The Hating Game
May 12, 2007 | 26 Rabbi al-Thanni 1428
If Islam failed to find a mooring to ground itself in this version of Modernity or Post-Modernity, the phenomenon of 9/11 certainly has done so for it. The offshoot from this grounding has been the creation of a new class of “intellectuals” and pundits, all claiming from various angles to be experts on Islam. The dominate culture and media engine then picks and chooses its star players like selecting sides at a salad bar. The preferred choices seem to rank with “Progressive Muslims”, liberal Muslims, and the great crowd pleaser, the Apostates. Interestingly enough, these three groups share some interesting characteristics, primarily, that many do not “practice” Islam [it is instead a social club or cultural experience] and are often detached and aloof from the very communities they either berate or in some form of pity, attempt to “reform”.
The other day, I was sent a link from a popular Muslim critic and “reformer”, Ali Eteraz, informing me he had written a piece on Noam Chomsky and the linguist’s lack of sufficient dissent. I am familiar with Ali and have been in correspondence with him, off and on, over the past couple of years. So in the spirit of his article and critique of Noam and “those who invoke him”, I too shall offer a reprisal of Ali’s post and offer some insights as well as possible alternatives.
I would like to begin, as Ali did, and state that I do not harbor any ill will towards the writer. I have observed his writings over the years and have always felt that he and others like him are free to offer up their opinions. What I am getting at in this piece is the scope with which Mr. Eteraz engages his target audience [i.e., America and the greater dominant powers]. It is indeed scope that seems to be the biggest issue today when discussing so many matters, from multiculturalism, tolerance and pluralism to moral relativism. Complex and intricate matters are dealt with slash and burn rhetoric, displaying little aptitude for critical thinking as well as placing far too much authority in individuals’ voices, casting their opinions wide and far in an attempt to bind all to their beliefs. Ironically, it is the very same people who cry out for pluralism when they themselves only present another monolithic false universal to replace it. Such would be the position that most of the “Progressive Muslims” and apostates stand on. What they say is, “what is good for themselves is good for the entire Muslim world”.
One of the most striking observations I made of Ali’s article was how it was filled with a large amount of apparent self-hate. This may seem a bit trite or overdone but it has become something of a cottage industry of self-loathing on the part of many so-called Muslim intellectuals and experts. It is quite alarming that many of us are succumbing to the notion that there is nothing admirable or beautiful about Islam in this Modern context. It should not be taken as coincidence that this charge is being led by Immigrant Islam – both those who have crossed the water physically or “mentally” as the second and third generation. To relate back to the phenomenon of 9/11, it is primarily “their face” that is on Islam [in other words “extreme Islam”] and therefore they are leading a campaign of self-annihilation, all for the chance of appeasing the dominant culture.
In my mentioning the “lack” of attractive qualities in Modern Islam, according to such thinkers, we only need to look at the main paragraph in Eteraz’s post:
“…I just read that in Kurdistan a Yezidi girl was stoned to death with bricks to her head…”
“…Egyptian hardliners hold parties where the works of jurists like Abu el Fadl… are burnt…”
“…the Taliban “Book of Rules” contains exhortations to kill school-teachers…”
Eteraz’s list goes on for quite some extent. If one were to go by what he is writing, one would be led to believe that the entire Muslim world is grotesque, backwards and morally depraved. I am not so naïve to suggest that there are not elements of the Muslim world [here in America and abroad] that do not call for rectifying [a quick search of this blog would provide sufficient proof] but my issues are more targeted, if I may say so, instead of painting the entirety of all Muslims with such a heavy brush.
In conclusion I found his condemning of Chomsky on the grounds that he has not been adamantly committed enough of his condemning of Islamic extremism, to me, seems pointless. Is it Mr. Chomsky’s job to do so? Is it a requirement?
“Given that neither he […] hasn’t added extremist Islam (specifically in its cultural and lifestyle manifestation) to the list of things to dissent against, I have to part ways with him and look around for a place to stand.”
I would contend, Ali, that you’ve already found a place to stand on – I would only suggest reexamining where that place is, how you’ve gotten there and why. Instead, I would like to see, side-by-side with many of these critiques [some of them quite valuable] something positive as well as alternatives for solutions that do not result in simply appeasing The Master, but for the authoring of a bona fide, dignified existence as Muslims, both in this part of the world and elsewhere.
And God knows best.
May 14th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Salaams
I’ll always remember, right about the time I had accepted Islam, when Marc sat me down @ his house and introduced me to a taped speech that Hamza Yusef had given some time ago. One of the things that had stood out for me was when he started talking about what he called Western Cultures Cognitive Dissonance, or something to that effect; the disjointed ways in which individuals and society are want to interpret their environment. Internal and External. Disjointed due to in no small part to plain ol’ sensory overload. Couple this to a deficit in critical thinking skills and Conflation is all but the natural product. This seems to be an innately HUMAN condition; non exempt due exclusively to creed, Race or any other external affiliation.The resultant emotional disconnect leaves one open to placards and sound bites to be ingested as program over time. And virtually self sustaining too; empathy being one of the many casualties.
It is this American Muslims opinion that Time is a key factor to all of this. Patience and Vigilance and a certain stick to it ness with regard to simply living a good life. To appreciate the good people that further the cause of right living, whatever their circumstance, is a small but no less significant victory for us and the countless that have lived hard and died at the hand of ignorance and its brood. And though I am Muslim and am admittedly predisposed to its strengths, Al Hamdu Lillah, my right deeds and thoughts also do honor, for example, to the many souls I was blessed with knowing in Chiapas Mexico who have since died violent deaths. Deaths that began with an idea.
Bifurcations will come about with all things we tread in mind and spirit. To the degree that we are able to be aware from whence they come would, in my opinion, enable us to subsequently control our lives in ways we can’t even imagine yet.
Courage
May 14th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Salaams Safiyah,
Boy, now there’s an issue that really needs some tackling. So many Muslim women are left with a deficiency of response when dealing with being questioned on covering and so forth. So much dialog is needed…
May 15th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Safiya, you mentioned:
This point hits the mark in that most people who are critical of Islam look “down” on it from the standpoint that they think their viewpoint represents Civilization itself, that when they speak, they speak not from a point in History but rather beyond it, transcendent and beyond reproach. This is going to be a tough nut crack.