Fascism and Islamism

Submitted by Andy B. (United States), Aug 15, 2006 at 22:28

Dr. Pipes denies the connection between Islamism and Fascism

"...Few historic or philosophic connections exist between fascism and radical Islam. Fascism glorifies the state, emphasizes racial “purity,” promotes social Darwinism, denigrates reason, exalts the will, and rejects organized religion – all outlooks anathema to Islamists....".

I disagree on all counts!

1) In radical Islam, the state is certainly glorified- in fact the state is all-encompassing and ruled by a supreme Imam/dictator. (Whether he will be Sunni or Shiah, of course, will be settled by an unfathomable amount ogf bloodshed.)

2) racism- There is the small matter of that Arab janjaweed genocide of indegenous Blacks in Sudan, and also the thousand years of Arab enslavement of Blacks in North Africa. One might note the recent portrayal of Condi Rice as pregnant with a monkey in the official Palestinian press.

3) denigrates reason- What is so reasonable about whipping yourself to a bloody pulp in public with thousands of co-religionists to show your submission to Allah?

4) exalts the will - see the above.

5) rejects organized religion - this is a mischaracterization of fascism. What was Nazism, after all, but an organized religion? with Hitler as a deity, "Mein Kampf" as it's Bible, elaborate public rituals, the " Aryan race" as destiny's chosen people, etc.

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