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Anti-Jewish vs. Anti-Christian vs. Anti-MuslimReader comment on item: The Middle East Studies Establishment Goes Full Warrior Submitted by Robert (United States), Nov 17, 2016 at 22:21 There is a problem with the expression Anti-Jewish. Unlike the terms, Christian and Muslim, Jewish does not merely connote a religion - it also connotes a people. There is much confusion about this. Since the '60's the world, especially the Western democracies and the USA in particular, came to realize that discrimination on the basis of blood, or heredity, or who your mother or father was, is Racism, and that this phenomena is Unacceptable, as the Diplomats put it. However, being critical of a Religion, even in the context of religious liberty, is certainly not Racism. And this license, to criticize Jews - on their religion - would be acceptable, but ludicrous. Judaism isn't a proselyitizing religion, so it isn't a threat to non-Jews. However, not only is Islam a proselytizing religion, one can only leave it on the pain of death. And depicting an image of Muhammad, whether or not you are a Muslim, also subjects the Artist to the extra-judicial remedy of execution under Sharia law. This brings me to the Godfather of the destruction of Middle East studies in the USA - the (not too) late Christian Palestinian Colombia University literature professor, Edward Said, and his doublespeak book, "Orientalism." I am surprised by how few comments have been posted here. The Palestinians have done more to destroy the Middle East than any other people. (1) They perfected the Suicide Vest, (2) They introduced the allegiance of all Arabs and Muslims against Israel, and the Jews who subscribe to Zionism, the Nationalism and Irredentism of the Jewish people. (3) And through their ex-patriot, the late Prof.Said, the notion that the Western scholar is incapable of understanding anything having to do with Asia or Africa where the people practice the religion of Islam. Perhaps it was Guilt, and the caused America's Academia to succumb to this anti-intellectual phenomena, in which the Left carried the Banner. But there is an unexpected anti-dote, and it is coming from the alt-right (Alternative-Right). I personally think that Sisi was the right leader for Egypt (Daniel Pipes probably still disagrees). Similarly, I think Donald Trump may prove to be a big surprise. His most trusted adviser is his orthodox-Jewish son-in-law. Trump, I believe, is a show-man. He used his talents to get elected. But I also believe that he loves America. And that precisely like he hired top Jewish lawyers because he could work with them and because he thought they were great, he will look for the most talented people he can find to run his administration. And if they don't perform, he'll say, "You're fired," is he loved to do on his TV show. So the solution to the Islamist phenomena may come, indirectly, from Donald Trump. He probably will move our American embassy to Jerusalem. He will reject the notion that pre-1948 Israel is the new "Pale of Settlement" for Jews. I can only imagine that someone will propose that Greater Syria is the new home of the Palestinian people. Why not? That was the view of Assad and his father. And with half a million dead Greater Syria Palestinians, there should be room to take in all the Palestinian refugees "created" after 1948. Have we forgotten that the Arab Spring has turned into a "Muslim Nightmare"? I just coined this expression. Why are the Israelis so passive? They should join forces with Trump and Putin to create a haven for all Muslim Arab refugees, but particularly the Palestinians, to re-populate the devastated regions of Syria and Iraq - and maybe all the other Muslim-dominated countries infected with the "Arab-Spring." Europe has had its Protestant Reformation about 500 years ago. But Muslims are only now doing the same to their religion. You may not like this, but it's appropriate here perhaps. Marx said, allegedly something like this, all here-thereto philosophers have attempted to Understand the World, but the point is to Change it. Middle East studies will only change when Muslims, not just so-called Islamists, are forced to account for the fact that Muslims from all over the globe have been flooding into Syria and Iraq to join the Jihad and become members of ISIS. It is this phenomena - under a President Trump administration - that will force Middle East studies to enter closer to the world of Truth, in my opinion. Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments". Reader comments (6) on this item
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