naming

Submitted by John W. McGinley (United States), Aug 15, 2006 at 13:26

"Islamist fascism" is certainly better than the amorphous "terrorist." There is a real and identifiable enemy and it is not an amorphous "terrorism." If we are not honest in NAMING the enemy than we have no chance of defeating the enemy. I have had my disagreements with Bush. Nonethless I applaud his evolution on terminology with regard to naming the enemy.

"Fascism" seems accurate enough and is certainly better than the alternatives offered. Both Chertoff and the Washingtime Times, both cited in your article, make a good case for the term. It is true that the term "fascism" has emerged from totalitarian movements in the twentieth century which are -- curiously it seems to me unless being 'anti-communist" is the sole criterion for the directional term -- referred to as "on the Right." Certainly Stalin and Mao were in fact far more fascist than Mussolini. Even the sainted hero of Marxism, Lenin, was in fact fascist. "Left" and "Right" in this regard are so unstable as accurate descriptions that they should hardly be brought in as adjudicators for determining the proper usage of "fascist." Nor is "fascism," really removed from religion. Christianity in the late Middle Ages certainly had fascist dimensions about it evenif the name itself had not yet come into common parlance. And many small religous and quas-religious groups and cults are, in fact, "fascist."

"Islamist totalitarianism" is one alternative. But since "Islamist fascism" is also just as accurate and has grown in recent usage, it would be pragmatically better to unite around this term. Professor Pipes, you should acquiesce on this. It would help.

I have no sympathy at all with Muslims who decry the term and yet refuse to adamantly DISOWN the people and behaviors which link "Islam" and "facism." Two things I know. True Islam is true religion and one day will be universally recognized as the true religion of the Gentiles. That is one thing. "Islamist fascism" does exist and, in the final analysis, will be defeated when Muslims who love Islam rise up in rage against those fascists among them who are dragging the Prophet's teachings through mud and slime.

John W. McGinley

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