She is also very brave to continue speaking out in support of free speech and against the criminalization of "blasphemy", especially since she has a fawtwa on her head.

- B

...I think it was the use of the cover photo that is being ridiculed. Clearly Newsweek doesn't know whom it is they must be watching out for:



- K&R

I read her second book and found her critique of contemporary Islam and her defense of free speech quite compelling.

Her association with the AEI is disappointing and I gather she definitely holds some conservative views on matters economic, but she's quite liberal in other areas.

All in all, she is usually well worth reading on the topic of Islam.

If she were to speak, talk and write about contemporary societal matters in her area, it would be one thing. She chose to speak about Islam, as she is no Islamic scholar, thus I have no interest in anything she has to say. Hirsi is biased, and has an agenda. You know there are some who love nothing more than the "converted" Muslim woman.

If you want to read about Islam from an unbiased view, try someone like Karen Armstrong.

You could read works by Riffat Hassan if you want to read about Islam from a true Muslim feminist.

http://www.religiousconsultation.org/hassan2.htm

More about Riffat:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riffat_Hassan

She is a politician, feminist, atheist and polemicist who is free to speak on anything she wishes. I read her book and have pondered her thoughts. On contemporary Islam, I think her critique has much to commend it.

(I've read Karen Armstrong, who is also quite impressive. I'll have a look at Riffat Hassan sometime, about whom I know nothing.) - B

However it's her credibility I question. When she makes statements like, "Islam’s rage reared its ugly head again last week.", one can hardly consider her a objective commentator. It was not Islam's head that was raised, it was a bunch of misinformed, ignorant, manipulated, Muslims who more than likely were manipulated to act.

I would not seriously entertain the ideas of the likes of the Westboro Baptists to represent Christianity either, would you? When one considers Islam is the second largest religion in the world, the number of crazies really is not that large. I think it's a matter of focus. There has been a huge effort to demonize Muslims, particularly in the last decade, this is just more.

Ali is an attractive young woman who is nice to look at. She attracts an audience. Talking about her genitals only increases her audience.

She's a fuzzy-headed "religion is good, any religion" fool.

............who has done a lot of research, I sure much more than you. You do yourself poorly to dismiss her so abruptly.

Warren G. Harding (a Republican) was the first to propose the creation of a federal agency to handle health, education and welfare back in 1923. Dwight Eisenhower was a Republican with whom I sometimes agreed, particularly when he admonished America to not give in to the Military Industrial Complex. Hell even Richard Nixon proposed and later created the EPA! All of these ideas come from people with whom I disagree more than agree.

And I would have to believe that someone who was raised as a Muslim probably knows more about Islam than most people here on DU, definitely me! But that's just my opinion.

- And here are a few other people who would also agree with you:

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.’ — Aristotle

‘If a Man will begin with certainties, he will end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he will end in certainties.’ — Francis Bacon

‘When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so regretfully upon the closed door that we don’t see the one which has opened for us.’ — Alexander Graham Bell

‘The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.’ — Henri Bergson

‘I had an immense advantage over many others dealing with the problem in as much as I had no fixed ideas derived from long-established practice to control and bias my mind, and did not suffer from the general belief that whatever is, is right.’ — Henry Bessemer

‘A weak mind is like a microscope, which magnifies trifling things but cannot receive great ones.’ — G. K. Chesterton

‘We all operate in two contrasting modes, which might be called open and closed. The open mode is more relaxed, more receptive, more exploratory, more democratic, more playful and more humorous. The closed mode is the tighter, more rigid, more hierarchical, more tunnel-visioned. Most people, unfortunately spend most of their time in the closed mode.’ — John Cleese

many times those brought up in a religion are not really that cognizant of the actual teachings of their religion. Rather they have an understanding of how things are manifested in their culture, not what the actual teaching is. How many Christians have really thought about the Nicene doctrine? How many know the difference between a Trinitarian or a Unitarian? How many even question it? How many claim to be Roman Catholics, without really questioning just what exactly that is?

I have spent time in Muslim countries and have heard some outlandish things told to me as being in the Quran. When I investigated in depth, I found they were not. People fashion things to suit their own desires. Too often those in power manipulate the masses to think XXX says this. If you really get to the heart of most the great religions, they all say the same thing.

I have no problem with any of the worlds religions, I do have problems with how they are manipulated to suit those in power.

...those brought up in a religion are not really that cognizant of the actual teachings of their religion.''


Ha! You're too generous. My assessment would be more on the order of 99.99% are not cognizant of the actual teachings of their religion. Nor are that many aware of the historical context or the opposing views of biblical stories, myths and tales within which it took place. Or the many, many parallels the bible has with the supposed opposing religions.* {It's that way for a reason}.

- I think we're in agreement, generally. And that's enough. For me.


* Bible Myths and Parallels in other Pagan Religions

My favorite one:

"Memo to MidEast protesters, this is how you fight Islamophobia. You make fun of it. #MuslimRage"