More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, a self-described devout Muslim, is also a US Navy veteran and unabashed American patriot. He is the founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, a group advocating separation of mosque and state. Dr. Jasser's group opposes the proposed mosque at Ground Zero and takes President Obama to task for his comments the other night:
Mr. President this is not about religious freedom. It is about the importance of the World Trade Center site to the psyche of the American People. It is about a blatant attack on our sovereignty by people whose ideology ultimately demands the elimination of our way of life. While Imam Faisal Rauf may not share their violent tendencies he does seem to share a belief that Islamic structures are a political statement and even Ground Zero should be looked upon through the lens of political Islam and not a solely American one.
I am hoping for more Zuhdi Jasser and less Ibrahim Hooper on my television screen. How about you?
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Jul '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Well, good for him. I'm sure his moderate statements, his military pedigree and his great hair will assure him a nice sinecure on cable news channels.
But here's the real question: Mr. Jasser, how do you square your moderate rhetoric with your decision to remain adherent to a religion whose scriptures enjoin you to slaughter and subjugate the citizens of a country who offered your parents asylum?
Jun '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
One of the things we forget about Muslim terrorism is that it is a reaction, albeit a very bad reaction, to the pressure Muslims feel from the Western world. What they see all around them is an advancing world that is Western and secular, and never connect these two preconditions the West's success. Consider the insult: even in the seat of Islam, Saudi Arabia, there is no advancement that is Islamic. Pity the Saudis, they have great natural wealth that would be beyond their technical abilities to extract if not for Western engineers. The greatest of Islam's problems is that it is both religion and ideology and as long as this is the case the Koran will be the only book worth the read. The unspoken irony of 9/11 is that these jerks took down buildings that are beyond Muslim engineering to build with planes that are beyond Muslim engineering to build. The above should be seen neither as justification nor excuse; it is, sadly, the greatest irony of our age, and one that proves how difficult it is to actually get human beings to think beyond their blinders.
Jul '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Cas, the impetus behind Islamism is humiliation. It's a word you hear again and again from the ranks of the Jihadists.
They live in a world of nostalgia for the Caliphate, when they dominated great swaths of the globe, including Spain, the Balkans and India. With the rise of the post-Enlightenment West, they were pushed out and marginalized, with their backwardness obvious for all to see. They live in squalor, with absolutely no accomplishments to speak of.
Humiliation is a powerful negative motivator. Why else would Bin Ladin and his crew be obsessing about El Andalus? What else explains sending your Palestinian daughter off to martyrdom?
To truly understand the Muslim obsession with humiliation, watch "Paradise Now", a movie about two would-be suicide bombers in Ghaza. They use the word constantly.
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Kenneth, I take heart from Dr. Jasser's argument that political Islam can and should be separated from religious Islam; that Wahabbism need not triumph; that Muslims can worship God faithfully and fully participate in the unique society established by America's Founders.
I leave the apologetics to the good doctor and his colleagues.
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Dr. Jasser strikes me as perfectly reasonable, a model citizen, the "ideal moderate Muslim." If we Americans can't tolerate this guy, then we are intolerant.
Jul '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
George Savage: Kenneth, I take heart from Dr. Jasser's argument that political Islam can and should be separated from religious Islam; that Wahabbism need not triumph; that Muslims can worship God faithfully and fully participate in the unique society established by America's Founders.
I leave the apologetics to the good doctor and his colleagues. · Aug 18 at 8:43pm
I'd still like to hear him answer my question.
The "moderate Muslims" I trust are the ones like Hirsi Ali and Nonie Darwish.
They realized that Islam is fundamentally incompatible with moderation and risked their lives to spread that message.
This guy will be able to make a nice little living being the house Muslim for Bill O'Reilly.
Aug '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Kenneth, suppose Islam is, as you say, fundamentally incompatible with moderation. Then, also supposing that Dr Jasser means what he says, Dr Jasser couldn't be practicing Islam -- he must be practicing some other religion, call it Religion X.
But what's wrong with permitting a law-abiding man self-identified as Muslim to call his Religion X "Islam", even if it's not the "real" Islam? Clearly, the only way for Religion X to have a shot at replacing "real" Islam is for it to be able to adopt the label "Islam" for itself.
Interpretations of religion can change over time. What's wrong with Dr Jasser reinterpreting Islam in a way compatible with freedom? Maybe such an interpretation couldn't be orthodox Islam right now, but given the space to call itself "Islam", perhaps it eventually could become orthodox -- under a new definition of orthodoxy.
Else, you're placing Muslims in an awkward position: they either have to entirely give up the religion that they're attached to, or they have to be radical. That doesn't seem a wise predicament to put people in. Better to allow real patriots the "polite fiction" of calling their faith Islam.
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Kenneth..The "moderate Muslims" I trust are the ones like Hirsi Ali and Nonie Darwish. ...
Hirsi Ali is now an atheist and Darwish is now a Christian, so essentially you're saying, "I don't trust Muslims who persist in being Muslims." Rather severe, no?
Of Muslims who are, well, Muslims, we'd be hard-pressed to invent a better one than Dr. Jasser.
Jul '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Scott Reusser
Kenneth..The "moderate Muslims" I trust are the ones like Hirsi Ali and Nonie Darwish. ...
Hirsi Ali is now an atheist and Darwish is now a Christian, so essentially you're saying, "I don't trust Muslims who persist in being Muslims." Rather severe, no?
Of Muslims who are, well, Muslims, we'd be hard-pressed to invent a better one than Dr. Jasser. · Aug 18 at 9:46pm
That's precisely what I meant.
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Well said, Midget. I share doubts about Islam's fundamental nature, but I'm happy to see folks like Dr. Jasser promoting peace.
Still, it matters if seemingly all Muslim moderates are Lefties, because that makes them unable to reach Muslims with conservative values who reject the radical individualism that so often finds root in democratic societies.
I don't know where Jasser falls in that regard. But, so far, it seems major media prefer to invite commentators like Salim Mansur, who considers Islam only secondary to his identity. At least some such diplomacy must be driven by faith, rather than Ivy League philosophies, so that conservatives in the Muslim world don't confuse "moderation" with libertinism.
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Kenneth: And do your expectations strike you as reasonable? Or even possible? Or do you live in a world without hope?
Jun '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
I am totally with Scott today. As a matter of coincidence, I posted this statement by the good Dr. Zuhdi about 20 hours ago right here at Ricochet (Claire's correction on Iman Feisal). I have been constantly pointing to the problem of sharia. Read about Dr.Jasser's views. See how he separates political and religious Islam. This is a man who practices Islam that is compatible with the West. Compare the way he speaks so directly to the issues and then watch some interviews with Imam Feisal or any of the other Cair cronies that are always dragged out on TV to obfuscate and pander. At last I can see a light and a bridge. Dr. Jasser is a builder of bridges. Imam Feisal wants to build an obelesk to superiority and dominance. He makes me very squeamish. Jasser is granite to Feisal's quicksand.
Jul '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
If by "expectations" you mean do I expect a substantial number of Muslims to reject their faith, the answer is no. A religion which condemns apostates to death leaves little room for that.
As for hope, I do hope that decent, well-meaning people like yourself and others here will come to understand that we are, in fact, and not our choosing, embroiled in a clash of civilizations.
Nine years after 9/11, we continue to "hope" for a demonstration of moderation on the part of Muslims. But a fair reading of the Koran, the Hadiths and the history of Islam tells us there is no room for moderation. Hanging our hopes on the singular example of Dr. Jasser is a thin reed, indeed. The norm, as Andrew McCarthy reminds us, is something else entirely.
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
A thing to be hoped for, but a bridge needs to be founded on both shores. Dr. Jasser might play very well in the U.S., but will be denounced and discredited in the more radical Islamic countries. He will be labeled "not a real Muslim" in the same way that conservative African-Americans are labeled "not really black".
A voice for moderate Muslims in the U.S. is a fine thing, but not a game-changer. A similar voice in Pakistan, on the other hand...
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Kenneth
[...]As for hope, I do hope that decent, well-meaning people like yourself and others here will come to understand that we are, in fact, and not our choosing, embroiled in a clash of civilizations. [..]Nine years after 9/11, we continue to "hope" for a demonstration of moderation on the part of Muslims. [...]
I'm well aware we're in a clash of civilizations; there isn't a day that goes by that it doesn't depress me. So.... hell's bells! Here's a demonstration of precisely what we're hoping for! Woohoo! An outspoken Muslim whose values are modern and, as cdor says, compatible with the Western World: Why on earth would we not embrace the guy? To not do so is to punt on first down.
Re: He "doesn't really get Islam," so what? Today's monogamous Mormons arguably "don't get" the values of their prophets either, yet they're a wonderful asset to the country-- good for them and good for us. If Dr. Jasser and his ilk go on to save the world (or some tiny part of it), shouldn't you and I (wink, wink) indulge him in his "illusions?"
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
G.A. Dean
He will be labeled "not a real Muslim" in the same way that conservative African-Americans are labeled "not really black".. · Aug 19 at 9:02am
That's an excellent comparison. In two generations since the Civil Rights Era, black culture still feeds at the Democratic trough. There are plenty of black Republicans and conservatives, but they're still not likely to be found on BET or afforded any respect by major media when discussing racial issues.
Of course, it is better to try.
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Mark Levin had an interesting interview with Dr. Jasser here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWmWKmRhIlk
May '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Thanks, Tom. Jasser sounds like the real deal.
As I suspected, Obama's target audience for his mosque speech was OIC nations, rather than Americans. It's nice to be right occasionally.
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
I'm with you, Scott. I fully understand the challenges posed to the West by the politicized Islam practiced abroad. But for years I've been looking for public examples of a Muslim silent majority here at home: Americans who revere our Constitution and don't believe their faith compels sharia law. Now we have such an example, an articulate American Muslim leading an organization in opposition to CAIR. I know the Wahabbists won't like him, but I do.
Aug '10
Re: More Good News: American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Tom Lindholtz: Mark Levin had an interesting interview with Dr. Jasser here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWmWKmRhIlk · Aug 19 at 12:50pm
Also, thanks.