The NYT has the first chapter of the book Unfriendly Fire. The chapter is about how gay Arabic specialists were dismissed from the military for violating the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. National Security or Religious Right? We know who won that fight.
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You are exactly like me. For those who haven’t heard yet, a Hindu was meant to give the opening prayer in the Senate yesterday, but before he could begin, he was interrupted by “patriots.” (video) (background pieces, 1, 2) I think Anna of Sepia Mutiny has it right that when she says that the pilgrims came for religious freedom. However, we have to understand that religious freedom still meant for those who had the power to exercise it, lest we forget what happened to the Native Americans and great civilizing “crusade” of bringing the Gospels. Her intent is right though.…
Interview with Wajahat Ali | FPIF
Interview with Wajahat Ali | FPIF. Basically, the reason they’re taking place now is that this is an unprecedented time in American history for the mainstreaming of Islamophobic sentiment and rhetoric. What was once allowed to operate on the fringes and by fringe actors has been co-opted by mainstream political actors and parties to capitalize on people’s fears, panic, and hysteria. You see this pattern in American history. When there is a moment of panic and fear around an economic downturn, politicians and people in cottage industries turn on minorities. It has happened with Jews and with African Americans in…
Textbooks of Hate
Apparently it’s not only the Saudis who know how to screw over the “other.” Why does everyone hate the Turks? How would you place Christians and Turks on a sinking ship so that only the latter drowned? A question in a maths textbook for Polish school children. [From How would you place Christians and Turks …]