As an aside thanks for enabling comments here in contrast to the Crimson which despite paying a lot of lip service to intellectual exchange of ideas has disabled comments on its website (functionally silencing pro-Israel comments)
I would like to know from the head of the Islamic Society 1) Does he agree with the October 7 2023 letter holding Israel totally responsible for all the violence? 2) Does he and his organization accept Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state or do they want it wiped off the map? 3) do they support or oppose the BDS movement against Israel? 4) do they falsely accuse Israel of genocide and apartheid? Without straight clear answers to points one, two, three, and four (which I’d welcome and which if the society comes out on the right
side of it’d be a welcome exception), hard to justify turning over the Quincy Courtyard to a loud event of theirs on Passover Shabbbat directly opposite Harvard Hillel. Just because someone is “religious” doesn’t mean they get a free pass…Hamas is also “religious” but no one wants to let them take over Quincy courtyard.
Concerning the new Crimson Op-Ed entitled, "I Am a Campus Muslim Leader. Has Harvard Been Captured?"
As a Harvard College alumnus ('89 Biology), I have been following and commenting on Harvard's 'newspapers' when I can. I say 'when I can' for two reasons: (1)I am very busy, and (2) the Crimson does not include a Comment Section, like this one, below its articles. I can comment on articles that are shared on Facebook, but not all of the articles are shared on the Crimson Facebook, which leaves me unable to comment on some, including this most recent one from the Co-President of the Harvard Muslim Society.
To any Crimson affiliated readers of this comment, please hear now my request to allow comments on Crimson articles, as this is where some of the most interesting and productive dialogue and exchange of ideas happens.
The sense that Harvard has been "Captured" is not a feeling that should be buried by the Crimson or by Harvard administrative fiat, as the Co-President of the Muslim Society threatens. It is a widely held feeling amongst Americans, both at Harvard and beyond, and it should be openly discussed with the Muslim Community, not smothered with bureaucratic biases. Indeed, the open discussion of it might actually help to improve Muslim-American relations.
If the administration is true to its commitment to hear all sides and to stop smothering conservative viewpoints, it must allow Harvard Conservatives to speak their mind, share their feelings, and attempt open dialogue to address these feelings.
If the administration is to hear any special requests or complaints from the Co-President of the Muslim Society, who wrote the aforementioned Crimson Op-Ed, then let them also see conservative requests for free speech and open dialogue via a Comment Section below the Crimson's Op-Ed pieces.
With all due respect to Harvard's Muslim Community, this link shows the kind of public speech that is worrying to many Americans, especially when it is backed up by Koranic Scripture.
I will read the Mamdani book when I have a chance, with the caveat that I am in the middle of a PhD in Molecular Biology, starting a business, and raising 4 children. My time is limited.
There are some teachings in the Koran which make it difficult for westerners to trust Muslims who come to our countries. The Koran teaches "conquest by immigration," which includes some practices that we find concerning.
> Forced conversions to Islam,
> Taquiyya (lying to unbelievers),
> Death penalty for heretics and unbelievers,
> Enslavement of native populations,
> Rape of non-Muslim women,
> Polygamy,
> Honor killings for fornication and adultery.
It is also concerning that there don't seem to be any Muslim leaders who are willing to stand up, here in America, and speak against these practices. The ones who speak out are usually the radicals who say things like "Islam will win" and "we will defeat you with our women's wombs." They seem to view their immigration here through this lens of "conquest by immigration," which is not surprising, because they are, after all, Muslims, and conquest by immigration is their divine purpose in life.
Where are the moderates in the public debate? Where are the moderates who will stand up and speak out against the extremists?
Zoran Mamdani, for example, does not speak like a moderate, and he is an American educated Muslim, the kind you would expect to take the moderate road. But, he does not speak as one would expect a moderate Muslim to speak. He either reveals his extreme nature, for example, by showing sadness and reverence for the death of the Ayatollah of Iran. Or, he just says nothing and stares at the camera with that stupid smile of his! Either way, he never says anything moderate.
Mr. Patel makes a good point when he cites a capitalist Islamic economist quoted by Ronald Reagan. This is the first time I have heard about that, and I will admit that it is the most compelling argument I have heard for US conservatives finding common ground with Muslims.
But, still, the history of the relationship between the Islamic world and the Western world is a long story of conflict and warfare. Even during the early days when Mohamed was alive, the story of Islam is one of violence and conquest. Islam, by its very nature and from its earliest days, is a militant ideology. Not only is it militant, but it is also totalitarian. There is no place, in Islam, for dissenting views on either religion or politics. Indeed, there is no separation of church and state in the first place!
The Muslim expansion, the Ottoman empire, the Crusades, the Barbary Pirates, the Beirut barracks, 9/11, and all the modern-day conflict between the Muslim world and the Western world. These things are not easily forgotten!
Caution and concern about Islam is embedded deeply into American culture and institutions. Several US Presidents, over the centuries, have expressed deep distrust of the Muslim world. Mark Twain, as I mentioned in a previous post, described his visit to Islamic Syria with disgust and repulsion. He felt, as a result of the visit, a greater sense of gratitude for Christianity in America. The visit confirmed and strengthened his faith in Christ, because he saw what can happen to a society without Jesus' presence.
Besides all that, the US Marines will never give up the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which glorifies the defeat of the Barbary Pirates by the US Marines during the early decades of the 19th Century. No way, Jose!
Four years at Harvard and a quote from Ronald Reagan is not going to change all that.
Having exchange programs with Muslim universities in other countries is a useful means to overcome past conflict, to exchange ideas, and to promote more peaceful and productive relations. It is the "politically correct" thing to do. I support university exchange programs. But, a university exchange program is not the same as mass immigration. University exchange students go home when they are finished with their degree. Immigrants come to stay.
Mass immigration of Muslims to America is a very different question from university exchange programs, and we would be foolish to ignore the lessons of history.
You should read the book “Good Muslim Bad Muslim” by Zohran Mamdani’s father - at least read a summary or book review. Also, I’m just curious where you got your Islamic knowledge from? I think you should get into orientalist or near east studies because you have one of the most intellectual and well versed take on Islam I’ve witnessed. You take everything within that religion into consideration and use an objective and rigorous methodology to back your claims. Bravo man
Speaking of Nazi salutes, a large group of modern-day Shiites seems to be pretty good at them, as they showed in a recent Anti-Israel demonstration ...
As an aside thanks for enabling comments here in contrast to the Crimson which despite paying a lot of lip service to intellectual exchange of ideas has disabled comments on its website (functionally silencing pro-Israel comments)
I would like to know from the head of the Islamic Society 1) Does he agree with the October 7 2023 letter holding Israel totally responsible for all the violence? 2) Does he and his organization accept Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state or do they want it wiped off the map? 3) do they support or oppose the BDS movement against Israel? 4) do they falsely accuse Israel of genocide and apartheid? Without straight clear answers to points one, two, three, and four (which I’d welcome and which if the society comes out on the right
side of it’d be a welcome exception), hard to justify turning over the Quincy Courtyard to a loud event of theirs on Passover Shabbbat directly opposite Harvard Hillel. Just because someone is “religious” doesn’t mean they get a free pass…Hamas is also “religious” but no one wants to let them take over Quincy courtyard.
Correction:
"... other than 1/2 the Democratic Party and the Mayor of New York City, no one wants to let them [Hamas] take over Quincy courtyard."
Concerning the new Crimson Op-Ed entitled, "I Am a Campus Muslim Leader. Has Harvard Been Captured?"
As a Harvard College alumnus ('89 Biology), I have been following and commenting on Harvard's 'newspapers' when I can. I say 'when I can' for two reasons: (1)I am very busy, and (2) the Crimson does not include a Comment Section, like this one, below its articles. I can comment on articles that are shared on Facebook, but not all of the articles are shared on the Crimson Facebook, which leaves me unable to comment on some, including this most recent one from the Co-President of the Harvard Muslim Society.
To any Crimson affiliated readers of this comment, please hear now my request to allow comments on Crimson articles, as this is where some of the most interesting and productive dialogue and exchange of ideas happens.
The sense that Harvard has been "Captured" is not a feeling that should be buried by the Crimson or by Harvard administrative fiat, as the Co-President of the Muslim Society threatens. It is a widely held feeling amongst Americans, both at Harvard and beyond, and it should be openly discussed with the Muslim Community, not smothered with bureaucratic biases. Indeed, the open discussion of it might actually help to improve Muslim-American relations.
If the administration is true to its commitment to hear all sides and to stop smothering conservative viewpoints, it must allow Harvard Conservatives to speak their mind, share their feelings, and attempt open dialogue to address these feelings.
If the administration is to hear any special requests or complaints from the Co-President of the Muslim Society, who wrote the aforementioned Crimson Op-Ed, then let them also see conservative requests for free speech and open dialogue via a Comment Section below the Crimson's Op-Ed pieces.
With all due respect to Harvard's Muslim Community, this link shows the kind of public speech that is worrying to many Americans, especially when it is backed up by Koranic Scripture.
https://share.newsbreak.com/i40p3ecu
I will read the Mamdani book when I have a chance, with the caveat that I am in the middle of a PhD in Molecular Biology, starting a business, and raising 4 children. My time is limited.
There are some teachings in the Koran which make it difficult for westerners to trust Muslims who come to our countries. The Koran teaches "conquest by immigration," which includes some practices that we find concerning.
> Forced conversions to Islam,
> Taquiyya (lying to unbelievers),
> Death penalty for heretics and unbelievers,
> Enslavement of native populations,
> Rape of non-Muslim women,
> Polygamy,
> Honor killings for fornication and adultery.
It is also concerning that there don't seem to be any Muslim leaders who are willing to stand up, here in America, and speak against these practices. The ones who speak out are usually the radicals who say things like "Islam will win" and "we will defeat you with our women's wombs." They seem to view their immigration here through this lens of "conquest by immigration," which is not surprising, because they are, after all, Muslims, and conquest by immigration is their divine purpose in life.
Where are the moderates in the public debate? Where are the moderates who will stand up and speak out against the extremists?
Zoran Mamdani, for example, does not speak like a moderate, and he is an American educated Muslim, the kind you would expect to take the moderate road. But, he does not speak as one would expect a moderate Muslim to speak. He either reveals his extreme nature, for example, by showing sadness and reverence for the death of the Ayatollah of Iran. Or, he just says nothing and stares at the camera with that stupid smile of his! Either way, he never says anything moderate.
Mr. Patel makes a good point when he cites a capitalist Islamic economist quoted by Ronald Reagan. This is the first time I have heard about that, and I will admit that it is the most compelling argument I have heard for US conservatives finding common ground with Muslims.
But, still, the history of the relationship between the Islamic world and the Western world is a long story of conflict and warfare. Even during the early days when Mohamed was alive, the story of Islam is one of violence and conquest. Islam, by its very nature and from its earliest days, is a militant ideology. Not only is it militant, but it is also totalitarian. There is no place, in Islam, for dissenting views on either religion or politics. Indeed, there is no separation of church and state in the first place!
The Muslim expansion, the Ottoman empire, the Crusades, the Barbary Pirates, the Beirut barracks, 9/11, and all the modern-day conflict between the Muslim world and the Western world. These things are not easily forgotten!
Caution and concern about Islam is embedded deeply into American culture and institutions. Several US Presidents, over the centuries, have expressed deep distrust of the Muslim world. Mark Twain, as I mentioned in a previous post, described his visit to Islamic Syria with disgust and repulsion. He felt, as a result of the visit, a greater sense of gratitude for Christianity in America. The visit confirmed and strengthened his faith in Christ, because he saw what can happen to a society without Jesus' presence.
Besides all that, the US Marines will never give up the Battle Hymn of the Republic, which glorifies the defeat of the Barbary Pirates by the US Marines during the early decades of the 19th Century. No way, Jose!
Four years at Harvard and a quote from Ronald Reagan is not going to change all that.
Having exchange programs with Muslim universities in other countries is a useful means to overcome past conflict, to exchange ideas, and to promote more peaceful and productive relations. It is the "politically correct" thing to do. I support university exchange programs. But, a university exchange program is not the same as mass immigration. University exchange students go home when they are finished with their degree. Immigrants come to stay.
Mass immigration of Muslims to America is a very different question from university exchange programs, and we would be foolish to ignore the lessons of history.
You should read the book “Good Muslim Bad Muslim” by Zohran Mamdani’s father - at least read a summary or book review. Also, I’m just curious where you got your Islamic knowledge from? I think you should get into orientalist or near east studies because you have one of the most intellectual and well versed take on Islam I’ve witnessed. You take everything within that religion into consideration and use an objective and rigorous methodology to back your claims. Bravo man
Speaking of Nazi salutes, a large group of modern-day Shiites seems to be pretty good at them, as they showed in a recent Anti-Israel demonstration ...
http://tiborkrausz.com/image/Nazi%203.jpg
Does the Republican Club have a board or some other mechanism from preventing it from veering off in a particular direction irreversibly?