Religion Dispatches
…ic State of Iraq and al Sham (sometimes known as ISIL since al Sham is the Arabic name for Levant, which in turn is the old name for Greater Syria)—is a radical movement. Though in its megalomaniacal way it has recently dubbed itself “the Islamic State” (as if there could be only one), it remains a fragile coalition of groups and interests held together by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Despite his name al Baghdadi comes from the city of Samarra and was pr…
Read More…the story has largely been, in effect, that it’s because they’re Muslims. Arab Muslims. Islam is “the mother lode of bad ideas,” as Sam Harris recently said, referring to Islam’s alleged intrinsic opposition to liberalism. Beyond being offensive and unsophisticated, the racial/ethnic/religion frame lacks logic. It holds little explanatory value since, as anyone who can read data can see, attitudes greatly differ according to which Muslim country…
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…ing with a terrorist situation.” He then proceeded to talk about profiling Arabs and Muslims. He’s said that Arabs only understand force. Apparently, “real” black men only understand force, too, according to a comment he made about President Obama and the BP oil spill: “I thought when we elected a black president, we were going to get a black president. You know, this [BP oil spill] is where I want a real black president. I want him in a meeting w…
Read More…Katherine Zappone, made a video for the Marriage Equality campaign that is promoting a referendum coming in May. According to Pink News, she and her partner married in Canada in 2003 but the High Court in Dublin refused in 2006 to recognize her marriage. Uganda: Magazine gives LGBTI Ugandans a voice The Advocate profiles Bombastic, a new magazine “by and for LGBTI Ugandans” and its editor Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera. Reclaiming messaging from anti…
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…crisis is Pakistan, but it sends the Middle East into a crisis, involving Arab countries, Israel, China. Everyone is reacting to this crisis including the U.S. government, which is reacting and trying to mitigate this crisis. We see the Foreign Service, the State Department, and the U.S. military. It debuts on June 21st. We are short on time, so I want to make time for one last question: What’s your advice to people who want to be creators, who w…
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…center, there’s a crowd of doused and disappointed undergraduates, largely Arab, Muslim or sympathetic, who’ve been refused entrance by security. Many, but not all of them, are with Students for Justice in Palestine. I, however, point to my name on a soaked printout, and am quickly let through. After a cursory check of my bag—I’m reading Åsne Seierstad’s brilliant One of Us: Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway—I’m on my way to the elevator….
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…r sell alcohol. Or, rather, al-cohol, I should say. One possible reason an Arabic word is used to describe a beverage the majority of Arabs are not supposed to imbibe is that Muslim scientists made huge advances in chemistry and passed their terminology on to Europe. 15. The Most Expensive Housing in America Anthony Janszoon (1607–1676) had a lot of money, so the Dutch wanted him to stay in New Amsterdam (see #7), but his half-Dutch, half-Spanish,…
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…oundup about the struggle to recognize marginalized pro-LGBT voices in the Arab world, reminds us that while religious voices are typically the loudest in denying human dignity, religions are not homogeneous. Here in the US, meanwhile, much of the post-Obgergefell v. Hodges opposition is framed as a religious concern, though it’s seldom noted there have been deep, ongoing debates about inclusion in American Muslim communities for years. Globally,…
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…albeit for more ordinary purposes. The enemy of my enemy, after all. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab nations are, along with Israel, worried about Iran, and willing to use deadly force where they claim to see Iranian proxies. In the past, of course, when terrified of Soviet military might, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim governments funneled weapons and cash to those who would fight them in Afghanistan. Why would this time be any different? If only…
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…estern Iraq a ground war is one that would favor their side.* If the Sunni Arabs in those parts of Syria and Iraq were to turn against ISIS, however, their game would be over. Their support would fall like a house of cards. The Sunni Arabs in Iraq were once before lured away from the extremism of al Qaeda in Iraq (the precursor of ISIS) when they were empowered by the American-supported Iraqi government. If the government today in Iraq—and in Syri…
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