Like A Bunny To The Slaughter

Like A Bunny To The Slaughter
I love when they accuse me of naivete and lack of "sophistication" for printing the truth about Islam.

In this case, I mentioned in my column the fact that, in Muslim countries, you can be given 100 lashes for having premarital sex (true). And then, that there was a woman in a Saudi Arabian Starbucks who was arrested by the religious police and taken to jail for sitting next to an unrelated male in Starbucks (he was a coworker, and they went there to use the Wifi after theirs in their office went out). (Also true.) (I quoted the Times of London, although there were numerous news reports on this.) Oh yeah, and I also mentioned that "slut can equal death" in this culture. (Also true.)

A reader (who turns out to be a woman, writes):

In a message dated 3/29/08 1:15:41 AM, DELETED@pdx.edu writes:

Dear "Advice Goddess",
How about doing your homework before you glibly and unceremoniously perpetuate gross stereotypes of Muslims? First, there are plenty of "Western" Muslims -- ever hear of Bosnia or Chechnya? Second, citing one anecdote from "The Times of London" does not an argument make nor does it tell us anything about those who practice the world's fastest growing religion. Maybe turning the tables would make for some good anti-American humor. Did ya hear the one about the wacko WASP who put his baby in the microwave and how his wife defended him by saying the devil made him do it? Who could ever trust those crazy Christians with kids??!! And, what about that NY governor who couldn't keep his pants zipped and overpaid for hookers? See how sexually greedy and economically stupid politicians really are??!!
My 19 year old students are more sophisticated about religious, political and cultural issues. You should know better!
Dr. C.E. A

My response:

I think you are the one who needs to educate himself on Islam. I am an atheist who saw Muslims the way I see astrology buffs -- as people who believe, without evidence, in some silly stuff. But, astrology buffs don't want to convert, kill, or tax me (dhimmitude) because I don't believe that what Cancer is doing with Capricorn has relevance to my life.

After 9/11, which happened just blocks from my old Tribeca apartment, I began educating myself on Islam. Your ridiculous attempt to defend it with by calling it "the fastest growing religion" should be beneath anybody who has a job a professor. Of course, the spread of Islam is of great concern to me, and should be to you and everyone who values free speech, Enlightenment values, and life itself. What I wrote is not the least bit untrue -- which is why you could only offer the lame defense of Islam's growing popularity.

Here's a film you need to see:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8105709395775858867

Here's Fitna, on private servers, since followers of "the religion of peace" put out death threats against the other servers that were showing Wilders' film:

http://www.ajm.ch/wordpress/?p=1028

You dare to compare Spitzer's private behavior or make up some story about a WASP who puts a baby in a microwave to the sickness that is Islam? Do you find that there are preachers and rabbis standing on pulpits around America commanding their flock to slaughter those who don't believe as they do?

Also, in Canada, there was a poll last year that 12 percent of Muslims condoned burning down Parliament and murdering the Prime Minister. That's 84,000 people.

Furthermore, there was much I left out of that column, including the horror in Iran for homosexuals. They are executed, but there is an option -- they can go through gender reassignment surgery (have their genitals cut off) and live with their boyfriends as a "woman." That is, until they commit suicide, as many do, per Arsham Parsi, of the Iranian Queer Organization, who I interviewed for the column on the topic. That didn't make it in, but is more barbaric than what I did include.

I criticize American ways plenty; for example, the way we raise children -- which is much better done by the French. The difference: While I've had readers write me in the past few weeks to warn me that I could be endangering my life by criticizing Islam, for all the virulent criticism I've made of American practices and Judaism and Christianity (for evidence-free belief in god, and the coverup of pedophile priests in the case of the Catholic church) I have never, ever had a Jew or Catholic write to threaten my life or anybody suggest that my life could be in danger from criticizing these religions.

Your lack of education and knowledge about Islam, and your assumption that you know what you're talking about is dangerous and disgusting arrogance. Be glad there are people like Robert Spencer and Wilders and Ayan Hirsi Ali to defend the likes of you from "the religion of peace."

You're a bunny to the slaughter. -Amy Alkon

Wait! There's more! She writes back!