The term ISLAMOPHOBIA, does not do justice to the severity of ANTI-MUSLIM RACISM, not just semantically, but functionally.
Racism is severe and destructive, often fatal to the subject of racism. In Arachnophobia, I am afraid of the spider. The spider itself remains unharmed. In ANTI-MUSLIM RACISM, the victim of racism can be, and often is, severely harmed. The term extends beyond the perpetrator of racism, and points to the plight of the victim.
Anti-Semitism, although inappropriately and monopolistically appropriated to exclude Arab Semites, doesn’t soft pedal around … we’ve never heard the term “Judeophobia”!
It is time we took a critical look at common, downplaying terminology.
Thanks for your comments. Definitely agree on the weak reach and meaning issues with the term Islamophobia. Have tried not to use it as much in the survey and in the title. The only unfortunate part is that it’s out there and we do have to contend with it also.
The use of the phrase Allahu Akbar,seen as a terrorist scream of destruction can also be used as a question.
But if you read anything, or listened to any podcasts, about anti racism or anti imperialism most of these questions are obvious. And yet, many on the "left" stop educating themselves after a while and racism has a way of creeping back into those cracks.
Very true! Somehow being anti-Muslim is always seen as "progressive" and "humanitarian" and this is at the core of the problem for liberals and the left.
I understand the idea concerning the use of Islamophobia vs anti-Muslim Hatred. For the most part though, this is my mostly semantics. Reality seems more important than word choice. Just my 2 cents.
I like the survey. If you're thinking of making this more widely available, would you put these into a different format?
Today, to my own shame, I noticed another anti islam/ arabic marker : I was at a protest and an arabic accented speaker had a say...it was long...maybe 10 minutes and in my judgement it was too longwinded. Later on, a white professor gave a 15 minute speech and somehow I was able to retain my attention. Subtle but unmistakable prejudged. I will now exponentially increase my attention to arabic accented speakers.
Also, another test,part test : write down three quotes from torah/talmud, new testament and Qu'ran, see which is most threatening
Regarding #16: To be fair, as a Muslim myself who doesn't live in the West, I don't think Muslim values align with the west...but that's okay. I don't think it needs to align to be civil with one another.
I'm not supporting Israel's actions what so ever, on the conterary, I condemt them. I think Israel is making a genocide and atrocities all around the middle east. With that being said - I must wonder - can you ask the same questions and replace the word muslims with jews, and get to some conclutions?
Thank you for this timely survey.
I wonder if I might make a suggestion?
The term ISLAMOPHOBIA, does not do justice to the severity of ANTI-MUSLIM RACISM, not just semantically, but functionally.
Racism is severe and destructive, often fatal to the subject of racism. In Arachnophobia, I am afraid of the spider. The spider itself remains unharmed. In ANTI-MUSLIM RACISM, the victim of racism can be, and often is, severely harmed. The term extends beyond the perpetrator of racism, and points to the plight of the victim.
Anti-Semitism, although inappropriately and monopolistically appropriated to exclude Arab Semites, doesn’t soft pedal around … we’ve never heard the term “Judeophobia”!
It is time we took a critical look at common, downplaying terminology.
Thanks for your comments. Definitely agree on the weak reach and meaning issues with the term Islamophobia. Have tried not to use it as much in the survey and in the title. The only unfortunate part is that it’s out there and we do have to contend with it also.
Totally agree. I also think the terms homophobic and transphobic are inaccurate and inappropriate as well.
The term antisemitism needs to be reclaimed to cover (and protect) all the Semitic peoples, not just the Jews.
See:
https://open.substack.com/pub/calexandersmith/p/israels-hubzpah-jabotinskys-law-and?r=el9lj&utm_medium=ios
The use of the phrase Allahu Akbar,seen as a terrorist scream of destruction can also be used as a question.
But if you read anything, or listened to any podcasts, about anti racism or anti imperialism most of these questions are obvious. And yet, many on the "left" stop educating themselves after a while and racism has a way of creeping back into those cracks.
Very true! Somehow being anti-Muslim is always seen as "progressive" and "humanitarian" and this is at the core of the problem for liberals and the left.
I understand the idea concerning the use of Islamophobia vs anti-Muslim Hatred. For the most part though, this is my mostly semantics. Reality seems more important than word choice. Just my 2 cents.
I like the survey. If you're thinking of making this more widely available, would you put these into a different format?
Today, to my own shame, I noticed another anti islam/ arabic marker : I was at a protest and an arabic accented speaker had a say...it was long...maybe 10 minutes and in my judgement it was too longwinded. Later on, a white professor gave a 15 minute speech and somehow I was able to retain my attention. Subtle but unmistakable prejudged. I will now exponentially increase my attention to arabic accented speakers.
Also, another test,part test : write down three quotes from torah/talmud, new testament and Qu'ran, see which is most threatening
Regarding #16: To be fair, as a Muslim myself who doesn't live in the West, I don't think Muslim values align with the west...but that's okay. I don't think it needs to align to be civil with one another.
I'm not supporting Israel's actions what so ever, on the conterary, I condemt them. I think Israel is making a genocide and atrocities all around the middle east. With that being said - I must wonder - can you ask the same questions and replace the word muslims with jews, and get to some conclutions?