Maybe Robert Spencer is a hobbit. At least he looks like one next to Raymond Ibrahim, though I have a suspicion that most people would look tiny next to Ibrahim. I must add that my comment is not intended to mock Mr. Spencer, as I am a great fan of his. I love hobbits. I married one.
Anyway, Spencer’s speech to the Middle East Forum–the video is up at his site–is excellent. Even in the conservative community, feelings are mixed about what Spencer has to say, but I think his scholarship is invaluable. Education is our only line of defense against this oppressive PC mindset that has become entrenched in western culture. This obsession with “tolerance” is leading us down a very dangerous path, inhibiting our ability to fully assess the threat against us.
This isn’t kooky conspiracy theorizing, it’s taking the Islamists at their word, something many seem afraid to do. Too many people in this country don’t even believe there is a real “war on terror”–roughly half of this country’s population, in my estimate, given recent election results. And whether you like the name this war has been given is immaterial, since arguing semantics doesn’t keep planes from flying into buildings or suicide bombers from detonating on the subway.
On a somewhat related note: Raymond Ibrahim is apparently using “tired canaries” to shore up his “Islamophobic” and “lethargic” arguments. I’m not quite sure how he does it, but this is very intriguing. Is it something like misdirection, like a magician pulling a dove out of his sleeve? And why are these canaries so tired? Possibly from being used–egregiously, I might add–out of context by a person with a dubious command of the English language. There’s so much outrage going around these days–the air is thick with it. That’s not an inversion layer hanging over SoCal, folks. That’s perpetual outrage.
Exit question: Is it just me, or is Raymond Ibrahim huge? (To clarify, by “huge” I don’t mean “fat”, I mean “strapping and manly.” Like crushing-cars-with-his-bare-hands “huge.”)
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I think the “tired canaries” bit was supposed to be “tired canards,”
Though, I could be wrong.
Well, obviously. That’s what makes it so funny. It’s assumed he means canards, but he uses canaries, which is pretty far off. I love it. The imagery of the enormous Raymond Ibrahim tossing sleepy-eyed birds when backed into a rhetorical corner is hysterical.
I agree that the USA has a right to defend itself, and I believe president Bush has done a fairly good job, I like him. I also believe that human civilization must confront the Islamic terrorism.
I also believe that there is only one God and Muhammad is His Apostle.
I believe that Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism are all one and the same eternal unchanging Faith of God.
I believe that Baha’u'llah is the Promised One of every religion and that He has revealed a new revelation of the Word of God.
He has left detailed instructions about how to end all the conflict and contention in the world and unite all the people of every nation, race and religion into one universal and divine civilization.
Ya Baha’u'l Abha
Excellent post.
Your last comment “Like crushing-cars-with-his-bare-hands “huge” had me in stitches.
-Cheers
-Ayo Gorkhali
A body builder as well as a brilliant anti-jihadist? Nice. He is cute too. Lucky wife. :)
I always appreciate a person who’s got interests outside of their scholarly pursuits. I happen to love lifting weights as well. It is such a relaxing distraction. CrossFit is great for giving one a comprehensive workout.
Great post, HG. Raymond’s a body builder in addition to being a PhD student, author, brilliant anti-jihadist, and just plain cute.
Just discovered your blog via JW.
When I saw that photo at JihadWatch i was reminded of an episode of Father Ted (“Father Stone”) which has a miniature of Ted and father Stone with the latter as a tiny figure next to the benevolent Ted. If you haven’t seen the series this wont mean much, but it is really very funny.
Great quote from Lewis.
Jack
The worst part is, the Islamist agenda is so deeply entrenched in so many aspects of our nation:
1) Media – On Law and Order, every “crazy religious person” case is always a freaking Christian. I’ve listened to the cops on the show drool on about how Islam is peaceful. The news won’t touch it, either.
2) Politics – We have Keith Ellison, the first Muslim congressman having his Hajj paid for Muslim Brotherhood front groups. Bush, Condi, Gore, Obama, and the whole boat load of em drone on about how great Islam is. The people know nothing.
3) Military – The US Army War College doesn’t touch Islamic jihadist doctrines and history. My buddies at West Point told me last night when I asked that they don’t hear ANYTHING about it.
Europe and North America have all these nutjob leftists and irate Muslims talking about Jihad and blowing up Jews, and we all just sit here!
Raymond Ibrahim sure looks huge to me. And, come to think of it, Robert Spencer does look like a hobbit. I will assume both observations are meant to be complimentary.
I don’t know whether I am conservative or not, but I have no “mixed feelings” about Robert Spencer’s work. He generally seems as on the money to me as the remark that…Raymond Ibrahim is huge.
Man, I pity the jihadi who decides their path to paradise lies through Raymond Ibrahim. Check out this interview with Hannity. Ibrahim is a mountain of a man.