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A Letter to Mr. Y Halabi

Reader comment on item: The Problem with Middle East Studies

Submitted by Geoffrey Sherwood (United States), Jul 17, 2008 at 22:19

Dear Mr. Halabi,
I read Mr. Daniel Pipes' account of what he alleges is your misquote of something he wrote, and would be interested in your side of the story.

Mr. Pipes claims to have written: "Muslim countries have the most terrorists and the fewest democracies in the world."

He claims that you distorted that quote by writing that what he actually wrote was: "One such writer Daniel Pipes, for example, depicts Muslims as "permanent" anti-democrats and terrorists. In his words: "Muslim countries [not only] have the most terrorists and the fewest democracies in the world, but that they always will."

He described your response to his complaint by saying that you "wrote back and justified his inaccuracy with a reference to post-modern subjectivity, with its convenient insouciance toward such concepts as truth and falsehood: "This is the way I understood and interpreted your article. When you write an article, you cannot control the way others interprete [sic] it."

Was that really your response? If it was, then I have to say that my interpretation of all of this is that you have compounded one pernicious lie with another. I don't use the word "lie" lightly. But it is obvious that you don't really believe what you wrote to Mr. Pipes. How do I know that? It's very simple: The only conceivable reason for putting your interpretation of Mr. Pipes in quotes, as though he really said those words, is so that you can UNDERMINE any attempt at interpretation on the part of the reader. Obviously, if someone really did say "permanent", he meant "permanent". What interpretation is needed?

There is absolutely no place in this world for so-called post-modern subjectivity when it comes to quoting someone. It is an evil, pure and simple. That form of subjectivity, if it is described accurately by Mr. Pipes, can serve only one purpose - to deceive. If you were an honest human being with any intellectual integrity at all, you would have stated outright that you were interpreting Mr. Pipes.

You could have at least said "I feel that Mr. Pipes thinks that Muslims are permanently terroristic and undemocratic". That would be the honest way to write what you did. Instead, it appears that you purposely tried to manipulate the reader - the exact opposite of letting the reader interpret things for himself.

Since you claim that you were "interpreting" Mr. Pipes, let me ask you exactly what Mr. Pipes has written that would lead any reasonable person to think the he believes terrorism and anti-democracy is a permanent condition of Muslims.

It will probably be extremely difficult for you to answer these questions honestly, but, with a sincere effort, you might just be able to do it. Just like Mr. Pipes, I believe that anyone and anything can change for the better.

Kind Regards,
Geoffrey Sherwood
New Jersey, USA

Submitting....

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Reader comments (89) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
The British Steals The Legal Jewish Territory in Jordan [537 words]YJ DraimanFeb 14, 2017 04:51236712
The problem is political. [123 words]Sheldon LazarowitzAug 4, 2008 21:58136283
The Problem Is "-Islam-" [234 words]Geno M.Aug 10, 2008 16:59136283
Why not here? [91 words]surjAug 25, 2008 18:55136283
Try to find solutions, i know its difficult but not impossible [130 words]Mr.JJAug 28, 2008 06:40136283
Common Sense [174 words]Geno M.Aug 29, 2008 18:23136283
ASMEA [67 words]Daniel G. Shaw, PhDAug 30, 2008 02:07136283
1We Love Our Religions [145 words]Mr.JJSep 1, 2008 03:22136283
Let's Get Our Facts Straight [631 words]Geno M.Sep 2, 2008 14:47136283
1Please see the highlighted text [789 words]Mr.JJSep 3, 2008 02:55136283
Another victim of Arabian imperialism [502 words]dhimmi no moreSep 3, 2008 07:28136283
1Sons of Monkeys & Pigs? [802 words]Geno M.Sep 5, 2008 17:10136283
Our dear MrJJ and the religion of peace [212 words]dhimmi no moreSep 7, 2008 13:18136283
Man i knew that you would definitely use word (BOGUS ) you can't complete your sentence without it.you are so Funny dhimmi no more [74 words]Mr.JJSep 8, 2008 23:14136283
Our dear MrJJ and his bogus claim that islam is the "fastest growing" religion in the US [205 words]dhimmi no moreSep 10, 2008 06:36136283
In memory of the victims of the 9/11 atrocity and Islam-fascism will be defeated [134 words]dhimmi no moreSep 11, 2008 06:27136283
Our dear MrJJ and his bogus claim that islam is the "fastest spreading" religion in the US part deux [147 words]dhimmi no moreSep 11, 2008 06:43136283
DEAR TO ALL MR. DHIMMI NO MORE [41 words]Mr.JJSep 11, 2008 23:42136283
Our dear Mr.JJ and gem time [117 words]dhimmi no moreSep 13, 2008 07:15136283
Mansoor from Pakistan summed up the true feelings of all Muslims [362 words]howardSep 25, 2008 13:18136283
TO MR. HOWARD [13 words]Mr.JJSep 27, 2008 02:25136283
1To JJ, A typical Muslim avoids saying the truth and resorts to impolitness [274 words]howardSep 28, 2008 19:02136283
howard Mr. Peace (spreading hatred) [63 words]Mr.JJSep 29, 2008 23:23136283
JJ a Typical Muslim avoids saying the truth and use foul mouth [599 words]howardOct 1, 2008 23:05136283
howard a typical Non-Muslim dont want to face truth and use foul mouth: you good man and i am Bad i guess that will please you :) [953 words]Mr.JJOct 6, 2008 01:52136283
You dunno anything about Islam [222 words]AbdelrahmanDec 6, 2008 12:35136283
4Let's see what the Koran says [748 words]Geno M.Dec 6, 2008 19:56136283
5A Simple Explanation for the Quran Verses.you have brought [1003 words]AbdelrahmanDec 7, 2008 21:50136283
Sign of Jonas [122 words]ZentristDec 11, 2008 22:28136283
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Muslim understanding [93 words]Cheyenne HuntMar 4, 2009 00:46136283
Non Muslims [27 words]doris newsomeJun 7, 2016 17:51136283
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Mid East studies, [188 words]donvanJul 23, 2008 15:06135593
Problems with ME studies [18 words]Steven LJul 18, 2008 17:35135372
ME(I)STUDIES. [200 words]DONVANJul 21, 2008 10:55135372
Wishful thinking but where's the plan? [133 words]Graham R-BJul 28, 2008 10:24135372
I wish... [204 words]DONVANAug 4, 2008 10:16135372
ME Studies and Propaganda [313 words]LifeguardAug 8, 2009 07:25135372
A Letter to Mr. Y Halabi [475 words]Geoffrey SherwoodJul 17, 2008 22:19135349
I disagree to Dr. Pipes- on comment (3) [526 words]YnnatchkahJul 17, 2008 09:43135327
A Microscopic Investigation [56 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Martha FleischerJul 16, 2008 13:50135283
Intellectual laziness [67 words]YKJul 16, 2008 10:07135275
All forces against one enemy [217 words]MansoorJul 16, 2008 07:18135266
Our dear Mansoor and his sinking ship [132 words]dhimmi no moreJul 22, 2008 05:54135266
all forces against the one enemy - which is a belief system that promotes ignorance and stupidity [1050 words]the Grand Infidel of KaffiristanJul 23, 2008 00:50135266
Daniel Pipes and moderate Muslims [147 words]AhmadJul 16, 2008 06:01135263
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Words Are Like Arrow [412 words]kamekishJul 16, 2008 02:29135259
Sadowski's perverted mind in "...Six Ideas for Improving Western Coverage of Islam"... [454 words]YnnatchkahJul 16, 2008 01:27135257
Democracy (and Decency) in the Middle East [59 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Milton Alter MD PhDJul 15, 2008 21:44135249
An apology from Muslims?...You'll never get it! [64 words]M.D'SouzaJul 15, 2008 17:21135232
The Problem with Middle East Studies [193 words]BeverlyJul 15, 2008 15:04135224
The Trouble with Middle East Studies [53 words]Dannel R. BallesterosJul 15, 2008 08:22135144
from an X Iranian Moslim: Do You Remember Cat Stevens? [229 words]zari namdarJul 15, 2008 02:57135126
Ego [79 words]Stuart TeichJul 15, 2008 01:50135124
Daniel Pipes misrepresents Sadowski's remarks and his own views [250 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Tim WilkinsonJul 14, 2008 22:31135115
They problem with Middle East Studies or the study of "the other" [497 words]CelineJul 14, 2008 20:56135107
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No Apologies Please...I'm A Victim [128 words]trans-parereJul 14, 2008 16:35135085
Never happen unless [261 words]dfwhite19438Jul 14, 2008 15:31135077
Nothing surprising in Islamic scholarship [38 words]Romesh ChanderJul 14, 2008 15:10135075
Dear Daniel [195 words]GeorgesJul 14, 2008 14:58135074
Dear Daniel- In aggrement with Georges [66 words]DebbieMay 15, 2009 12:03135074
Islam and democracy [250 words]Janusz KowalikJul 14, 2008 14:09135070
Islam & Democracy - Oxymoronic terms. [74 words]M.D'SouzaJul 15, 2008 17:54135070
Paid to Light Backfires [1253 words]Lame CherryJul 14, 2008 13:45135068
Middle East studies and its troublemakers [154 words]Rebecca MouldsJul 14, 2008 12:49135063
Dr. Pipes is not anti Muslim [86 words]SinghaJul 14, 2008 12:37135062
The problem with Middle East Studies [62 words]Margaret S. HoodJul 14, 2008 12:12135061
Daniel Pipes guilty of coming up with a very catchy and winning phrase [195 words]rickJul 14, 2008 11:01135056
Two can play at this game [19 words]Mark GJul 14, 2008 10:46135052
The Hour of the wolf in Academe [149 words]Abu NudnikJul 14, 2008 10:44135051
Exactly Abu Nudnik [49 words]YnnatchkahJul 14, 2008 18:11135051
Bogeyman [31 words]VijayJul 14, 2008 10:31135049
Nothing to Be Defensive About [339 words]Ron ThompsonJul 14, 2008 10:24135048
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Are Islam and Democracy Compatible? [402 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Carl Goldberg, PhDJul 14, 2008 09:25135043
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