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A Further Perspective

Fixating on Rep. Peter King’s ‘Islamophobia’

By on 3.28.11 @ 6:06AM

The Religious Left does what it’s always done.

Leftist utopians have never wanted to admit serious threats to liberal democracy, whether from Soviet Communism during much of the 20th century, or the Nazi-Fascist-Japanese militarist alliance of 70 years ago, or in more recent years from jihadist Islam. The denial is odd, because the enemies whose good will the leftist utopians adamantly insist upon would, if empowered, almost certainly prioritize the suppression and eradication of these very same leftist utopians. 

A recent example as been the Religious Left groups enraged at New York Congressman Peter King’s hearings on radical Islam in the U.S. According to these critics, the hearings are McCarthyite and echo the interment of West Coast Japanese Americans during World War II. Any suggestion that domestic radical Islam might pose a security risk is portrayed as an assault against all Muslim Americans.

Cleverly, when recently pressed by a Washington Post reporter about church groups criticizing him, Congressman King dismissed them as “School of the Americas” types who would “be against me anyway.” True enough. His reference was to religious leftists who for decades have campaigned against U.S. Army training at Fort Benning, Georgia for Latin American military officers. Ostensibly, it is a “School of the Assassins” where the U.S. military teaches colleagues from the south in the ways of authoritarian repression. That campaign caught a second wind in the 1990s after the discovery of some dusty “torture” manuals at the school.

The booklets were mostly relics from the 1960s, available at the school for only several years, and possibly never used. Out of over one thousand pages, two dozen or so sentence fragments were deemed offensive, including one cryptic reference to procuring information “involuntarily.” Hence they became “torture” manuals. The manuals were hastily sequestered, undoubtedly more frequently read by the school’s zealous critics than ever by any students there. And the school even changed its name partly to mollify opponents. But the angry protests continue, even though Latin America’s old rightist regimes are long gone. Many of the aging protesters, including the defrocked Maryknoll priest who leads them by literally living outside the gates of Fort Benning, are left-over fellow travelers of the Sandinistas and Salvadoran FMLN guerillas of the 1980s. They are still frustrated that Castro-style revolution never swept Latin America, for which they doubtless blame the school. Even Hugo Chavez’s rants, and Daniel Ortega’s return to power in Nicaragua, have not brought them happiness.

By citing the School of the Americas zealots, Congressman King aptly captured the myopic, fringe nature of his religious critics. One such critic, the Faith and Public Life Institute, denounced King for not realizing he is opposed by a “broader faith community” that is showing a “unified front on the issue of religious discrimination and bigotry.” King was reminded that an “attack on one faith is an attack on all faiths,” which has galvanized “diverse faith leaders” to implore him to “instead pursue investigations that protect American values and our national security interests.” These “faith leaders” of course have not typically articulated what America’s “national security interests” are, since many of them are pacifist. And most of them, as utopians, do not recognize significant national security threats. In their view, America’s violent enemies are primarily victims of U.S. injustice understandably crying out for redress. Apologies, mediation, and billions in economic aid would salve their wounds.

The “broad” religious coalition against Congressman King (my assistant Eric LeMasters reported on their press conference here) is primarily the National Council of Churches and its affiliated Mainline Protestant groups, all of them declining, plus Evangelical Left fixture Jim Wallis and deposed National Association of Evangelicals lobbyist Richard Cizik, who later found a patron in George Soros. Almost none of the protesting groups, except Cizik years ago before he turned leftward, have for decades expressed significant interest in America’s safety. Instead, nearly all have aggressively adopted an extreme multiculturalism refusing to admit even proudly self-described jihadist Islam as a threat. Any insinuations to the contrary evince “Islamophobia.” Evidently, terrorists ardently animated by their brand of Islam are simply to be called extremists, without reference to their motivating religious impulse, no matter how many millions globally may follow it.

King’s hearings have included U.S. Muslims who warned about radical Islam’s threat to their own families, mosques and communities. One witness, from the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, lamented about jihadism: “We can close our eyes and pretend it doesn’t exist, we can call anyone a bigot or Islamophobe for even talking about it.” Of course, King’s Religious Left critics prefer exactly this ostrich approach, emphasizing all Muslims as victims, and deriding all critics of radical Islam as bigots and xenophobes. Ironically, these self-proclaimed mostly Christian defenders of American Muslims, by portraying them chiefly as victims, while insisting that radical Islam poses no threat, are only making American Muslims more vulnerable to inroads by jihadists. “I know that I also was deeply moved by their testimony,” the chief of the National Council of Churches grudgingly admitted about witnesses at King’s hearings who testified of radical Islam’s impact on their own families, including a father whose jihadist son shot up an Arkansas U.S. Army recruiting station. “I don’t doubt the reality of their experience.”

But Religious Left utopians would prefer to ignore that “experience” in favor of their own dreams of an imaginary world without conflict. 

About the Author

Mark Tooley is president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C. and author of Methodism and Politics in the Twentieth Century. You can follow him on Twitter @markdtooley.


Letter to the Editor View all comments (41) |

Old Soldier| 3.28.11 @ 8:23AM

"The Religious Left does what it's always done..."

...Chasing out their members.

Alan Brooks | 3.29.11 @ 12:36AM

The Shiites are strange, this guy was a friend, but was he ever conflicted: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM-2030

Purple Lips| 3.28.11 @ 8:36AM

The Religious Left hates Christianity. They are nothing more than Logical Positivists dressed up in religious garb. Thier moto is: "Anything but Christianity". If anything, they continue a 50 year fight they've had with thier now deceased parents and grand parents. You can still see the gleam in thier eyes when they describe what they felt watching Elvis, or the Beatles for the first time. These aging hippies with thier hip replacements and fortified with Viagra and weed would like nothing better than to see Mullah Achmed stick it to the local Baptists or Evangelicals. It's the only thing that keeps them going.

All American American| 3.28.11 @ 9:04AM

What's "radical" islam???

Brian Mc| 3.28.11 @ 10:07AM

Ain't it funny how they use the adjective to differentiate when, in actuality, it defines?

big bob| 3.28.11 @ 10:21AM

It's the segment of the Muslim population who believe the Koran in total; Wahabis, for example. I think I see your point, but in this case, it's not what the people believe, it's what the handbook says. And the handbook IS radical and does NOT promote freedom. Whether a typical muslim adopts that is almost irrelevant.
Whats radical islam?? redundant.

Harry the Horrible| 3.28.11 @ 10:32AM

Radical Islam is the branch that is either trying to kill you or providing the Muslims trying to kill you with direct support.

"Normal" Islam is made up by the folks supporting Radical Islam through contributions to "Islamic Charities" and "Madrissahs."

Doctor Right| 3.28.11 @ 11:25AM

"Radical Islam" is a politically correct term inserted by sniveling cowards all across the political spectrum who are too afraid to speak the truth.

To avoid confusion, when in the future you here the term "radical Islam", delete the word "radical", and simply think "Islam".

Skippy| 3.28.11 @ 4:32PM

A small fringe group composed of Muslims who adhere to the Koran and its teachings.
Also known as Islam.

All American American| 3.28.11 @ 9:10AM

Just looked at King's official website and some of the legislation he's introduced or sponsored. Wow. He's a republican? Really? He seems more like an anti-2A, anti-freedom, big government liberal kook than a republican.

His nonsense hearings about "radicalization" are nothing more than him trying to gain some republican "street cred." What a tool.

David T| 3.28.11 @ 10:59AM

Your comment is irrelevant. Dennis Kucinich could hold the hearings and it wouldn't matter.

Doctor Right| 3.28.11 @ 11:26AM

You're a complete fool.

Peter King is exposing Islam, the most violent, repressive, misogynistic, anti-freedom philosophy on the planet. But you think he's "anti-freedom"??

Ignorance will get you beheaded.

All American American| 3.28.11 @ 11:39AM

Sorry Dr Right, I don't compromise freedom. Any legislator who would sponsor this bill

http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/.....D&summ2=m&

which gives AG Holder carte blanche to deny firearms rights to "terrorists" (loosely defined) is anti-freedom. (Remember this regime wants to categorize guys like me--vets, served overseas, pro-life, "right wing tea party" types as "terrorists.")

Peter King isn't exposing islam. I don't need some phoney-baloney RINO to tell me how muslims get "radicalized." This is a show hearing so he can huff and puff and "look tough" when in actuality if he had any sack he'd introduce legislation to cease muslim immigration immediately. To deny islam protections as a "religion" when it isn't. To categorize all muslims as subversives to the Constitution and our way of life who need to be deported.

On with the bread and circuses. No no no, that isn't smoke you smell! Rome burn? No way!

Will| 3.28.11 @ 9:15AM

I applaud King's hearings whole-heartedly, and look forward to the next segment. It was very interesting to see who protested the loudest, and it makes me wonder what will be revealed when and if the all the dots are connected. Very, very important to have these matters looked into. Thank you, Peter King!

Mitch Angoop| 3.28.11 @ 10:42AM

Any Christian American who attends Presbyterian, Episcopal, or Methodist churches must look at their own church heirarchy carefully to make sure they are not supporting this gross stupidity involuntarily. (This also includes some Lutheran sects.) There is an all encompassing movement in American churches to examine more closely their national 'management', the same left wing morons ensconced in their own ivory tower in Washington D.C. Their left wing activism is against the vast majority of their own supporter's politics and philosophies. Before contributing ANYTHING to your churches, especially one of those mentioned, ask questions and structure any financial support to only LOCAL causes and projects. These disgraceful 'ageing hippies' need to be shut down financially so they do not have the funds to continue their own 'jihad' against the very people they are supposed to be representing. (And who are supporting their lavish life styles and causes.)

The Protestant Church in America is self destructing; a process evidenced by the nearly continual fragmentation of what were once 'mainstream denominations'. This fragmentation is being caused by the activities and policies coming from these supposed leaders; and the resultant fury from the local and regional leadership. Starve the national protestant groups purporting to represent the wishes of their members. They are deadly dangerous, and just as disingenuous as the supporters of the democratic party who still think they're all for the "Little guy". Nothing could be further from the truth. Starve them by demanding the opportunity to target where you want your personal contributions to go. Keep it local.

Publius| 3.28.11 @ 3:07PM

I don't entirely agree, Mitch. The Protestant denominations that you mention several quite accurately - Presbyterian, Episcopal and Methodist - have become rudderless, forgotten their roots and are embarrassed by Christianity. To wit, remember the reaction to Ann Coulter when she (correctly) pointed out that Christians saw themselves as being "perfected" through Christ. Also, recall the tragic episode of Joan Brown Campbell's heartbreaking sellout of poor Elian Gonzales, joking about how his father had interacted with his son before father and child were turned over to the Cuban gulag. JBC heartlessly turned over a little boy to atheistic tyrants acting as the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, an organization that sees.

As those denominations depart from Christian teaching, though, take heart in the rise of other and non-denominational churches as they accept the mantle of Christian leadership. Those who reject the Truth will whither - as they already are - but others will step up. The future is bright.

Oldefarte| 3.28.11 @ 11:12AM

The term [religious left] is an OXYMORON! Just as the Islamic religion has been taken over and radicalized by EXTREMISTS, so too has the Methodists, the Episcopalians, etc have been captured by radical,extremists leftists. What use to be conservative members gatherings within their buildings to pray to the Almighty, have now become political propaganda mechanisms of same-sex marriage, diversity training centers, etc. Organized religions are essentially groupings of vernerable members who have essentially been taken over for propagandizing purposes. Additionally, this country's children are also being brainwashed by the academic community, as are its adults daily/hourly by the productions regarding homosexual/liberal sexuality/diversity from Hollywood and dissiminated into our collective consciousness through television programs and movie theatres. WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

crooked wren| 3.28.11 @ 11:28AM

There is a line at the beginning of the article that, in my humble opinion, encapsulates the Left's broad brush brand of criticism. There is a reference to the King hearings as being 'McCarthyite' in the eyes of the Left. Senator Joseph McCarthy, at least his name, has become a handy catchall label for any sort of extremism the Left wishes to paint black with a broad brush. A pity. The late Senator was hounded into an early grave by his leftist detractors for 'outing' Commies in our Federal ranks. As it turned out, every one he said was, WAS. Those were the days when two prominent Democrats were in the Anti-Commie camp; Jack and Bobby K. Bobby even made the Senator God-Father to his first-born. I doubt there would be a place for these two Kennedy's in the Democrat ranks today, and Senator Joseph's list of subversives would many pages longer.

a grin without a cat| 3.28.11 @ 11:50AM

I could be wrong, but I think it was Mark Steyn who explained the difference between radical and moderate Muslims this way:

"The radical Muslim threatens to cut your head off. The moderate Muslim explains, in a calm and friendly way, what you did to deserve it."

a grin without a cat| 3.28.11 @ 11:50AM

I could be wrong, but I think it was Mark Steyn who explained the difference between radical and moderate Muslims this way:

"The radical Muslim threatens to cut your head off. The moderate Muslim explains, in a calm and friendly way, what you did to deserve it."

a grin without a cat| 3.28.11 @ 11:50AM

I could be wrong, but I think it was Mark Steyn who explained the difference between radical and moderate Muslims this way:

"The radical Muslim threatens to cut your head off. The moderate Muslim explains, in a calm and friendly way, what you did to deserve it."

DC| 3.28.11 @ 12:54PM

Steyn's correct; another formulation of the same truth: a "moderate" Muslim is one who's just been punched in the mouth.
Show me the "silent majority" of "moderate" Muslims that took to the world airwaves to condemn the beheading of the 3-month old girl in Israel a few weeks ago? Wait for it....
Nope, instead, the ones closest to the act (for whom ALL of the leftist trolls on this site apologized and sought to deflect blame) celebrated in the streets, just as they did after 9/11.
It's our kids or theirs, folks. That's war, and I'd prefer they die first.

Skippy| 3.28.11 @ 4:37PM

Steyn rules.
And AMSPEC incubated the lil' rascal!

Claypoole| 3.28.11 @ 6:15PM

Another Steynism: What do the tooth fairy, Santa Claus and the Easter bunny have in common with moderate Muslims? None of them exist.

David W| 3.28.11 @ 12:23PM

Perhaps members of the religious left would be willing to stand in front of a Coptic Church, facing a mob of enraged muslims, and state "that an attack against one religion is an attack against all." Then they will get to experience firsthand what an attack against a religion is really like. At least while they are still breathing - which won't be for very long. Of course, they won't - hypocrits like them will stay where it's safe and attack those who will do nothing against them. (like the elite liberal entertainers who make fun of Jews and Christians but are strangely silent when it comes to making fun of muslims).

Michael L. Hauschild| 3.28.11 @ 3:13PM

I am certain that there is some tribunal that could meet and rationally discuss the threat Muslims pose to our Nation, but not King. I would not be surprised if he forwards the solution that jihadists must remain 1000 feet from American citiizens.

All American American| 3.28.11 @ 4:14PM

LOL! Mebbe he can just declare America a "terrorist-free zone," complete with those little signs with pics of an angry muslim (I know, its redundant) with a line going through him.

PattyMor| 3.28.11 @ 3:30PM

Is it irrational to fear people who would blow up your car, apartment bldg., or shopping center? No its irrational to think that these are just misguided people beaten down by poverty. That's the Left's favorite story, but it is simply not true. The 9/11 terrorists were all educated; so was the NYC car bomber.

The only difference is that some Muslims have been activated as terrorist; the rest just support them.

All American American| 3.28.11 @ 4:18PM

Patty, the problem is the Left gets to coin words like "islamophobia" and then define the terms. I explained to someone that islamophobia iterally means, like you said, an irrational fear of islam. After reading the koran, the hadiths, different biographies of the "prophet" and most importantly watching islam in action is it "irrational" to be wary of it? Nonsense.

Here's a question though, is it irrational to think if there's a Nativity Scene up at your local library or post office at Christmastime that America will soon become a Christian theocracy? Isn't that pretty much the definition of "Christophobia?" Funny but ya never hear that term being bandied about when the kook atheist liberals cry to get Nativity scenes removed or the words "In God We Trust" removed from currency.

Impeach Don't Wait| 3.28.11 @ 8:34PM

What really gets me is when I hear someone say that Christianity is just as dangerous as Islam. Or: Christians are killing people EVERY DAY!

Richard Baker| 3.28.11 @ 7:03PM

Just out of curiosity. What was the religious affiliation of: the USS Cole bombers, the Khobar Towers bombers, the 1993 World Trade Center bombers, Richard Reid and Jose Padilla, and the 9/11 killers? If you guessed Presbyterians or Methodists...wrong. I think we're all aware that it was the "Religion of Peace." Time to really get to the nut-cuttin' with these clowns. There is no accommodation with these mental defectives and their "religion." Long past time to cull their herd.

John| 3.28.11 @ 7:42PM

A lot of islamophobic comments here. Islamic civilisation on any measure is the most peaceable . The Muslims did not carry out the holocaust, nuke cities, invented genocide to steal native lands etc...Islam is the only way to salvation because it is the only faith which worships god alone- a true unaldurated monotheism.

W| 3.28.11 @ 10:01PM

johnny, did you forget the genocide of the Armenians by the muslim turks, over two million people? the muslims invented genocide.

Sam Levi| 3.29.11 @ 2:07PM

The best way to deal with Islam is the same way that some county governments deal with stray cats.
Round them up, give them their shots, neuter/spay them, notch their ear, then turn them loose in the wilderness.

Tony in Central PA| 3.29.11 @ 8:07PM

In the end, John, the best or worst advertisement for any religion is the behavior of its adherents. On this basis, I have always found Islam to be at war with reason and truth. Its proponents would not need the constant threat of violence to maintain it if it were true.

Impeach Don't Wait| 3.28.11 @ 8:15PM

"the interment of West Coast Japanese Americans during World War II."

Ouch. Actually to inter someone means to bury them (someone deceased). The Japanese were interned. (Easy mistake.)

Richard Baker| 3.28.11 @ 8:39PM

John:
Why then don't you go live in one of these peaceful Moslem countries? I'm sure that they'd appreciate someone as friendly towards Islam as you are. Or is there some reason you don't live in one of the 57 Islamic wonderlands? Curious.

Dee See| 3.28.11 @ 11:00PM

---POST American sideshows.

FACT IS here, as in Britain, the century long
Globalist engineered devastation of the Third World is being skilfully used to bury the sterilized
population back at home. Muslims are the
instrument of choice with Latinos a close second.

MEANWHILE, even putting aside the awesome
RED Chinese Halocaust enabling of the past
4 decades --to say nothing of their cultivation
and installation of MAO --and their earlier destruction of the REAL China with opium
---what to make of King in all this?

Seems a piece of chain-pulling theater, like
that ever duplicitous Rockefeller front man
and RED China sellout CON---Pat Buchanan.

Something to satisfy the 'Average Joe' that
even now his sense of indignation and betrayal
is being heard.

LOL----------------------------------------------

Marc Jeric| 3.28.11 @ 11:52PM

Much confusion about Islam - it is not a religion! It is a political program based on
1) Conquest by force of arms or terror; then
2) Conversion; if resisted then
3) Slavery; if resisted then
4) Mass murder.
All 13 centuries of Islam are consistent with the above. "Peaceful" or not, all Muslims celebrate jihadi terrorism - remember the all-night dancing in the "Arab Street" after 9/11?

davelnaf| 3.29.11 @ 6:03AM

The same old song and dance from the Left—it doesn’t matter whether these people are religious or not. They use their veneer of religion as a useful tool against the rest of us. In a sort of twist on a recurring theme in the Bible we, the non-nasties of the world, have to be extra special good as an example to the nasties; if we’re not perfect on any given day we’re damned. In the end it’s a scam, like any other the Left perpetrates.

Creative Recreation | 8.10.11 @ 11:21PM

is good

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