Memo To Reza Aslan Re. Right Wingers & Google
[su_right_ad]Reza Aslan mostly nailed it this morning on NBC’s Meet the Press when Chuck Todd (who IMNSHO is a modest improvement over “Dancin’ Dave” Gregory) tossed the scholar and author a completely predictable Beltway Village ‘feigning ignorance’ question:
Todd: [You said] the Muslim community needs to stand up. Who are these folks? Who’s gonna do it?
Aslan: Well, first of all, let’s be clear that every single organization, major organization, Muslim organization throughout the world and in the United States, every prominent individual, be it political or religious leaders, everyone has condemned, not just this attack, but every attack that occurs in the name of Islam. Anyone who keeps saying that we need to hear the moderate voice of Islam. Why aren’t Muslims denouncing these violent attacks doesn’t own Google. But that said, I do think that we do need to do a better job of providing a counter-narrative. What really I think puts an obstacle in the way is opinions like Ayaan [Hirsi Ali]’s and so many others in the political and the media mainstream who continue to say that 1.7 billion people are responsible for the actions of these extremists. That doesn’t help the fight against radicalism. The answer to Islamic violence is Islamic peace. The answer to Islamic bigotry is Islamic pluralism, and so that’s why I put the onus on the Muslim community, but I also recognize that that work is being done, that the voice of condemnation is deafening and if you don’t hear it you’re not listening.
Aslan’s answer was solid and informative, but sadly, he is ignoring a fact of modern American political culture: the critics aren’t listening because they don’t want to. People who get their “news” from Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and World Net Daily, and their worldview from Townhall or the Tea Party, don’t give a damn about Google. And people who have a financial stake in misinforming this segment of the American population sure as hell aren’t going to say anything that would disrupt the xenophobic, bigoted narrative!
‘Nuff said.
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tracey marie January 11th, 2015 at 7:37 pm
The right, like you said will not care about the facts. Saudi Arabian leaders were in france, yes I know 9-11 and all that the voices are loud the hearing of the goptp is limited due to their bubble of hate and bigotry
rg9rts January 12th, 2015 at 6:55 am
pitty pum pique skamper
mea_mark January 11th, 2015 at 7:40 pm
The extreme right-wingers in America, living in self imposed ignorance, are just about as bad as the Muslim extremist on the far-right. Both are being manipulated by power hungry individuals that don’t care about these people, they are merely pawns in a game that shoots way over their heads.
rg9rts January 12th, 2015 at 6:50 am
Did you ever see that troll anartic again??? I called it right.
Yastreblyansky January 11th, 2015 at 7:59 pm
Yes, they think Google is a liberal scam.
Obewon January 11th, 2015 at 8:25 pm
Delusional paranoids ‘who get their “news” from GOP leaders Limbaugh, Michael (Wiener) Savage, and World Nut Daily, and their worldview from Townhall or the Koch Oil bros Tea Party, are too damn scared to type “Google” debunking their fantasies e.g.
“Limbaugh’s statements by ruling: True = 0%.” His errant website describes Rusty as “America’s Truth Detector” with having 00.00% honesty. http://www.politifact.com/personalities/rush-limbaugh/
Chinese Democracy January 12th, 2015 at 8:02 pm
savage was off the air for a while .. It got my hopes up lol
Apocalypse January 12th, 2015 at 12:11 am
“A Christian blowing up an abortion clinic can find justification in the Bible” says Aslan. “Those blowing up a mosque can find justification. Jews killing Palestinians can find justification. The power of scripture can mean whatever you want it to mean. It’s up to the interpreter.”
http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2014/09/30/reza-aslan-radical-islam-is-still-islam/34314?
rg9rts January 12th, 2015 at 6:53 am
“the answer to Islamic violence is Islamic peace” ….a pretty tall order given the strife amongst themselves