Peace Not Prejudice

The Daily Cal has recently published a few editorials on Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week. The more recent one defends the week as confirmation of American values in the face of a violent and intimidating Islamic Jihad, written by Andrew Quinio, project chairman for Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week at UC Berkeley (also a prominent member of the BCR). The first likens Horowitz' minions to McCarthy and his Red Scare, feeding American fear of the unknown. It criticizes the week as a manipulation (desecration?) of the 1st Amendment because it uses the Bill of Rights to justify the establishment of a binary, alienating, hate-fueled environment. Apparently, Horowitz has cited the article as a statement of support from UC Berkeley for his expression of free speech. I have heard multiple groups on campus call for a more inflammatory condemnation by the Daily Cal.

I imagine that my reaction is quite similar to all of yours. Quinio writes that "the real danger comes not from single words, but from those who find single words to be frightening." I find it interesting that he can criticize the Daily Cal for being overly sensitive to the term "Islamo-Fascism" while he capitalizes on the fear which such a term can instill. Peter Wilby (via The Guardian) put it nicely when he wrote, "I wish the press would debate a little more vigorously the views...of those who flirt with the boundaries of racism and not simply pillory those who question them."

It is important to remember that the "Islamo-Fascism Awareness" movement will not die after this week. Just a few weeks ago, Senator Rick Santorum urged President B-sh to depict the war in Iraq as a battle against Islamo-Fascism in an effort to rouse dwindling public support (because this provides "a clear message and a clear understanding of what we are up against") In the coming months we should watch for this new shift in rhetoric.

If anyone is interested, NRCAT has published a Statement Against Torture which everyone is welcome and encouraged to endorse. Personally, I do not encourage anyone to endorse David Horowitz' Petition (though it is quite an interesting read), which has been likened to the Great Loyalty Oath from Catch-22.

Tomorrow, during the BCR event at noon on Sproul, there will be protesters reading statements, waving signs, etc. If anyone would like to read a statement or participate, please come! Meet up a little before noon on Upper Sproul. I hope to see you all there! Wear green!