No Islamophobia? Rima Elkouri disagrees
Rima Elkouri on François Legault’s denial of Islamophobia in Quebec.
(I do wish the gay rights movement had not introduced “phobia” as the term of choice for characterizing bias, prejudice, dislike, hatred. Homophobia, an expression that came out of the idea that people fear homosexuality because of latent impulses in themselves, doesn’t really stretch. People don’t dislike Islam because they have dreams where they want to worship Allah. But that barn door was closed long ago.)
Mark Côté 16:20 on 2019-02-01 Permalink
I didn’t realize that’s where “homophobia” originated specifically (though I have heard that thought separately). These days I think all these “-phobia” terms are meant to indicate that the fear is irrational or extreme, i.e. the textbook definition of a phobia–though whether it is productive to use a specific psychological term here is debatable.
Jack 19:26 on 2019-02-01 Permalink
GND had a great response to Legault, he went to Legault’s FB page after he commemorated the massacre of six Quebeckers at a Mosque while praying, and copy pasted some of the comments. Another thing to remember there’s no racism here either.
https://twitter.com/gnadeaudubois?lang=en
David 21:38 on 2019-02-01 Permalink
That’s not the origin of homophobia.
See origin of the term:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia
Mark Côté 21:49 on 2019-02-01 Permalink
Interesting, but that Wikipedia article still backs up Kate’s claim that the definition doesn’t stretch: it says that the first time “homophobia” was used in print was to refer to “heterosexual men’s fear that others might think they are gay”. I don’t think Islamophobes are afraid of being mistaken as Muslims–although it seems some *are* afraid of Shariah law being adopted here.
TC 22:37 on 2019-02-01 Permalink
Interesting. Perhaps it is because attaching “phobia” to a bias became an easy way to identify and define prejudice. As originally used, I think it is accurate. As used nowadays, maybe not so much. If someone may be uncomfortable around gay people, or discussions of gay sex, or whatever, as a gay man I do not automatically think they hate gays. It’s just odd and uncomfortable for them, like it was for me growing up. People change, I know I did.
qatzelok 10:35 on 2019-02-02 Permalink
Yes, but homosexuality is perfectly natural, while text-based religions are artificially-imposed behaviorism. So it might be a good idea to fear the straight-jacket of organized religion, while homsexuality isn’t going to dissappear – get used to it.
Apples and (plastic) oranges.
Hamza 11:18 on 2019-02-02 Permalink
@qatzelok ‘text-based religions are artificially-imposed behaviorism’
So’s government and the legal system.
Why do hard atheists think this is a good time to take cheap shots?
qatzelok 11:50 on 2019-02-02 Permalink
Because in our time, the most important news is the attack on nature.
Whatever do you mean by “cheap?”
Kate 11:56 on 2019-02-02 Permalink
Religion is a human-created phenomenon, qatzelok. Or did you think it was imposed from outside by aliens?
qatzelok, you’re obsessing on my blog again. I deleted one irrelevant comment this week and will be deleting more when you attempt to turn any discussion toward your idées fixes.
Chris 15:22 on 2019-02-02 Permalink
Kate, the term “Islamophobia” is certainly well-entrenched, but such terms can and do change over time. The consensus replacement term (to my knowledge) is ‘anti-Muslim bigotry’. It’s only 1 more syllable. Most importantly, it separates Islam and Muslim. The former being an ideology well-deserving of criticism, and the second being a human being. Fortunately, most Muslims ignore most of (the worst parts of) Islam.
Mark, the nonsense fear of Sharia law actually coming here is silly of course, but at least Sharia law is something that is in fact undesirable, whereas homosexuality is indeed perfectly natural (and exists in other species besides us homo sapiens). It’s rational to not want Sharia, it’s irrational to not want homosexuality.