Quibbling over Islamaphobia

http://deborahgyapong.blogspot.com/2008/10/bc-hrt-decision-undercuts-islamophobia.html [Hat Tip: Mark Steyn]

I love these prissy, arch critics. They always remind me of the George Orwell quote used as the subtitle of the Mudville Gazette- "Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Ms Gyapongs first sentance includes the completely un-substantiated slur 'According to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, its OK for Mark Steyn to use stereotypes and wrong facts to engender fear of Muslims, because fear is not the same as hatred or contempt.' So, daaaaahhhhhling, which facts were wrong? Any one will do? You go girl.

Ok, so we'll just have to take it on Ms Gyapongs word that Mark Steyn is wrong in what he says. He is a conservative, ergo he is wrong. Every time Ms Gyapong struggles towards the light, she has to rush quickly back to her sacred truths- "...even if there are even 10 per cent of Muslims (or three per cent) who hold an extremist, violent view of jihad (or sympathize with it) that's millions of people. Of course those extremists are most dangerous to fellow Muslims" So quit your whingeing, America!

I can tell by reading an author how close they have come personally to being blown up or hacked to death by an Islamist. I was two trains away from the Russell Square Islamist atrocity, and I don't really give a toss what the difference, if any, is between Islamophobia and Islamodium. There is absolutely no doubt that for billions of people all over the world, the word Islam conjurs up murderous fanatics who will kill whoever whenever they feel it appropriate. Fair? Maybe not. Justified? Certainly. Normal for human beings? Absolutely.

Muslims have the worst PR of any group or tribe or race in the world right now, and its all their own work. Go on mainstream Muslim websites and its half what they talk about- how to improve their PR image. Trouble is, for every earnest, well-intentioned discussion about getting together with other religions for mutual respect and understanding, there will be five stories from around the world of murder, intolerance and medieval torture in the name of Islam.

Its that drip-drip-drip which is why the Dems were very keen to dispel the rumour that went around six months ago in the US that Barack Obama was a Muslim. If the rumour had been that he was secretly a Sikh, what would they have done? Nothing. But to be associated with a brand that stank that much was worthy of top billing on their myth-busting website.

Could Ms Gyapong be the anti-Steyn? Unfunny, uptight and wrong even about what is in her own interests?