Cair not alone in tactics

Submitted by Yocheved Miriam (Israel), Dec 24, 2003 at 07:45

B"H

Mr Pipes comment states, in regard to Cair's tactics:

"Comment: CAIR here rejects the American principle of free speech and the belief that differences in opinion should be dealt with through reasoned discourse; it wants to close down debate. I can think of no U.S. organizations except the militant Islamic ones that deploy comparable tactics".

Actually, there are several groups in the US who use those same 'stop the debate' tactics -- among them are the gay/lesbian supporters (ask Dr. Laura!), green/ environmental fanatics, pro-abortion groups, and 'politically-correct' extremists, among others. These groups -- all leftist in orientation -- use threats of all kinds to shut up their opposition, everything from threatening litigation to contacting sponsors, as CAIR did in Mr. Harvey's case. Their goal, which they have achieved to a remarkable degree, is to make any discussion of a subject abhorent, so that people are afraid to even address an issue except among closest friends.

It's deplorable that they engage in these scare tactics. It's even worse that we, the thinking public, permit it.

We -- all of us, who believe in the system of public discourse as a means of finding and refining truth -- need to learn to stand up to these demogogues, leftist or Muslim, and refuse to give in.

I'm sorry that Mr. Harvey caved. He had a very precious teachable moment thrust right at him, and he blew it.

Yocheved Miriam Russo

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