Category: Current Affairs

Current Affairs Intra-faith

Eating Your Own

islamoyankee

In the last month three articles have come out regarding the Muslim attack on Islamist ideologues. Chris Dickey came out in Newsweek with a few good examples in the Muslim majority world. My two (minor) gripes are that he didn’t mention the stuff happening here in the US, for example, that’s been going on much longer, and the gates of ijtihad never closed for the Shi’ah, so the debate is very different. Lawrence Wright has a wonderful piece in The New Yorker that highlights the nuances involved in the ideological dispute happening in AQ now. Most importantly what emerges is…

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Current Affairs Religion

Torturing America

islamoyankee

Via Juan Cole, it seems that we’ve been holding innocent people and torturing them for fun. CNN is reporting from a different source that torture is being carried out by us. I say “we” because we are all complicit in this act. As Americans we should be holding ourselves to a higher standard, and demand that our representatives hold themselves to an even higher standard than that. Everywhere we turn we see how deep the wrong-doing done in our name has spread. We deny the truth, just as our representatives do. Every time one of these people is flogged, our…

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Current Affairs Inter-faith

Muslim Moderation

islamoyankee

Chris Dickey talks about “Christian Rage, Muslim Moderation” in a Newsweek column. While the title and lede are somewhat misleading, I think the overall point is one that needs to be hammered over and over again: No religion has a monopoly on extremists, ignorance, or blinders. Dr. Marranci gives a detailed example of the same idea at his blog. terror[ism][ists], terrorism

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Current Affairs Politics

McCain Loves Dead Americans

islamoyankee

Let’s be clear, if you vote for McCain you may as well put up a bumper sticker that says “The only good American is a dead American.” His policies are guaranteed to result in more and more death, not only for Americans, but for people all around the world. I’m furious that he’s even considered a real candidate for the presidency. I offer as evidence of his blood-thirsty ignorance the following: McCain has repeatedly claimed that Iran is training Al-Qaeda. We heard this canard back in the run up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Let us be clear: AQ…

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Current Affairs Politics

The Real Lesson of 9-11

islamoyankee

By Gary Kamiya. Sept. 11 is a totemic date for the Bush administration. It justifies everything, explains everything, ends all argument. It is the crime that must be eternally punished, the wound that can never heal, the moral high ground that can never be taken. Bush’s reaction to 9/11 was to declare a “war on terror,” of which the Iraq adventure was said to be the “front line.” The American establishment signed off on this war because of 9/11. To oppose Bush’s “war on terror” was to risk another terror attack and dishonor our dead. The establishment has now turned…

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Current Affairs

Born on the 11th of September

islamoyankee

I was born on the 11th of September 2001. I was born out of hatred and anger and fear. I was born out of sorrow and grief and heartache. I am the son of my father. I am hateful and angry and fearful. I am sorrowful and grief-stricken and full of heartache. I am also the Phoenix born of the ashes he wrought. I am light and joy and happiness and hope. OBL created me when he killed 3000 people on 9/11. I was first born with the Towers. When they fell, I was reborn. I was a Muslim and…

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Current Affairs Politics

Torture Bad, Maybe

islamoyankee

In case you didn’t hear, President Bush bans torture. Maybe. Yes, maybe. It’s kind of sad that we need to have an explicit ban against torture (again. Hi Geneva Conventions). It’s worse that we’re not sure if it is a ban. Just in case you think the administration might start believing in the rule of law and right, have no fear, unfettered power is still on their agenda. I thought it was scare mongering, then I followed the links. As a Muslim I can be Gitmo’d. As a born American I can have my entire life taken away without any…

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