We got a thoughtful comment from gds this morning on a post I wrote in January, The left and radical Islam: more than a convenient partnership?
The Left is not one set of values, anymore than is the Right. Many “Leftists” are equally troubled by the willingness of alleged progressive thinkers to acquiesce to Islamic theocratic dogma, mostly it comes down to gaining easy votes. As a secular agnostic Socialist, I feel no affinity what-so-ever for the anti-humanist nonsense inherent in Islam. In Britain, for example, gay rights campaigners are labeled “pink imperialists” by the parts of the Left that have embraced self-appointed community leaders as sharing a common cause. Leftists who speak out against the dangers of getting into bed with Islam are often accused of covert Zionism. Christopher Hitchen’s is a Lefty, he does not like Islam or the Left’s excuses for it. Nick Cohen is another one. There are a lot more. The point I’m trying to make is that as a Left-winger please feel free to disagree with my economic and social views, but do not fall into the trap of thinking that all Leftists support Islam. There is also a strain of “right-wing” social philosophy that sees value in Islamic notions of “piety” and social order. The English conservative philosopher Roger Scruton has often praised Islam. Me I think Islam is pile of festering 7Th century nastiness.
It’s certainly true that there are many leftists who understand the threat of radical Islam or are just turned off by its “anti-humanist nonsense.” Yet many of the organized movements of the left have embraced it — not the religion itself, or Sharia law, but its anti-American, anti-Israeli, anti-western ideology and agitation. Look on the campuses for leftist groups teaming up with the Muslim Student Association. The Muslims want to destroy Israel and western civilization; the leftists — who knows? In keeping with gds’s point that the left is diverse, some want to destroy Israel right away and others only want it to adopt policies that will end in its destruction in a while. Some just want to destroy Israel and others want to destroy America as well. Look at the anti-war demonstrations during the Bush years. Ann and I attended a counter-rally a few years ago, and were struck by the leftist groups marching alongside radical Muslim ones with signs supporting Hamas.
So the point isn’t that all leftists want to team up with radical Muslims, and neither I nor Jim Simpson said that. Many are fellow travelers who aren’t aware of the alliance, or think they are just supporting human rights when they support radical Muslim groups and demands. Leftists like the commenter are not all that common, or if they are they are not speaking up very much. Christopher Hitchens is a rare bird as one who makes a lot of noise about it, and I appreciate him very much. And doesn’t the commenter reinforce my argument when he points out that Hitchens is demonized as a “Zionist” for speaking out against radical Islam? That is, for those who demonize him, a true leftist wants to destroy Israel.
And yes, there are some conservatives who stand up for Islam. But not for radical Islam. In addition to Roger Scruton, Dinesh D’Souza’s book from a few years ago claimed that the reason there are radical Muslims is that they are so offended by our degenerate culture. His book had little influence; his thesis may have some truth when it comes to traditionally moderate Muslims who become easier prey to anti-American propaganda. But it is not central to the issue of the threat we face from militant Islamists whose minds will not be changed by anything we do or don’t do.
So this is an odd comparison to make, if the commenter wants to show the diversity of the left. The right is not very diverse on this issue, as Scruton and d’Souza are outliers. And in reality the left is not very diverse either, as those who condemn radical Islam (out loud) are outliers. Perhaps they are due a parenthetical phrase in a discussion of the left and Islam, and if so, I give it here: Not all leftists support radical Islam or even non-radical Islam. But most do.