criticism of Islam (or rather the absence thereof)
I think something that much of the Left in Europe actually forgets is that the Islamic movement that they are supporting is now responsible for genocide; for massacring an entire Left generation in Iran, not to mention all their other atrocities. They were a force that came into existence as a right-wing, anti-socialist, anti-Left movement, supported vehemently by Western powers at that time in order to stop the progressive and Left-wing, socialist 'threat' to society. It's only after 9/11 that their relationship changed; past friends becoming present foes.
I think what is dominating the Left in Europe and North America generally, the prevailing wisdom, is the characterisation of the world, the division of the world between the North and the South, the rich countries against the poorer ones, the North oppressing the South, and, thereby, oppressing 'their religion' too. Their characterisation of a country [in the Third World] is not based on a class point of view; they do not differentiate between the ruling classes and the people there. So, for example, if there's a threat against the Islamic Republic of Iran by the USA, that Left automatically rushes to the aid of that regime, never mind that it is a reactionary, murderous regime and 99% of the people are fighting it and trying to get rid of it.
I don't "hate" Iran, but I could totally live without the funamentalist nutjobs who are running the country. I would love to learn more about Persian culture. It saddens me to see the country so ruthlessly Arabized. If this is not a case of totalitarian imperialistic COLONIALISM then I don't know what is.
Oh right, sorry I forgot. Only white people are capable of being colonialists, Arabs are by definition victims. The rapid and violent expansion of the caliphate during the 7th century was not colonialism, it was the will of God. Also, only white people are capeable of being racist. There is no such thing as Arab racism. It simply doesn't exist. It looks like I forgot to run my political anlysis via the liberal thought police - again.
I think what is dominating the Left in Europe and North America generally, the prevailing wisdom, is the characterisation of the world, the division of the world between the North and the South, the rich countries against the poorer ones, the North oppressing the South, and, thereby, oppressing 'their religion' too. Their characterisation of a country [in the Third World] is not based on a class point of view; they do not differentiate between the ruling classes and the people there. So, for example, if there's a threat against the Islamic Republic of Iran by the USA, that Left automatically rushes to the aid of that regime, never mind that it is a reactionary, murderous regime and 99% of the people are fighting it and trying to get rid of it.
I don't "hate" Iran, but I could totally live without the funamentalist nutjobs who are running the country. I would love to learn more about Persian culture. It saddens me to see the country so ruthlessly Arabized. If this is not a case of totalitarian imperialistic COLONIALISM then I don't know what is.
Oh right, sorry I forgot. Only white people are capable of being colonialists, Arabs are by definition victims. The rapid and violent expansion of the caliphate during the 7th century was not colonialism, it was the will of God. Also, only white people are capeable of being racist. There is no such thing as Arab racism. It simply doesn't exist. It looks like I forgot to run my political anlysis via the liberal thought police - again.