69 million page views

Two considerations

Reader comment on item: Foreword: Why Islam's Reformers are Vitally Important

Submitted by David G (United States), Jul 18, 2017 at 12:35

1) When you say "anti-Islamic Right", you are adopting the Left's subtle dichotomy: every opinion that lands outside the Leftist world-view is stamped "Right", and so it becomes dismissable. To believe that it is at best unlikely that the dominant forces within Islam can ever become those that negate the verses of the Koran and associated texts, is not necessarily associated with other (informed) beliefs/opinions, such as Democrat/Republican, and dissociating them from this context may prove to better bring about the world that you hope for.

2) The reformers you list, and others of similar mind apparently have no significant traction in their own Muslim communities -- that is far more relevant than whether non-Muslim critics or the MSM carries their news. Can they sway the congregation in their mosque to dismiss their virulent imam and replace him with one of their own POV? Can they organize massive rallies to oppose the usual Islamist rallies? I think that the MSM would treasure such events, but they aren't happening -- such rallies that have been organized are attended by very few people, many or most of them are not Muslims, and -- am I exaggerating? -- never is there an Imam. The reformers you list are individuals, perhaps with tiny followings, and they are roundly despised by the larger Muslim community. The MSM, for all of its defects, would respond when there is a basis to do so. Zuhdi Jasser, for instance, has received some press, he has made appearances all over, he is known on YouTube, and yet he has little traction in the Muslim community -- much more, he is despised and dismissed by Muslims, even as an ignoramus or a traitor. This is where the situation stands now, and what reason is there to believe that it can change? Other than believing that wishing will bring about the desired results?

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Daniel Pipes replies:

1) I am on the Right myself. I am not accepting the Left's dichotomy but making my own generalization.

2) Reformers are admittedly weak. So, you are telling them to give up? No cause is worth the effort unless it is strong from the start? To ask that question is to answer is.

Submit a comment on this item

Reader comments (45) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Muhammad was/is Islam and the Quran ... how do you erase his terrible history? [71 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
KirbyAug 5, 2017 20:36240375
Scriptures are not malleable ... [219 words]KirbyAug 6, 2017 13:14240375
3Response to Daniel Pipes [189 words]AnonAug 7, 2017 21:45240375
1Scriptures are not malleable ... [153 words]KirbyAug 9, 2017 21:12240375
Too late [98 words]CaraxJul 31, 2017 05:10240301
1How does this sort of thing read in... [66 words]Peter HerzJul 28, 2017 19:23240277
Nonie Darwish [29 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
GWKJul 21, 2017 13:34240143
Next time an ignoramous on the Right or Left tells you about all Muslims [240 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
PezDispenserJul 21, 2017 09:01240138
1All religions, ideologies, etc. sport the odd dissidents, but have little effect on the mainstream ... [158 words]KirbyAug 10, 2017 01:07240138
Semantics, Reform, Apostasy [360 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
David GJul 20, 2017 11:50240122
6Reforming Islam? Mission impossible [667 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Carl GoldbergJul 18, 2017 17:41240094
1Islamism vs. Islam [14 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Steve KirbyJul 20, 2017 12:32240094
3Islamism versus Islam [159 words]Carl GoldbergJul 20, 2017 12:50240094
Essentialism [83 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
ECAWJul 21, 2017 00:40240094
2defeating Islam .. [84 words]Anne JulienneJul 23, 2017 06:45240094
1I agree one hundred percent with Carl Goldberg [90 words]marlanJul 24, 2017 06:19240094
Erdogan and Surah 5:3 [278 words]DavidJul 31, 2017 19:02240094
Answer to David (Russia) [420 words]Carl GoldbergAug 2, 2017 01:03240094
1Modern Islam - ? Ain't gonna fly. [175 words]KirbyAug 5, 2017 21:11240094
There is only one Islam [59 words]dhimmi no moreAug 6, 2017 07:34240094
1Who is the real Muslim? [161 words]dhimmi no moreAug 6, 2017 08:34240094
A modern Islam [188 words]PrashantAug 6, 2017 22:57240094
1The onus of identifying Islamists must fall on no one else but Muslims. [246 words]PrashantAug 6, 2017 23:27240094
1Muhammad is the Quran and Islam negating possibilty of change ... [123 words]KirbyAug 9, 2017 21:23240094
... the standard; Crusaders not "Christian" ... [134 words]KirbyAug 9, 2017 21:41240094
2Two considerations [312 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
David GJul 18, 2017 12:35240091
Should they give up? [39 words]Carl GoldbergJul 20, 2017 12:31240091
2The answer? [56 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jeffrey SheffJul 18, 2017 10:29240090
An alternative version of Islam??? [18 words]Carl GoldbergJul 20, 2017 12:41240090
1why islam needs to be reform? [18 words]yigal gurevitchJul 18, 2017 09:57240089
2Islamists hypocrisy [75 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Abdel Rahman JamilJul 18, 2017 09:28240088
Metal detectors on the Temple Mount and in Mecca [72 words]Carl GoldbergJul 20, 2017 12:38240088
Islam can be reformed [314 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
dhimmi no moreJul 18, 2017 07:41240086
Why Islams reformers are vitally important [290 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
MustaphaJul 18, 2017 05:37240083
Not quite fair! [125 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Barry BoyerJul 18, 2017 04:16240080
2Ironically speaking... [196 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
ECAWJul 18, 2017 01:48240077
2Reply to Daniel Pipes [343 words]ECAWJul 20, 2017 09:47240077
1Moderate Muslims are inconsequential [92 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Glen SpicerJul 18, 2017 00:58240076
an omission .. [26 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Anne JulienneJul 18, 2017 00:55240075
2In Reality, the Muslim Reform Movement is Irrelevant [37 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Stephen KirbyJul 17, 2017 12:35240061
1Deprecating, insulting and ignoring the Moslem reformers [66 words]Carl GoldbergJul 20, 2017 12:28240061
3Muslim "reformers" struggling [125 words]Steve KirbyJul 20, 2017 12:42240061
Consider [51 words]DavidJul 31, 2017 18:45240061
Muslim Modernizers [7 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Gary SackJul 17, 2017 12:24240060
Modernizing Imans ? [11 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jeff CarlsonJul 17, 2017 00:39240007

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)