.... Islamophobia and its impact, like racism and anti-Semitism, must be countered by creating a climate in which hate speech and discrimination in the public square are not tolerated even when bigots exploit freedom of speech.
Today, one can engage in anti-Islam and anti-Muslim hate speech and threats in print, media, and protest rallies that promote a popular culture that paints the religion of Islam, not just terrorists, as a threat to America.
These preachers of hate and Islamophobia must be rejected and marginalized. Their mission to polarize our society must not be allowed to threaten our belief that religious tolerance and free speech are indeed compatible.
[A COMMENT] Apparently, John Esposito is only in favor of freedom of speech that he agrees with. His wish to ban speech that he disagrees with, I think, identifies, John Esposito as the fascist in this instance. I don't know of anyone in the anti-Islam movement who wishes to ban people such as Esposito from saying what they wish. [The Huffington Post] Read more
