Islamophobia

In Robert Spencer's book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam, he quotes somebody else's long definition of "Islamophobia," which includes "attacking the entire religion of Islam as a problem for the world." And then Spencer writes:

Does labeling as "Islamophobic" the practice of "attacking the entire religion of Islam as a problem for the world" mean that it is also Islamophobic to focus attention on the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet as motivations for terrorist activity? If so, then jihad terrorists worldwide are themselves "Islamophobic," for, as we have seen, they routinely point to jihad passages from the Qur'an and Hadith to justify their actions.

In other words, if I say Islam is a political religion that mandates intolerance and violence against non-Muslims, that makes me an "Islamophobe." But it also makes Osama bin Laden an Islamophobe.

Islamophobia is a misleading term, as I'll explain in a minute, and yet it is used with great seriousness by governments all over the world, in the media, and even by the United Nations.

But "Islamophobia" is a made-up word. It isn't tenable, plausible, or convincing once you really look at it. Using the term is merely a way to slander those who have legitimate concerns about implications and consequences of the teachings of Islam. It is a way to prevent legitimate criticism and debate about an important global problem. As the historian, Victor Davis Hanson wrote:

There really isn't a phenomenon like "Islamophobia — at least no more than there was a "Germanophobia" in hating Hitler or "Russophobia" in detesting Stalinism. Any unfairness or rudeness that accrues from the "security profiling" of Middle Eastern young males is dwarfed by efforts of Islamic fascists themselves — here in the U.S., in the UK, the Netherlands, France, Turkey, and Israel — to murder Westerners and blow up civilians.

Since a phobia is an unreasonable fear of something, the term is inappropriately applied to Islam. It is not unreasonable to fear being blown to smithereens in the name of Islam. As of today, 15,754 deadly attacks have been carried out in the name of Islam since 9/11. They can strike anywhere. They could be a man, woman, or child. They don't look any particular way; they could be Chinese or European or African or Middle Eastern, young or old. But they are driven by a particular ideology — specifically, the teachings of the religion of Islam.

Islamophobia is not a good word for it. A better term might be "legitimate concern."

So here is a message to Islamic apologists: Try something else. Your feeble attempt with the pseudo-word, "Islamophobia" has failed. The term is discredited. As Ralph Waldo Emerson might have put it: "I hope in these days we have heard the last of Islamophobia. Let the word be gazetted and ridiculous henceforward."

Read more about the untenable nature of the word:

1. This is an article that will help you clarify what you're doing when you criticize Islam. It articulates what is wrong with the term "Islamophobia."

2. This is an article written by Ali Sina, the famous ex-Muslim, writing about the term "Islamophobia" and what, specifically makes the term meaningless.

3. This is a video: Robert Spencer's simple plan to end Islamophobia. It's kind of tongue-in-cheek, but he makes some good points, and you might want to send it to anyone who accuses you of being an Islamophobe.

4. And this is an article I wrote to peaceful Muslims who often write to me and tell me I shouldn't criticize Islam. I talk a bit about "Islamophobia" in the article.

5. Bill Warner created a test for Islamophobia: Take the Acid Test for Islamophobia.