lot of bigots, a few years back I followed a reaction from colleges and universities in regard to Israeli academic boycott. Perhaps things have changed a bit since than, but I doubt it, the institutions in this nation are run by a fawning and fetid administration which grasps after money – does not seek for truth, nor disseminate it. It depends on the largess of the military for destructive projects, and any elite ideology which saunters along.
AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES PRONOUNCE SOLIDARITY WITH ISRAEL’S ILLEGAL OCCUPATION
EXCERPT:
It is a known fact that Israeli academics and institutions lend a hand to the illegal and brutal occupation. They write the words which are placed in the mouth of the ruling elite, and the fodder that is fed to their indiscriminate supporter, the USA. They obscure the history of the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. They have confounded the political aims of a rapacious Zionism with their goals and aspirations. The very occupation itself is enhanced by the academics who are wed to the military enterprise, and special privilege is given those who serve to oppress the Palestinian people on a daily basis.
So why is it that the institutions in the United States find the proposal of the British academics so objectionable. First, I can tell you that it has nothing to do with what these two spokespersons for well known universities have written. can it be that the academics in the United States, for the most part, are the carbon copy of their Israeli counterparts? Yes, and in some ways even more so. Point for point the same objections made in regard to the Israeli academics and institutions can be made of American academics and institutions. The only difference being that academic institutions in the USA do it for a rapacious empire!
Who’s gonna attend a silly school like Bard College?
I’d suggest they implement a canine obedience training program, and rebadge it as ‘Bark College.’
The greatest hits of Orientalism, those sneaky, snivelling, unreliable and always predictable Arabs.
That reminds me of my favorite hasbara theme which I like to criticize, namely the contradictions inherent to it.
On the one hand, racist propaganda would have one believe that the Arabs are so sneaky, so calculating and deceptive that they cannot be trusted. But, on the other hand, we are told that Arabs are so primitive, short tempered, violent and disorganized that it’s no wonder they continue to be on the losing side. How does one reconcile the two is beyond me.
Don’t forget that they are swarthy, unshaven, fanatical, Jew-haters as well.
And they have funny names.
I mean why there is no laws against Hatred incitement in the US? That has nothing to do with Freedom of expression!
aparisian – the US really does have a serious committment to free speech. Look up the “reverend” Fred Phelps for an example of how far it goes.
It’s just that an exception has been made for “antisemitism.”
Interesting blog post reference Philip Giraldi at WashPost. Apparently Mossad agents posing as CIA/FBI are trying to recruit Arabs and Muslims in the U.S. !
link to blog.washingtonpost.com
Bard College fired Joel Kovel for having he audacity to write his book, “Overcoming Zionism.” Martin Peretz, like Brooklyn College alum Bruce Kesler, are living proof that not all Jews believe in education, at least insofar as that kind of formal thought process dares to interfere with Zionism. “Zionist intellectual” is an oxymoron.
It is obvious that this is a double take, using what was used in the past –
JULIUS STREICHER THE II
Yeah, the guy was hanged at Nuremberg under the principle of hate speech; we have hate speech laws, so why hasn’t Martin Peretz and others spewing their bile been sued yet? We have a governmental agency dedicated to anti-semitism anywhere, so how about extending its reach to include non-jewish semites?
At the bottom of a post where I deal with Camera’s treachery with Wikipedia, I did there is a series I did a series of the “art” of defamation in regard to Muslims and Islam. See for yourself –
NEW DER STURMER ART GALLARY
It is exactly the same thing used on us, no different – and with as much malice of intent. So much so, that the Zionists would like to set aflame the entire Middle East.
VR
There appears to be another group ready to take over from Camera already!
link to palestinechronicle.com
Thanks, Bumblebye–that article you hotlinked sure paints a bleak picture of what Mitchell thinks he’s doing. And it is very accurate. What do either Obama or his special envoy and Hillary think they are doing? What do they think they can accomplish by way of window dressing so Obama/Hillary can boast of achieving peace by their next (respective?) campaign (s) for POTUS? Their cannot be another motive for either, given how this poisoned peace chalice is now handed out for sipping. I guess they realize a Noble Peace Prize is not hard to get, at least for Obama…so why not? Mitchell seems motivated by false vanity; surely he knows the truth Chas Freeman reveals?
Citizen
How odd. I checked the link again in light of your comment, and today it just goes to the news front page! The relevant article is titled “Israeli group distorting Wikipedia Info” 08.31.2010.
Yesterday it went to the article itself.
VR – that site makes my eyes cross.
I know, I have to do something to make it more eye appealing. Others have told me this before, I will think of something soon.
Martin Peretz is a well known Islamphobe and Zionist extremist in the vain of David Horowitz. He’s even estranged colleagues like Andrew Sullivan and Joe Klein.
What is a “First Amendment fundamentalist?” What is more fundamental
to implement our nation as conceived in the US Declaration Of Independence & US Constitution than the First Amendment? That’s why it’s the very first amendment to the US Constitution, the first bill of citizen rights. See how it looks if you substitute Jews or Jewish for Muslims or Islamic in all the opinons recently opined favoring curtailing the First Amendment when it comes to American Muslims exercising their right to freedom of expression and religious practice. Too, don’t we have private property rights in the USA?
Vigil on Sept. 10 for Equality, Diversity & Religious Freedom
On the eve of the 9/11 anniversary, we will join together in support of the American constitutional values of religious freedom, diversity, and equality, and the rights of Muslim Americans to build a community center at 51 Park Place. Join us at sundown on Friday, September 10th for a candlelight vigil. Please register.
Location: Corner of Church Street and Park Place. (Click for map.)
Please bring candles and American flags, but no signs. We are gathering in peaceful, respectful remembrance and unity. Our program will include music and words of wisdom from faith leaders and elected officials. Please wear white in solidarity and peace.
Everyone is welcome. Please invite your friends and neighbors. Download our flyer for printing here and help us distribute!
About the date: If you cannot join us because of Eid, Rosh Hashana, Shabbat or other reasons, please wear white the evening of September 10 in solidarity with the core American values of religious freedom, diversity and equality.
New York Neighbors for American Values is A new coalition of civic, cultural and religious groups in support of inclusion and equality. Please join us.
link to nyneighbors.org
1 and a half hour rebroadcast of last Tuesday discussion of the image of Muslims in the USA & the GZ mosque on CSPAN now, Saturday, Sept 4 from 10 AM to 1130 AM. Assad Akhter, Congressional Muslin Staff Assoc President, is introducing the subject now.
That’s EST time. Very interesting panel.