To Joseph

Submitted by jhubers (United States), Mar 10, 2007 at 12:53

I'm afraid, Joseph, that what you are really saying is that you have found a person who reflects your own personal perspective - in this case prejudice - and on this basis believe he must be speaking the truth and be truthful about his life story, as well. But this would be a little like a southern plantation owner in the deep south in the 19th century going to hear a preacher claim that the Bible supports slavery coming away feeling as though he had heard the truth when, in fact, all he had really heard was exactly what he wanted to hear.

Here's the issue: whoever this man is (he refuses to disclose his identity supposedly fearing "Middle East terrorists" who want to silence him (yet who are clueless who he is) he gains credibility with his audiences based on the story he tells about his conversion from extremist Islam. That's what "grabs" people. Not what he says - which is repeated by any number of different Christian fundamentalists who wish to attack and demonize Muslims and Islam - but the fact that this guy is a CONVERTED TERRORIST!! Without that part of his story the whole business falls apart - and the money he is making by duping gullible Americans vanishes . . . .

In the same way it makes a difference when authors are found to have made up resumes to give more credence to their work so it makes a difference to know whether or not this guy is telling the truth. The evidence (despite what Mr. Pipes says) says that there's something fishy about him . . . . . .

But I do believe soon the truth will be known . . .

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".