Dartblog

Earlier this week Jenn posted in anticipation about Nonie Darwish speaking on the Dartmouth campus. Having just returned from that speech, I can say that it was nothing short of fantastic.

Darwish began her speak by exhorting listeners that “no ideology is above criticism.” She addressed the all too common problem of legitimate criticism of the radical ideology of Islamo-fascism being labeled as ‘Islamophobia,’ and cautioned that we must not allow the same type of censorship and violent resistance to alternative ideas that is so ubiquitous in the Arab world, to overcome us here. “Fear of speaking,” Darwish said, “is moving to the United States and Europe.”

The talk was primarily about Darwish’s on-the-ground experiences with the education, people, and culture of the Arab world, specifically Egypt. The root problem, as she depicted it, is largely institutional, that it is no surprise when terrorists fly planes in to buildings given the overwhelming and pervasive indoctrination of children to hate. This hate is especially directed at Jews (predating by centuries the establishment of the state of Isral), Americans (long preceding the Iraq War), Christians, pagans, apostates, and other ‘infidels.’

The reason this ideology is so dangerous is that these hate-mongers “play on the passion of Americans for justice;” we do not speak out under the threat of being labeled as intolerant and it is in turn moderate Muslims who suffer. Citing atrocities such as honor killing, female genital mutilation, the death penalty for conversion from Islam, and polygamous marriage contracts, Darwish questioned, “Where is the feminist movement?” To simplify her answer, since feminists are silence by death or threat of other punishment there, we do not speak out for women in the Middle East here.

Her most recent book is entitled, ”Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror;” if her talk was any indication, it will make for an interesting and enlightening read.