#addressing Islamophobia is important

[arcadialedger]

Mark my words, now that they’ve done the 1990’s the next historical American Girl doll is going to be a Muslim girl living in the wake of 9/11.

Because, as the recent SNL sketch pointed out, we have to give these girls trauma.

[loving-n0t-heyting]

The government should urgently implement anti-terrorism laws to address this ongoing threat. These laws must also tackle digital organizing and the spread of hate through social media platforms, including Twitter/X, where many far-right groups have found fertile ground to organize and prepare for their marches.

Even Elon Musk, whose ties to fascist elements are now undeniable, has posted unhinged tweets that directly legitimize and incite far-right terrorism. This is blatantly undermining the current measures being planned to quell the riots in the UK. The ongoing situation on the platform reveals that some individuals are fantasizing about civil war–like conditions — and are determined to empower thugs to roam the streets and terrorize minorities.

Yes, british "anti terror" surveillance and censorship has ofc been such an important curb on rightwing violence in the past. Surely the latest tightening update to the war on terror anti-jihad updayes to troubles era police state measures against irish republicans will serve the interests of democracy and ethnic/religious tolerance in britain only more robustly than ever

Possibly the worst part of the muskrat owning twitter is the way it has cemented the idea of "free speech absolutism" as a far right bogeyman in the eyes of so many on the left

[yallcantread]

Before delving into the current drama circulating, I'd like to emphasize that this controversy seems rather pointless, and people are getting upset over nothing. It's important for me to clarify that I have no personal connection with Taylor Swift or Matty Healy. I appreciate both of their artistic work. I am not being compensated by anyone to express my thoughts on this matter.

Who am I? I'm a small artist who creates music. While I have some connections with labels, I'm still in the process of establishing myself. I'm sharing this perspective using a separate account to avoid making it about me. I won't be promoting my music or seeking followers in this context.

The reason I'm addressing this issue is that no one else seems willing to provide context in these situations, not even the so-called "news" applications. TikTok and Twitter have become breeding grounds for misinformation, as people seek attention and likes. It's disheartening to witness how easily words like "Nazi" or "racist" are thrown around simply because someone doesn't approve of the person an artist is dating.

As an artist myself, it's concerning to see how quickly people believe things based on out-of-context 60-second videos or viral and impulsive tweets sourced from TikTok and Twitter. I understand that neither Matty Healy nor Taylor Swift should have to address this situation, and it's unlikely that they will.

This thread aims to offer context and explanations for some of Matty Healy's controversial and "problematic" comments. It includes discussions about the infamous "ghetto gaggers" comment and the recent ice spice comment. Unfortunately, the community on the 1975 subreddit seems unhelpful as they discourage discussions about current events, even when seeking clarity or defending the group. A very useless subreddit with useless mods. Every topic will have sources.

1. “Matty Healy is Islamophobic.”

Let's address the misconception that Matty Healy is Islamophobic. His views on religion are not targeted solely at Islam; he holds an anti-organized religion stance. It is essential to understand that his concerns lie with the principles of organized religions as a whole, including Islam. People often label him as Islamophobic because he retweeted tweets from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a well-known Somali activist who has left Islam and openly shares her reasons for doing so. Ayaan Hirsi Ali speaks out against various issues that women and young girls face, drawing from her own experiences as a former Muslim woman.

A particular incident that left an impression on me was when Ayaan Hirsi Ali made a short film discussing her departure from Islam and the oppression faced by women. As a result, both she and the director of the film received death threats. Tragically, her friend, the director, was later murdered by an Islamic terrorist. By retweeting the account of this credible and respected woman, Matty Healy was not displaying Islamophobia.

He had tweeted:

“I saw a film about Islam the other night, with people saying things like ‘I’m a Muslim and I’m white’ or ‘I’m a Muslim and I’m an American’ or ‘I’m a Muslim and I'm a patriot.’ You didn't see any ‘I’m a Muslim and I’m gay.’ Or ‘I used to be a Muslim and I'm fine”

And

“Isis are cutting little girls heads off and you want to challenge a non-religious, humanist perspective? I don’t understand the world at all.”

Criticism ensued following these retweets, especially during a time when openly expressing any criticism of Islam was considered unacceptable. Matty Healy received criticism on Twitter for the retweets.

One individual, who was both a Harry Styles fan and a Muslim, expressed disagreement and sought to educate him on Islam. Matty Healy's response, "I resent being 'educated' on religion by a Harry Styles fan account. Not having a go at him obvs, but it's hard to take seriously," should be understood in the context of a young fan displaying bias in favor of her own religion due to her age and limited perspective.

While Matty Healy acknowledged the criticism, it's worth noting that engaging in debates with young individuals on Twitter, particularly those in the age range of 12-22, is not his preference. He rightfully points out that trying to argue with someone who lacks the necessary understanding or context can be unproductive.

In this case, it wasn't about dismissing the person's views solely because they were a fan of Harry Styles, but rather because of the combination of their young age and their inclination to defend their own religious beliefs without considering broader perspectives. It's worth noting that engaging in meaningful discussions on complex topics like religion requires an open mind and a willingness to consider multiple viewpoints.

It's important to acknowledge that many religions have historically exhibited forms of sexism and misogyny.

2. “Kissing fans/underage fans”

Don’t know where this particular rumor started but here we go.

So, in 2022 during a concert a fan who was of age (22!!) had a sign that was like “it’s my birthday be my first kiss” and kept waving the sign. Matty noticed it and kept asking her over and over again that she was of age, had a stage crew member check her ID, asked her if it was okay, and then it happened.

In another incident, he kissed a 24-year-old fan, and various individuals attempted to speak on her behalf, claiming that she felt uncomfortable. She came out and said differently.

Regarding the notion that "kissing a fan is an imbalance of power," it can be argued that this statement is overly simplistic. While it is true that celebrities kissing their fans is not an everyday occurrence, it does happen on occasion. One example is Halsey, who has been involved in such incidents (although there was controversy surrounding one instance where there were allegations of the fan possibly being underage, the veracity of which I cannot confirm). It is important to consider each situation individually rather than making sweeping generalizations about power dynamics in all such cases.

Some individuals criticized him for checking IDs before kissing fans, with one viral tweet implying that his thoroughness in verifying the ages of the fans he invites on stage to kiss suggests he has engaged in sexual activities with underage girls. However, such insinuations are unfounded and unwarranted. It is not unreasonable for him to check IDs as a precautionary measure and ensure that he is engaging with consenting adults. In fact, verifying the age of participants is a responsible and necessary action given the potential legal and ethical implications. Therefore, labeling his actions as weird or inappropriate for checking IDs is unjustified.

3. “Matty Healy is a Nazi”

No, he isn't. This particular criticism appears to be the most unfounded of them all, as if words have lost their meaning. Before addressing it, however, I want to express my dislike for certain fans who deny that he imitated a Nazi salute. It's evident that he did an imitation as a satirical reference to self-identified Nazi, Kanye West. The context is important: during a performance of the socially conscious anthem 'Love It If We Made It,' he made the salute while singing the lyric 'Thank you Kanye, very cool!' which references Trump's infamous tweet thanking Kanye for his endorsement. Matty has discussed this further in his statements.

I’m a history buff. So I know a lot about most history, but mostly fascist history. But let’s talk more about “what/who is a Nazi/what do modern day nazis believe in?”

Nothing that Matty Healy believes in. The modern day Nazi is mostly known as a “Neo-Nazi.” Neo-Nazi literally means “new-Nazi” or “revived Nazi” and it refers to people who have adopted ideologies similar to those first identified with the Nazi Party, which ruled Germany under Hitler between 1933 and 1945. “Nazi” is a contraction of the German words meaning “National Socialism”. Nazis used to be more so known for their opposition to communism and for their mastery in propaganda.

Another controversial way this song was involved in yet another controversy was when it was first mentioned that an innocent black man named George Floyd had died at the hands of a police officer (a Nazi) named Derek Chauvin.

In response to this incident, many celebrities and individuals with platforms spoke out about the situation. In a now-deleted tweet, the singer wrote, 'If you truly believe that 'ALL LIVES MATTER,' you need to stop facilitating the end of black ones.' Healy included a link to the band's song 'Love It if We Made It,' which addresses racism and police brutality through its lyrics.

Many people falsely expressed outrage and insinuated that he did it for 'views' or to 'promote his music.' Firstly, such a claim is preposterous, considering the song was released in 2018, and in 2019 alone, nearly 1,000 people were killed by the police. It is important to note that artists do not primarily generate income from streaming, but rather from touring and selling merchandise. Though I haven't had the chance to tour myself, based on the discussions I've had, it is a significant source of income for artists, covering their expenses. That's precisely why merchandise is sold at concerts. To put it into perspective, artists typically keep 85% of their touring revenue from each venue. If they sell items like shirts, hoodies, vinyls, hats, and more, at an average price of $25, selling 200-500 items would generate $5,000-$12,500 from merchandise sales alone.

If he had intended to profit from the situation, he would have done so through merchandise, using George Floyd's face or name to make money in connection with his lyrics. Sharing a link to his song when an issue arises does not make it about him; it is his way of expressing his thoughts on the crisis. I tend to ramble a bit, but with my music, I attempt to address questions in a more structured manner. I assume that when Matty shared the link, his intention was to convey 'this is how I feel about it,' as people were urging him to speak up.

He subsequently apologized and clarified his intent, stating, 'Sorry I did not link my song in that tweet to make it about me. It's just that the song is literally about this disgusting situation and expresses it more eloquently than I can on Twitter.”

4. Matty Healy watches torture p*rn of black women/C*MTOWN, The Adam Friedland show/ghetto gaggers.

Firstly, if you're not familiar with the podcast Cum Town, it can be summarized as exactly what you'd expect. The episodes of Cum Town usually ran for approximately 60 minutes and were predominantly improvised. The show primarily revolves around a collection of explicit sexual humor and political commentary. Additionally, The Adam Friedland show can be regarded as a spin-off of Cum Town.

According to Wikipedia and feedback from listeners of the podcast, a prevalent theme of the show is centered around crude puns, rhymes, and sexually explicit scenarios, often involving well-known figures like Louis C.K., humorously referred to as "Louis SeemsGay." The show also occasionally incorporates ethnic and racial stereotypes into its comedic repertoire.

The humor of the show is primarily based on dark comedy, often featuring jokes that mock racial stereotypes and those who perpetuate or believe in them. It shares a similar style to that of South Park and many stand-up comedians. However, it's important to note that if this type of humor doesn't resonate with you, it simply may not be your cup of tea. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and personal preferences. Cum Town/The Adam Friedland show are leftist shows. They use vulgarity as a way to make their point, they’re considered “Dirtbag Left.” Click orgins of this Wikipedia page and you’ll see it listed as an example.

On February 9, 2023, Matty Healy appeared as a guest on the Adam Friedland show. Interestingly, this episode gained attention as people were searching for things to criticize Matty Healy for, starting with the Nazi salute controversy. Subsequently, they discovered a podcast episode featuring Matty Healy on TAFS, which they then seized upon.

During a random part of the show, Adam Friedland brought up a story claiming that Matty Healy was caught watching explicit content called Ghetto Gaggers by a person named Olive, who had gone back to retrieve her water bottle. Adam chuckled as he shared the story, mentioning that immediately after hanging out, explicit content played on the tv via airplay mode. Matty responded by questioning the behavior of airplaying pornography and even jokingly calling it psychopathic. The following conversation is a transcript of what was said by who and when. The conversation is color coded. Adam will be red, Matty will be purple and Nick will be green. As I don’t want to keep going “and ____ responds” over and over again.

Adam goes on laughing saying

“30 seconds after the hang just hardcore pornography. I heard that story and the only thing that bothered me was the air playing”

And Matty responds

“what you text me immediately being like I need the info on this story. Like how psychopathic do you have to be to like airplay porn on the TV?”

then Adam goes on and says

“I remember when porn on the phone became a thing and everybody’s like oh this is weird and it’s like no this is what I always wanted to be, i want to be hun hunched over have the phone jammed in my face you know jacking off on my own face”

“Edging for two days”

“Yeah crumpled up”

Nick says “well you’ve been doing porn on the Apple Watch”

Matty sarcastically says “oh no way for real? :O”

“that would be so sick”

“Like images. This is how James Bond jacks off”

“yeah just a yoga class filled with fat black women and one guy just on his phone, one guy jacking off and people were like “are you jacking off to us? and they’re pleasantly surprised yeah and he’s like no there’s women of size on my watch, my Apple Watch and then they say yeah you’re fired from Apple, you’re fired from coming up with that idea”

Well i was there it wasn’t just 30 seconds it was the combination of the fact that was you’re not exaggerating it’s just 30 seconds like you guys were still waiting outside she came back in i was already flustered like i was dressed as guy who was jacking off so i had untucked shirt and i think it literally was ghetto gaggers was on the tv it’s just somebody getting like brutalized and it wasn’t like some cool sceney New York art girl it wasn’t like “oh I’m sorry it doesn’t matter “ (matty says this imitating a rough, dirty person with like rasp) but it was little Olive, who comes in” (matty starts doing a preppy British imitation of Olive) and says “I’m so sorry-“

Adam chimes in with “yeah she’s like britishly apologizing”

And matty goes non chantly “and I’m like yeah it’s fine, it’s fine it’s okay. Well 10 minutes would’ve been fine but 30 seconds was like it was kinda almost like i was worried that was offensive”

“I think when you’re a guy living alone the order of operations is you before you go to sleep you just have to Jack off”

“you said to me, you said to me”

And Adam cuts him off like “sorry I’ve got a story to tell” and he talks about a guy he used to live with(?) who brought home a girl, had dinner, he struck out she got drunk and slept on the couch he went inside his room and started blasting pornography loud hoping she’d hear it and I’m trying to sleep” and the whole group laughs at it.

Then Adam goes to speak about a product for an ad or whatever . And that’s literally it .

(38:40) is the beginning of the conversation.

It seems like the conversation between Matty Healy and Adam Friedland involved sarcasm, but certain individuals deliberately shortened the podcast clip to create a misleading impression. Consequently, people who came across that shortened clip may have started watching it without understanding the context and thus formed misconceptions.

In my personal opinion, it is evident that the story shared during the podcast episode was not genuine. Upon watching the full clip, it becomes clear that the story lacks coherence and does not align with the overall context. It seems to have been created on a whim, similar to other improvised scenes they engage in during the show. Taking the full clip into account and examining the story in its entirety, it becomes apparent that the narrative was not meant to be taken seriously or as an accurate account of events.

When Matty retells the story, he claims that Adam and Nick were waiting outside his trailer while he engaged in the act for precisely 30 seconds. It seems illogical for Adam to text Matty for details if they were already waiting outside the trailer. Additionally, if Matty was indeed watching explicit content and masturbating, it is reasonable to assume that the trailer door would be locked, making it unlikely for others to witness the act.

Overall, it is important to approach this story with skepticism. Believing that Matty watched Ghetto Gaggers solely based on this account seems unfounded and lacks credibility.

I want to clarify that I don’t believe Adam Friedland watches Ghetto Gaggers, either. My understanding of Ghetto Gaggers is similar to his, I believe. Before I explain how I even know of such content, I want to emphasize that I am not a fan of pornography in any form.

On Twitter, there is a prevalent joke or gimmick among popular male accounts, often known for copying and pasting tweets or becoming the target of jokes from their own followers. When these accounts gain viral tweets, it is common for someone to reply with an inappropriate video or picture, seeking a reaction from others. These videos are often extreme and fall into the realm of unethical pornography, deliberately posted to provoke a response.

In response to such replies, the OP hides the video from being directly seen in the replies. Another person, either the OP or a follower, then quote tweets the popular tweet with a message like “DON’T CHECK HIDDEN/DON’T CLICK HIDDEN/DON’T LOOK AT HIDDEN,” intending to entice others to view the hidden content. This is a specific aspect of Twitter culture that might not be familiar if you are not active on the platform.

can provide examples of tweets that employ this gimmick and hide content using GG (Ghetto Gaggers) if needed. A lot of the “DONT CHECK HIDDEN” with ghetto gaggers clips have been deleted or the accounts have been removed so struggling to find any account where the hidden video is that but that’s alright. Just type in “DONT CHECK HIDDEN” on twitter search bar. Also, NSFW for a lot of these examples.

1. Nsfw (look at the replies)

2. hidden reply (the account that posted the hidden comment is notorious for posting such content. I did a quick scroll and already saw black fetish content)

3. Yeah I’m not showing anymore for your sake and mine.

5. “Matty Healy trashes Ice Spice, says racially charged comments at her, said racist things about her made fun of her”

Other part to bring up was the Ice Spice thing? Ice Spice, the rapper isn’t Hawaiian or Asian in any sense, the hosts and Matty know this. Matty didn’t say anything racist about her, the hosts made the joke. I don’t believe people know that Matty Healy is British because the ones in the podcast that even make such remarks are clearly American. The following is a transcript of the conversation:

Matty: “Ice spice, you know who that is?”

Adam: “Nick does know who she is. She’s like one of the spice girls”

Matty: “She’s a rapper from the Spice Girls.”

Adam: “Inuit Spice Girl. Just this chubby Chinese lady.”

Adam: *Mimicking Asian accents* “I rap music.” Do they talk like that?

Matty:” They don’t talk with a Chinese accent.”

Nick: It’s more Hawaiian style.

Adam: *Pops mouth*

Matty: “Yeah, more Hawaiian. Welcome to Hawaii.”

Adam: “Locals only.”

Matty: “Yeah, that’s what Ice Spice is like.”

Nick: “She’s a very attractive woman who released one song, and basically everyone…”

Adam: “So, you slide into her DMs and go, ‘So what are you, a f**king Eskimo?’”

Matty: Yeah, yeah, that’s what I was like, you f**king dumb- yeah.”

That was the extent of the interaction, which was clearly intended as satire. Matty did not make any racist remarks.

It’s worth noting that Adam is known for doing impressions, as mentioned on his Wikipedia page. Mocking accents can be seen as humorous to some people, and the intention behind such humor is often to be offensive. The concept is that the joke would not be funny if it weren’t offensive. However, if you don’t find it funny, that’s okay. If you consider laughing at such corny satirical jokes as racist, then the same argument could be applied to shows like Family Guy, South Park, and others that make fun of certain beliefs. It’s important to recognize that Matty did not participate in the impressions.

In my view, racism goes beyond stereotypical accents of certain groups and involves systemic discrimination. People who grew up during the “your fave is problematic” era on Tumblr may have been influenced in a way that hyper-focuses on superficial issues like hairstyles and tattoos in different languages, while real issues affecting black people and other minorities, such as employment, housing, and food insecurity, are neglected due to factors like bad credit or minor offenses.

It’s crucial to choose our battles wisely and prioritize addressing systemic racism and inequality rather than getting caught up in trivial matters.

Regardless of personal opinions or feelings, it seems likely that they will continue to see each other. There have been previous reports and articles suggesting that they had a romantic history. One article, dated back to 2015, quoted Matty Healy discussing his troubled relationship with the press. It mentioned his connection to Taylor Swift, explaining that although nothing happened between them, the media’s interest in Swift created an unsettling presence for Healy. He expressed his discomfort with being scrutinized and judged by the world of fame.

It’s interesting to observe that people are now acting concerned about their involvement together, while they remained silent when Taylor Swift performed “The City” at one of the 1975 concerts or when Matty Healy assisted her with her album. It’s worth noting that they had a previous relationship as well.

It can be exhausting to witness Matty Healy’s name trending for trivial reasons, and it’s frustrating to see the out-of-context video from the Adam Friedland show circulating repeatedly. Moreover, labeling him as a bigot is far from accurate, as he has shown support for various political causes.

To gain a more comprehensive understanding, I would recommend watching the following videos where he expresses his views on specific political issues: there’s so much more but I CBA to find them but you can

1. Abortion

2. Gay rights/donated to LGBTQ center in England

[yuyu-finale]

why do you support anti-lgbt palestine

I really don’t know if this is a genuine question, but I keep getting this ask and I’m going to treat it as one in good faith in case you sincerely want to know.

First, to address the elephant in the room: GENOCIDE IS NEVER JUSTIFIED. Palestinians are people. People deserve to live and be free. People do not deserve to be KILLED en masse for ANY reason. They are a nation and a people, and no nation or people in the world deserves GENOCIDE.

Second, I need you to understand that you are coming from a heavily generalized standpoint that is tainted by islamophobia. The assumption that all Palestinians are all Muslims and therefore they are all homophobic is a result of years of islamophobic rhetoric from the West. There is no such thing as a state or people being totally anti-lgbtq. The laws and/or predominant religion/s of a place may not support lgbtq rights, and maybe the general view of lgbtq people is negative, but in any country/nation/state/people, there will ALWAYS be lgbtq people and lgbtq supporters.

The laws of many religious countries and their current or past colonies and territories are generally anti-lgbtq, but every religion will have followers who are lgbtq and lgbtq allies. This is how it is in most countries in the world.

Islam is our brother religion, but I cannot truly speak on the specifics of it. Still, i do know Islam is a peaceful religion. While it doesn’t allow certain things, it does not advocate for the hatred or disregard of any person. No religion does, in fact. Then why are some religious people anti-lgbtq? It is because some religious leaders twist the scriptures or take them out of context and spread hatred for their own agenda. But you must understand that the views on lgbtq people vary greatly within religions and countries, and even within communities and people, and so every religion will ALWAYS have lgbtq people and lgbtq allies.

And even in countries with lgbtq-inclusive policies, there is still discrimination. The homophobia and transphobia in some places in the US and western Europe is remarkably terrible, but people from these countries still consider their nations to not be anti-lgbtq. And for these countries, lgbtq inclusivity is a RECENT development; up until very recently, majority of their policies and sentiments were anti-lgbtq too.

Why? Because anti-lgbtq policies were put in place from outside (colonizers) or from the top (religious leaders or leaders with anti-lgbtq views) or are remnants of old laws that haven’t been updated. To fight for lgbtq rights first there must be a state of general stability, then we have to do it from within, from the bottom, and there must be change in the structure of many existing institutions.

It is difficult and it takes time. Not every country has the privilege of having time. Palestine has been fighting for its life since 1948. Many countries have barely been independent for a century. There are SO MANY reasons why anti-lgbtq policies persist in certain places. Even if an individual or group of people changes their mind, their leaders may not.

But the most important thing is that Palestine is the victim of an ongoing act of GENOCIDE. They are people, individuals with lives and dreams and views, and they are being killed by the thousands. They are people, fighting to live and be free, and I will always support them.

[icykalisartblog]

DDoS Attack Against AO3: Correcting Misinformation II

Wow, I'm pretty stunned and also really happy because of how much people spread my post about the misinformation about the DDoS attack against AO3! Usually when POC call out racism/xenophobia in fandom spaces it is sadly not met with a lot of positivity, so I'm really happy to see so many people being very supportive. There are a lot of helpful things I saw in the Notes too, like definitions of DDoS and calls for people to understand that this type of cyberattack doesn't steal the end-user's data. Thank you to everyone, I really appreciate it! (I also wanted to acknowledge I understand that I could have come down a lot harder against the absolutely disgusting racism and Islamophobia I saw circulating that I alluded to, but I'd originally only really expected my small number of followers to see what I said.)

I wanted to briefly address something I've seen coming up a lot in the responses, which is that the group may be Russian. The reason researchers suggest this is because their first activities were conducted in Russian in a Telegram channel back in 2019 (this is before they started to use Arabic—badly—to smear Sudanese people and Muslims), so I understand why people believe they are a Russian group. That being said, they used both Russian and English and their language still adheres to rather American turns of phrase, and as we can all see it's very easy to impersonate people, so I still wouldn't say it's certain.

However, while I get why people have the idea that they are Russian, I've also seen claims (even from cybersecurity researchers) that the group might be connected to the state/FSB and I think that's… highly suspect. As many people have pointed out in the Notes, these kinds of attacks are SO easy to do. And I think with things like the attempted coup, the FSB has much bigger things to worry about than funding some script kiddies who are shaking down the likes of Microsoft OneDrive for Bitcoin. There's been scaremongering about the group being Russian that I've noticed, when what I think is most likely is that this is the likes of some teenage script kiddies going from "soft target" to "soft target" looking for easy money.

Again, I think people should calm down and think critically about this situation, and also realize that right now it's not really that important where exactly this attack was coming from.

[violexides]

i have never met another Iraqi person that wasn’t family in my entire life and i have never had a Muslim community whatsoever in school online or otherwise and I have to introduce myself as Middle Eastern (if at all since some places still call me white) instead of Iraqi and that people will still guess me being from 10 different ethnic backgrounds over Middle Eastern and that everywhere i go there is permeating Islamophobia that i never really know who my allies are because at the end of the day 9/11 jokes are “more important” than the Islamophobia that followed the event and attacking Christianity with Islam as collateral is “more important” than addressing how suppressed Muslims are in the western world. getting time off for Christmas is “more important” than giving a single day absence from finals/AP tests for Ramadan just one day much less the whole month.

people are more concerned with slandering every Muslim than addressing the fact that there are authoritarian theocratic regimes that kill non-Muslims and addressing that a religion can be inherently harmless and still be used as a weapon by regimes. that forcing people to believe in anything is wrong, what is happening in these governments is a human rights violation at the minimum, and that Muslims out the world are not singlehandedly at fault. but hey whatever makes white people feel performative about human rights crises. 

(speaking of human rights crises, there’s a genocide of Muslims that is still happening in China. by the way. that nobody has talked about.)

this isn’t the best wording I’m a little pissed right now but i have been. SO isolated my ENTIRE fucking life. people are only willing to accept Islam for as long as they can to look like an activist and then immediately call me brutal in the face of trying to look performative elsewhere

i’m so sick and so tired and so exhausted of my religion being something to hide. of not being allowed to write about it in college essays because i don’t know who might read it. of having to smile and nod when people call me Latino for the thousandth time even after us knowing one another for 3 years. of trying to tell someone i’m from Iraq and them going “oh like ISIS!” (thanks for that one, zeke.)

i have privilege in this country because i know it is so much worse elsewhere but im so sick and im so tired and I would give up everything in the world just to meet another Iraqi person. and not have to cling to the same book of a short play about Iraqi women in an attempt to substitute for that connection.

okay to reblog. encouraged to reblog, but do whatever the fuck you want its your blog. ps i know that other religions/ethnicities experience intense aggressions too but please do not derail this post. thank you.

[darthnaderer]

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Category: Novel in Verse

Summary: Jude and her Mama leave their seaside hometown in Syria, leaving behind Jude's Baba and brother Issa, because of the growing conflict in the area. Mama tells Jude they're going to be visiting Jude's uncle in Cincinnati, OH. However, Jude's mother is pregnant and the unrest in Syria is mounting, so their trip becomes a far longer stay than Jude originally thought. During her time in the United States, Jude meets and befriends many different people including her American cousin Sarah, a first-generation American hijabi girl Layla, a wonderful group of ESL classmates, and a boy she gets her first crush on named Miles. Along with navigating social situations and learning a new language, Jude must decide whether to wear a hijab, whether to try out for a speaking role in the school play, and whether home can exist in many different places for one person.

Justification: Other Words for Home became a Newbery Honor Book in 2020. Warga won this award because her writing wonderfully contributes to American literature for children. It showcases a perspective that has often been overlooked, demonstrating the way refugees, particularly young Muslim refugees, might experience America. It provides insight into a conflict that many students may have heard of in passing on the news but may not know too much about, encourages empathy with the main character and her family and friends, and gives representation to young Muslim women who are deciding whether or not to wear a hijab in America. Like so many other books on my list, this one is a “mirror, window, and sliding door" for students.

Reader's Response: Other Words for Home is a very approachable story. Warga's choice to tell the story in free verse is powerful, as it allows readers to connect with Jude's emotions. Even though I could not relate directly to her experiences, I recognized the feelings of loneliness, uncertainty, love, anticipation, nervousness, frustration, etc. that Jude experiences throughout the novel. Warga writes insightfully--it's clear she spoke to many other Muslim women as well as Syrian refugees to create the character of Jude. It's also clear she's writing about a heavy topic for a younger demographic, however, as much of the violence and Islamophobia is presented in a gentler, more palatable way. Older readers will know what is going on, but younger readers may not grasp the depth of the issues she's addressing. In many parts, it seems as though Warga is holding back to shield an audience of younger readers from some of the darker aspects of these topics. This is not necessarily a bad thing because it does make the book more accessible to younger readers. It was an easy read because of the writing style and the story was fast-paced, making it perfect for reluctant readers. I thoroughly enjoyed Jude's journey and cheered for her during her ups and downs. She is a young girl who dreams of being a movie star, misses her best friend and her father and brother, and is adapting to a new environment. I think many children will be able to relate to her and that her story will pave the way for important discussions.

Warga, J. (2019). Other words for home. Balzer + Bray.

[bluebelledmoon]

hey i just wanted to say that amidst the donation and news posts about the genocide occurring in Palestine, please do still reblog and signal boost posts about the UK Riots. I cannot begin to describe to you the fear and desperation that the muslim community has already been feeling, and on top of that those in the UK where they should be safe from war, Muslims and POC, are fearing for their lives in their own homes, communities, and mosques. I am not seeing nearly enough updates and posts on my dashboard as I should be. Facists and Racists literally set fire to hotels where asylum seekers were seeking shelter. This cannot be swept under the rug in the news in other countries like the US.

The blatant Islamophobia and Racism that is coming to light from these riots must be addressed and discussed. These riots are heavily intertwined with Palestine and are so so important.

Those in places other than the UK, please stand with your UK mutuals and spread information about ongoing events. UK people please stay safe at anti- facist protests and take cautionary measures, and stay strong.

From the River to the Sea 🍉

[youdontloveme-yet]

I think we need to get some things straight.

But first, my loved ones in Gaza are okay, for now that is. There is some water pumps still functioning and their solar panels have not yet been bombed. They have food for now, well, mostly flour, but you make do with what you have. We have now switched to e-sims, since as you all know internet is not stable if there is any. They are around 30 people in one house, more or less, I haven't asked about the other families that were seeking shelter, so not sure. Anyway.

Onto my actual point of this post. Since I have been seeing posts and hearing opinions that are well, not very mannered.

First and foremost, Palestinians are not your scapegoats for moral ground. Some people have gone to anti-semitism land just to have a moral high ground, which is obscene and really should not be happening. Palestinians are not your "just cause" or your reason to fight for something. They are people, in a very dire situation, who really just want to this to end. They do not want you to fight for them on the basis of anti-semitism or whatever else bullshit your feeble minds come up with. Palestinians are not a cause in general, they are a people who have endured one of the worst oppression regimes of our time. And lastly, Palestinians are not numbers, nor are they all dead, so maybe stop referring to them as if they were an ancient civilization that got destroyed. They are alive, okay? Among the carnage and horror, they are alive, treat them as such.

Another thing I would like to address is the vile way in which some of you talk about both Israel and the US. I am not saying they are good or whatever, but you have to think before you speak. There are one of the worst people imaginable in both, as there are very kind people in both. So, please do not fall into the genocidal side of your condemnation of these countries. The US and Israel have governments, who are the culprits, not their entire population. Like I said before, there is bad and there is good in both. Context is very important. And honestly, this goes out to every other country some people may despise for one reason or another.

And last, but not least, stop bringing religion into this genocide. This has shifted from religion a very long time ago, even if it's hard to comprehend. Your religion views brings nothing to the table. Nothing. If you wish to discuss or share your opinions, on a matter that probably does not affect you personally, keep your religion out. And if it affects you personally, please for the love of anything holy, do not put every single person from a certain religion under the same roof. I know cool Jews, Arabs and even some Christians, while I have also seen extremists of these religions. The moment you bring up religion into this, your argument in my eyes is automatically invalid. Unless, you have a good point to bring up anti-semitism and islamophobia, keep religion out.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Call it for what it is - a genocide. Thanks.

Anyway, I hope you all stay safe. Don't spread hate, my dudes <3

[beardedmrbean]

The ongoing conflict in Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas' October 7 terror attacks against Israel looked sure to overshadow the German government's annual Islam conference in Berlin on Tuesday. 

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said ahead of the event on ARD television that she was hoping for Islamic bodies in Germany to clearly condemn Hamas' attacks at the event, with Israel's retaliation in Gaza fueling displeasure among parts of Germany's large Muslim community. 

"I expect from Muslim organizations that they make very clear comments and assume their responsibility in society," said Faeser. She said faith groups should "very clearly condemn" Hamas' attack and not resort to "any yes, buts" when addressing the issue. 

"It must be quite clear, we stand on Israel's side," said Faeser, of the governing center-left Social Democrats. She added that while some such organizations had "very much" acted on their responsibilities, "others really haven't."

Later, at the event, Faeser spoke at some length about Germany's historical responsibility for the Holocaust and how that impacted its modern position on protecting both Jews in Germany and Israel's security.

Focus on 'fighting antisemitism and Islamophobia in times of societal division'

The Islam Conference is described by its organizers as the central forum to "maintain a regular and ongoing dialogue between all levels of government and Muslims and their representatives in Germany," involving "leading Islamic organizations, new initiatives outside of traditional mosque structures, Muslim individuals as well as representatives of politics, administration and science." 

This year's event was already set to explore issues including online hate speech and discrimination, given the title for proceedings at the Interior Ministry: "Social peace and democratic cohesion: Fighting antisemitism and Islamophobia in times of social division." 

One major Muslim organization in Germany, the Central Council of Muslims, was not invited to this year's event. Its chairman, Aiman Mazyek, told RBB radio in Berlin on Tuesday that he was surprised not to be invited, saying that an exchange of views was particularly important at present. 

Mazyek said a balance needed to be struck, between "condemning extremism like Hamas' terrorism on October 7 and on the other side making clear that the war in Gaza, the Israeli bombardment, cannot continue." He said the past few weeks had been challenging for Muslims in Germany.

"Many Muslims in our country are unsettled, are afraid to speak up at all; they feel browbeaten by the debate," Mazyek said.

Public discourse in Germany has been considerably affected by the last six weeks of conflict in the Middle East. 

Faeser also said on Tuesday that German authorities weren't keen to place anybody under general suspicion. She said Muslims should be able to demonstrate on the streets in support of victims in the Gaza Strip, but within limits. 

"We're fighting Islamists, not Muslims," Faeser said. 

Protests in support of the Palestinian cause of urging a cease-fire have gathered pace in Germany, as in much of Europe, in recent weeks, as have police responses to some such demonstrations. 

Bavarian police announce raids on antisemitism suspects

Meanwhile, in Bavaria, police and the state government were also drawing attention to online antisemitism early on Tuesday, as police announced what they billed as an "Action Day Plus against Antisemitism." 

Police conducted raids across the state targeting 17 suspects, nine of them in Bavaria's capital, Munich, between the ages of 18 and 62. Fifteen were men, the other two women.

"The objects of the investigations are crimes from various political areas, but in particular cases with connections to the attacks of the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel were incorporated," investigators said.

Munich's public prosecutors office and the state's investigative LKA police force announced the operation, but Bavaria's justice and interior ministers also commented on the action. 

"After the Hamas terror attack on Israel antisemitism in Germany has received new, dangerous fodder," said Bavarian Justice Minister Georg Eisenreich. "It must be clear to perpetrators: [Bavaria] pursues antisemitic crimes with the full force of the law." 

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, meanwhile, described antisemitic hate speech as no trivial crime, adding it "can be a precursor to further escalations." He said authorities therefore pursued all cases, "also in order to scare off potential agitators." 

Judging by the examples shared by law enforcement, Tuesday's arrests primarily targeted comments made on social media or in online communications.

Investigators cited three examples, one involving a German-Turkish citizen and another a Turkish citizen, of social media or WhatsApp group chat comments mixing appeals for a "free Palestine" with references to the Holocaust or Adolf Hitler.

[rosiewitchescottage]

Stephen Fry Addresses The Nation | Channel 4 Alternative Christmas Message

I don’t normally bother with this ‘Alternative Christmas Message’. The Queen, or now The King’s Speech has always been enough for me. Quaint, old fashioned thing that I am.

But this is Stephen Fry. And I’d happily listen to him read The Telephone Directory, with his ‘...vocal cords made of tweed.’

 I’m delighted to hear him out here as well. I already know he’s Jewish as much as I know he’s gay.

 I recall him mentioning that his mother’s family have Ashkenazi heritage. I think it was when he was talking about Wagner’s Ring Cycle. And, if I’ve heard this correctly. Jewish blood on the maternal side makes one a Jew too.

It hasn’t surprised me to hear antisemitism from The Far Left, because it’s been so prevalent from The Far Right, and the two are both sides of the same bad penny. It was only a matter of the opportune moment for the hate to show itself. *

We can mourn and criticise the appalling death toll brought about by Israel’s response to the Oct 7th Massacre by Hamas. In fact, we should.

In war, civilian casualties should be avoided as much as humanly possible. But, they do still happen, and we shouldn’t accept them as ‘just one of those things’. People are losing their lives, and Life is Sacred.

At the same time, what Hamas did on Oct 7th was terrorism, it was murder, it was brutal. Worse still, they took pleasure and pride in the act. There’s video evidence of it.

And they make no secret of their desire to kill Jews. Israel had every right to respond to such evil. Nothing on this earth justified it.

Palestinians should get their own land, a secure and safe place to call home. Yes, yes, yes.

But. Jews should also get to call The Land of Israel their home too. It stretches back in the history of their People. The Land of Judea is filled with historical evidence of being the Jewish home. It was taken from them, they didn’t merely leave it behind.

And I’ve heard Jews say at Pesach (aka Passover) ‘Next Year In Jerusalem.’

Generations of Palestinians have lived in parts of the country, and yes. I say they should be able to keep doing so. That’s fair enough.

But is it really so difficult for two sides to find a way to establish a Palestinian State and The Jewish State of Israel?

From what I’ve seen on maps. What’s called Israel is such a tiny areas, compared with The Middle East as a whole.

Yes. I’m naive. I don’t understand what’s going on. And it’ll be way too complex for me to have any chance of doing so.

But I can understand that Palestinians should have their own independent, secure home.

And Jews should be free to call Israel home, without being demonised for it.

* (Yes. I have the same non tolerance for anti Muslim hatred. I won’t say ‘Islamophobia’, because religions are sets of ideas, and any set of idea should be open to scrutiny and criticism when need be.

Hate against those who practice any faith, in this case Muslims = those who practice Islam. That’s another matter entirely. It’s never OK.

Yes. We can and should expect that anyone using their faith to spread hate is dealt with by the law. We have hate preachers infesting the UK’s mosques. That should not be allowed to continue.

But the many muslims who are our neighbours, our schoolmates, our work colleagues and our friends. They should be safe and secure to live their faith in the UK, because freedom of religion is important to us and should always be so.)

[roamwithahungryheart]

I haven't read Baddiel's book so can't comment on it's quality - I'm sure it makes many important points. I think a lot of people are reluctant to engage with it because of Baddiel's own history of anti-black racism. It's difficult to see a guy who essentially led a televised harassment campaign against a black footballer suggest that anti-black racism is taken more seriously in the UK than antisemitism.

I'm not denying the fact that antisemitism is particularly pernicious and regularly flies under the radar in supposedly progressive spaces. I know most gentiles have a poor understanding of antisemitism and even self-proclaimed 'anti-racists' are prone to perpetuating it, consciously or otherwise, so books like Baddiel's are very necessary.

But I think the idea that other forms of racism are consistenly taken more seriously is divisive and suggestive of ignorance regarding the experiences of other marginalised groups. Eg antisemitism in the Labour Party was a headline story for years and shook the party to it's core, while credible reports of Islamaphobia in the Conservative party and anti-black racism in both major parties have never been formally investigated.

I think, from what I've heard about Baddiel's work, that some of his framing isn't always helpful, and he's maybe not the best figure to hold up as the definitive voice on British antisemitism. Again, I have yet to engage with his book firsthand (I will, despite the concerns I've voiced), so I'm sorry if I'm wildly off base here or if he's already adequately addressed my points.

I agree in regards to his own controversy, it does lessen the impact somewhat, but interestingly enough he does address this in the book as well as the companion documentary (which goes into a little more detail) without ever excusing his actions. I think the fact that he does take accountability and acknowledge the double-standard in regards to the subject is a good thing and didn't put me off because it felt genuine.

There's a light roasting of Jeremy Corbyn in the book & he does quote very broad hate crime statistics which do include Islamophobia, but generally doesn't deviate from the subject of antisemitism too much (which is to be expected) so I was definitely curious enough to do some googling once I'd finished the book.

I also agree that the idea of what he refers to as a hierarchy of racism is inherently divisive, and presenting it in an almost competitive way probably isn't the best approach, However - and this is just my own interpretation - I personally think at times it did strike a balance between comparative and competitive in the way it sheds light on the importance (or lack thereof) of awareness of antisemitism in the UK. This point in particular is still relevant today - we only have to look at the Met's handling of recent events & the 600+ reports of antisemitic hate crime since October 7th. I absolutely think there should be an internal investigation and changes need to be made in order to better protect the community.

In terms of 'definitive voices' there's a chapter in which he mentions Miriam Margolyes who in my opinion is the diametric opposite - if you watch the documentary you'll see an interview Baddiel does with her which I found quite controversial, as much as I generally like her!

For me, Baddiel's book makes some good points and is, like you said, absolutely necessary, although I think in terms of the level of detail, the book is more of a jumping off point for the things he discusses in the documentary. So in a long-winded way I'm really saying that it's a worthwhile read but if you want a more personal account then I'd definitely recommend the documentary if you're able to access it! x

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Matt Davies ::@MatttDavies

* * * *

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

“We cannot give up on peace.”

October 20, 2023

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

          In a short but impactful speech, President Biden explained why American support for Israel and Ukraine is vital to national security and global peace. It was a great speech. Not a good speech or an excellent speech. It was a great speech that rose to a fragile and volatile moment in world history. He moved quickly and easily from global security to the importance of NATO unity in Ukraine to the right of Israel and the Palestinian people to self-determination to condemning antisemitism and Islamophobia to mourning the murder of a six-year-old Palestinian boy he called by name, “Wadea.”

          The video of President Biden’s speech is here, President Biden's Address to the Nation.

          As with his remarks in Israel, Biden did not shrink from difficult subjects. He simultaneously recognized the suffering of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples—as well as the suffering of Americans from Israel and Gaza. He said, “I see you. You belong. And I want to say this to you — you’re all Americans.” In an important acknowledgment, he said,

We must, without equivocation, denounce antisemitism. We must also, without equivocation, denounce Islamophobia.

          In a significant foreign policy shift, he equated the anti-democratic animus of Hamas and Vladimir Putin, saying that both sought to “annihilate” democracy. He said, “Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they are both threats to democracy.” Biden linked Putin and Hamas—"dictators and terrorists”—in the following passage:

History has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction.

          Biden also urged Americans to recall the importance of America to maintaining world peace and stability. In memorable phrases, he said that America “is the indispensable nation” and “a beacon to the world.”

          Biden said that he would submit a $100 billion proposal to Congress to support Ukraine and Israel. He said that it represents “a smart investment that will pay dividends to Americans for generations.” There remains serious doubt whether House Republicans can elect a speaker to act on President Biden’s request. See below.

          As with his remarks in Israel, Biden urged Israel to consider the downstream consequences of its actions before acting to invade Gaza. Per The Guardian, “He stressed that Israel should not make the same “mistakes” made by the US after 9/11 when, he said, Americans were “blinded by rage.” (On that topic, there is conflicting evidence of Israel’s intentions. See below.)

          Shortly before Biden spoke to the American people, a US Navy ship in the northern Red Sea “intercepted three land attack cruise missiles and several drones that were launched by Houthi forces in Yemen.” See The Guardian. It is not clear whether the missiles were headed toward Israel or the US ship, but the incident may represent the first involvement by US forces in the Israeli war against Hamas.

Israel is on the verge of invading Gaza—or not.

          There has been conflicting reporting over the last forty-eight hours about Israel’s intent to invade Gaza. The Guardian reported on Thursday evening as follows:

Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, visited troops on the Gaza border on Thursday, telling them: “You see Gaza now from a distance, you will soon see it from inside. The command will come.”

          But Israeli troops have lingered on the Gaza border for longer than expected, and some sources in Israel have cautioned against expectations for a full-scale invasion. See Dennis Aftergut and Edward Story, MSNBC, Why canceling its ground invasion could help Israel defeat Hamas. Per Aftergut and Story,

In a faint sign of hope, the Israeli military reportedly said on Tuesday that a Gaza ground offensive is “not a certainty.” That tempering of Israel’s militant tone may reflect private conversations Biden had with Netanyahu urging restraint . . . . There is no shame in leaving its IDF forces massed around Gaza without escalating further. Doing so could give the army and intelligence forces more time to locate and possibly exchange the hostages without massive IDF or hostage casualties. Such a pause also gives both Israelis and Palestinians more time to think through how to fill the potential vacuum that will be left if Israel ultimately succeeds in destroying Hamas.

          President Biden has urged restraint and caution on three occasions regarding an invasion of Gaza. The US cannot tell Israel what to do, but Biden is highlighting “mistakes” that the US made after 9/11. We will learn in the coming days whether Israel will slow or avoid its invasion of Gaza in light of America’s difficult and costly 9/11 wars.

Concluding Thoughts.

          We are living through a difficult moment in our nation’s history. American democracy is threatened as never before while Israel’s war on a terrorist group hiding among civilians has divided friends and allies in the fight to preserve democracy in this country. There are no “easy” or “right” answers that will avoid all harm, protect all legitimate interests, and vindicate all wrongs in the Middle East. We must not pretend otherwise.

          Recognizing that there is no single answer that will fix everything, we must not make enemies of fellow citizens with whom we disagree about the Middle East—but with whom we agree about the vital task of defending American democracy. If we treat allies as enemies because we disagree over problems for which there are painful solutions only, we will weaken our efforts to preserve democracy in America. If we lose that battle, nothing else matters.

         A strong, stable democracy in America will advance the cause of global peace. To achieve that goal, we must work together despite our disagreements about the path forward in the Middle East. We share a common purpose and need one another to succeed. The Founders showed us the way when they forged our nation from thirteen quarrelsome, fractious colonies. The process wasn’t easy, pretty, or perfect. But in rising above their differences to promote the common good, they achieved mighty things. Let’s do the same!

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[dannypageoflight]

I think today, the most important rule of thumb to follow is basically, don't be a dick.

The attacks from 12 years ago were incredibly traumatic for so many, and making jokes about them and dismissing people's trauma because "other people/countries had it worse" is honestly a really crummy move (in any context, really). Also, tons of Islamophobia did unfortunately sprout up in the aftermath of said attacks, because an entire religious and cultural demographic got blamed for the actions of one extremist faction that doesn't seem any more Muslim than the Klan is Christian.

And these two statements aren't mutually exclusive. Respecting people for their loss on that day doesn't diminish the persecution that followed, nor does acknowledging the persecution diminish the loss that preceded it, so long as we know to address either one without adding anything to diminish the other.

[violexides]

i know u mean well and people are definitely out there talking about tjeir 9/11 trauma but like. what are u talking about. what wide-reaching public discussions on middle eastern/arab 9/11 trauma would people be deliberately ignoring. like the point is valid and that Should be something to care about obviously, i just ????????? what?????

hiya! sorry for the delayed response, I was very tired last night and didn't want to answer this incorrectly. however even while I'm awake, I'm still a little confused by the question phrasing haha so I'm sorry if I answer this wrong -- feel free to send another ask to clarify.

with 9/11 specifically, what usually happens is that people aren't /trying/ to ignore the trauma that middle eastern/arab people have gone through-- the majority of people are extremely aware that this trauma exists. however what happens is that conversations about this trauma gets almost generalized, where people will center on their own experiences (usually, annoyances) with the specific breed of American nationalism following 9/11, and equate that with what middle eastern/arab/muslim people experiences. Obviously every marginalized group in America has been targeted by American nationalism & racism & xenophobia; however, these different groups often experience slightly different experiences (some that overlap, some that don't) which is why it's important to both acknowledge solidarity but also cede the ground to those in that group to speak about their experiences. For example, the No Fly list wasn't exclusively composed of Arab people. However, the No Fly list was directly concocted by the Islamophobia in this country; and thus, there is a lot of importance in listening to Muslim & Arab people's experiences and acknowledging their struggle rather than going "well nobody has a good time at airports". I feel like this is phrased badly but I hope my point comes across.

there are also some experiences on a more individual level with identity erasure; I was just talking to an Arab friend of mine about how a lot of their struggles tend to get erased as "not real poc struggles", which is really stupid but does happen. I also get mixed up a lot for being of different backgrounds and have received a lot of microaggressions when I tell people I'm Iraqi-- in the same breath, though, there is limited activism or community work in my area that works to address these microaggressions other than people going "yeah that sucks". Also I have a lot of thoughts on how all Middle Eastern people are classified as white, which is a more subtle kind of erasure imo and a more systemmatic problem-- some Middle eastern people consider themselves white but like, as an Iraqi person there is no way I am white lmao.

there's also the general issue experienced by a lot of poc where their struggles will be translated into something more palatable for white people to talk about. Not sure how to explain this exactly but like, a lot of white queer people talk about the Islamophobia following 9/11 as something that would directly impact them, despite not being Muslim or Arab, because nationalism often correlates with bigotry in other ways. Which is absolutely an accurate correlation but def takes the framing of the issue off of the victims of this Islamophobia and makes it into that easily channeled like... the I'm Queer Therefore I Understand POC Issues kind of fallacy which you see a LOT.

and then last example but there's also prejudice people have yet to address within themselves like, for example. a lot of people (espec atheists it seems) equate Christianity, Judaism, and Islam as all being The Bad Religions That Oppress People. and a lot of that is rooted in EXTREME antisemitism which I am not qualified to touch on but like very much permeates a lot of these conversations & needs to go addressed in its own right. also a lot of Islamophobia in this idea that Islam is Inherently Oppressive, which you would think isn't as much of an ideal held in leftist spaces but you'd be surprised! this kind of seeps also into a lot of dialogues about Islamic theocracies which can easily cross the line between "hey theocracies are bad" to "hey religion is bad" which is also like super harmful. Just a lot of stuff like that. which I feel like doesn't totally get addressed a lot either.

Last last thing actually but also the way that American news talks about the Middle East and Arab people is trenched in SO much racism and that very much has an impact on how people see it. That includes both right-leaning and left-leaning sources its just how this country frames Middle Esatern conflicts is... yikes.

again this phrasing is all clumsy (and im just speaking from my personal experiences & what ive seen) but what I'm trying to get at here is a lot of time its not that people don't recognize that Islamophobia or racism against Arab/Middle Eastern people exists, like people Are Aware of That, but a lot of internalized bigotry doesn't go addressed & it exists in a lot of spheres of culture. and because of that conversations about it don't really tend to happen, and people tend to disregard the want to start those conversations in turn.

[beardedmrbean]

Last month, the White House announced it was putting together an interagency group to address rising antisemitism. The announcement, which came by way of a short statement released by press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre , is a welcome one — and long overdue.

Antisemitic attacks have been on the rise in recent years. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic attacks in America increased 34% in 2021, reaching their highest levels since the group began collecting data in 1979, even though such incidents are underreported by the FBI . The trend continued in 2022, including a number of high-profile incidents, such as NBA star Kyrie Irving’s support for Holocaust denialism and insensitive, reductive on-air remarks by Whoopi Goldberg, to say nothing of the multiple antisemitic rants by Kanye West. The problem warrants Washington’s attention, and it has for some time.

But several things about this announcement give me pause, leaving me less than confident that it reflects a sincere commitment by the Biden administration to address a significant problem.

First, the timing is conspicuous. Why did Biden's team wait almost two years before even expressing an intent to address it? This announcement and the listening session led by the vice president’s spouse, Doug Emhoff, came right after former President Donald Trump hosted West and white nationalist Nick Fuentes at dinner. This suggests that the White House’s newfound attentiveness to antisemitism was driven by partisan opportunism more than out of a sense of urgency created by a crescendo of anti-Jewish hate.

Second, both the method of the announcement and whom the White House has presented as the champions of this cause signal a less-than-full commitment to addressing an “epidemic of hate.” By releasing a press statement rather than announcing an interagency initiative with its leaders at a live event, the White House undercut the impact of Biden’s decision. Biden's removal from the initiative is also telling, as is the conspicuous inclusion of “Islamophobia and related forms of violence” in the charter of this new ad hoc organization. This dilution is reminiscent of the kind of politically correct hand-wringing that turned a past House resolution against antisemitism into a watered-down condemnation of “hateful expressions of intolerance.”

Third, the orchestration of a roundtable led by Emhoff was yet another signal this will not be a top-tier issue. And while I commend Emhoff himself for courageously and forcefully speaking against purveyors of hate, his leadership sustains the precedent of putting the onus for combating antisemitism on Jews. As Emhoff recognized, it is in fact everyone’s “obligation to condemn these vile acts,” not just those who are targeted. Indeed, it’s this very idea that animates the effort I lead at the Philos Action League to stand in solidarity with our Jewish friends and neighbors.

Finally, I’m concerned with how the White House has decided to organize this important enterprise. The interagency group will be “led” by both Domestic Policy Council and National Security Council staff. As a general rule, dispersed leadership lends itself to gridlock and internecine squabbles when the urgency of the situation calls for clear and decisive action now. Nor am I reassured by the president’s call for the group’s first order of business to be the development of a national strategy to counter antisemitism. The administration’s track record here is not stellar: 22 months elapsed before it released its congressionally mandated National Security Strategy.

The Biden team has taken an important and necessary first step. It is my sincere hope that the president's antisemitism task force will move forward urgently with the full weight of the U.S. government and not become merely a virtue-signaling exercise with plans and pronouncements with no action. I also hope that it will not become polarized and morph into a mechanism to attack the Right. The evidence clearly shows that antisemitism emanates from both sides of the political spectrum. To confront it, we must all, including the president himself, stand against antisemitism whenever and wherever it occurs.