24 January 2011

Sayeeda Warsi: A matter of pride and prejudice [+-]

.... In reaching so emotively and in such an ill-defined manner for the "Islamophobia" charge, she is in danger of conflating a reservation about particular aspects of Islam with a condemnation of all Muslims.

It's no coincidence that Islamophobia is the smokescreen used by those who seek to redefine followers of Islam as a de facto race and stigmatise any and all disapproval of Islam as objectively racist.

Warsi should be commended for defending Muslims against discrimination, but not for placing Islam beyond critical debate. The bottom line is that the distinction between people and ideas is one that should be rigorously upheld, even at dinner. [23 Jan. guardian.co.uk] Read more