Islamophobia: It Ain't What It Used To Be

UK Equalities Chief Who Popularised The Term ‘Islamophobia’ Admits: ‘I Thought Muslims Would Blend into Britain… I Should Have Known Better’

As the great Mark Steyn put it:

When it comes to querying the benefits to the west of semi-Islamization, Trevor Phillips packs more of a punch than most of us. First, he's black, which shouldn't matter but does. Second, he's the former head of Britain's Equality and Human Rights Commission, one of those identity-group grievance bodies which made such considerations matter (as did the Commission for Racial Equality, which Mr Phillips previously chaired). Third, he's the guy who introduced the word "Islamophobia" into the English language, in a celebrated report on "discrimination" two decades ago.

Now, in a new Channel 4 documentary with an accompanying poll of British Muslim attitudes, he has issued a mea sorta culpa:

For a long time, I too thought that Europe's Muslims would become like previous waves of migrants, gradually abandoning their ancestral ways, wearing their religious and cultural baggage lightly, and gradually blending into Britain's diverse identity landscape. I should have known better.

"Islamophobic", like other pejorative labels tossed around by the left, is used not to facilitate debate, but to end it. We are rational, discriminating creatures; the left uses language to get around this. There is a difference between, say, the Muslim faith and the Amish. These differences should be brought out into the open.

Sustainability’s War on Doubt by Peter Wood

Sustainability’s War on Doubt

by  Peter Wood

June 12th, 2015

"Sustainability encompasses not only a particularly aggressive form of environmentalism, but also a strong attack on market capitalism and a progressive vision of social justice."

Money quote:

We have spent a year scouring the nation for a college campus willing to hold a public debate on the premises of the sustainability movement. In a few cases, we gained a tentative acceptance only to have it cancelled, usually without explanation. When an explanation has been offered, it has turned out that no one could be found willing to represent the pro-sustainability position because to agree to debate it implied the existence of contrary arguments and evidence worthy of consideration.

 Worth a read.

And that's the way the Ball Bounces.

via  a reader @ WUWT

The Khairuldeen Makhzoomi Poll Results: Islamophobia or Security?

Arabic-speaking Khairuldeen Makhzoomi was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight for questioning. He was innocent of any wrong-doing. He accused his interviewers of "Islamophobia". It seemed obvious to me that his questioning had more to do with the threat of plane hijackings and murders of innocent passengers by Islamic extremists than some irrational, fact-free prejudice against Muslims. But, the media blared and the blogosphere howled "Islamophobia".

Hence the poll.

Forty-six of you voted Security, two  Islamophobia, and two "a bit of both". That's 92% for Security and 4% each for Islamophobia or "a bit of both".

Makhzoomi's self-described "ordeal" and moment in the sun was pushed off the front pages by Canadian John Ridsdel, who underwent an ordeal of his own: beheading by Muslim extremists. Perhaps I should have a poll on whose ordeal was greater or whether we should be grateful for security steps to keep us safe.

Thanks for voting. If you haven't read it, there's a more detailed post below.

Peace on earth, good-will towards men.

And that's the way the Ball bounces.