Joe Rogan is the King if wantaboutism- - he's admitting his white supremacist views but "think" they should be acceptable. No Joe, your bull don't go. Your white supremacist choice stands alone at the top of faulty Individuals. Until, you do that every message you speak is taken as having a white supremacist twist. We're not buying what Joe knows nothing got to say. We don't care about his following of lost Derelict sheep. To listen to his show is right out of demonic trump failed university. It's like streaming reality Beavis and Butt-heads. Aka American worst loser's.
Your succinct dissemination of facts & history should be required learning for America. They would be a lot better informed and enlightened about the essences & qualities their societies require to function more harmoniously. Ignorance is bliss.
Thank you for this calm, rational and fact based response to the increasingly rabid, emotive and lie based Islamaphobia being pushed by MSM and populists in the West. It is equally bad here in the UK and I am still hearing all sorts of rubbish (including GRT nonsense in a pub where not a single person was not wyt or middle class (though most were fairly wealthy retiree, boomers of course). The calm and dignified response we have seen from Islamic sources compared to the rabid emotive lies from the Xtiran ones is stark in it's contrast. A bit like a comparison of the truth, compassion, control and restraint being shown by Islamic Levant in compassion to the rabid, violent, lying, vengeful, hate filled ravings coming from Israel and its supporters. It reminds me of a children's book where the character overcomes negative accusations by "living it down" as in showing by their actions and conduct that their accusers, not them were the ones in the wrong. Exemplifying integrity in the face of such lies. Thank you for this excellent post.
I am astounded by how much I have learned from just 2 of your posts since I stumbled across your substack this week. I especially like your closing lines: Our responsibility... I am deeply grateful for your knowledge and perspective.
I appreciate your debunking of Joe Rogan's and JD Vance's bigoted claims about Islam. They are, however, very easy targets, given their ignorance and biases. I would like to you see take on Sam Harris's criticisms of Islamic doctrine. Harris has argued for many years that Muslims who commit violence are not just extremists who have misinterpreted the concept of jihad. Rather, Harris argues, "doctrines that directly support jihadist violence are very easy to find in the Quran, and the hadith, and in the biography of Muhammad" (https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-bright-line-between-good-and-evil). Harris also claims that Islamaphobia is a disingenuous idea designed to "conflate any criticism of Islam, which is a doctrine of religious beliefs, with bigotry against Muslims as people." Ideally, I would love to see you debate Harris in person, but, short of that, I would appreciate a response to his criticisms.
Thanks for reading, John. And thanks for your question. The fact is that I've challenged Sam Harris directly on Twitter (before he deleted his account) and he had no rebuttal to me. Sam Harris is one of the most dishonest critics of Islam. A cursory glance at the link you provided further cements this point.
He asks "If its about territory, where are the suicide bombers of others faiths?" He ignores University of Chicago Professor Dr. Robert Pape's entire work of scholarship in Dying to Win where he documents that the Tamil Tigers coined suicide bombing. They are a Hindu Marxist group, and they have committed more such attacks than Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Isis COMBINED. You can read his scholarship here: https://www.amazon.com/Dying-Win-Strategic-Suicide-Terrorism/dp/0812973380
I could go on and on, but here's the key point to demonstrate how dishonest Harris actually is. You will not see him debate an actual Muslim academic or scholar. He'll bring on ex-Muslims, debate with other atheists, even unwillingly debate with Ben Affleck -- but ask him to debate an actual Muslim academic and scholar and he hides behind his computer screen and microphone. I know because I've directly challenged him and he's responded that he's not interested -- all while refusing to address the very real arguments I put forth debunking his nonsense.
Harris is an insecure bully without a shred of academic integrity or honesty in his approach. If he ever got the courage to stand toe to toe in a debate, I'd welcome the opportunity. But I'm not holding my breath.
Many thanks for your enlightening reply and the links to clarifying articles, Qasim. I am not a religious person, but I am tolerant of people who practice religion, as long as they do not harm others. I am a long-time fan of Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), and I appreciated his positive take on Islam in his book Why I Still Carry a Guitar. Sam Harris certainly is a problematic figure. I have found him to be hyper-sensitive, taking too many things personally. He had no response to a critique I wrote of his book, The Moral Landscape. My more charitable assessment of his mistakes is that they are based on his insecurities and lack of understanding rather than intentional lying. I think he truly believes that he is correct when he is mistaken. At any rate, it is, unfortunately, almost impossible to have a debate with him because he is so sensitive. One of the strange things that he claims about Islam is that the words of the Prophet literally make Muslims behave in violent ways (to a greater extent than, say, The Bible made the crusaders kill people or ordinary Christians burn so-called witches). Now, I do think it is problematic that ancient scriptures are written in such a way that they can be interpreted as a call to commit violence. It would be better if there were nothing in holy books that could be interpreted that way. But, ultimately, words do not force people to commit violence. In my opinion, there is something defective in the brains of those who commit violence in the name of religion, and we need to better educate people so that they do not do that.
Co-sign your assessment of Harris and I'd love to read your critique of his work if it is something you can share. Please do email me at qasim.rashid@gmail.com.
Thank you for the education. Vance and Rogan are for a theocracy based on their words -- as long as it follows their flavor of Christianity. They like the idea of controlling everyone not like them (in other words women, BiPOC, LGBTQIA+, pagan, athiest, etc.) They lie and inflame small minded folks. We know from numerous studies that the conservative brain is structured and functions differently than a liberal brain. Conservatives live in fear. Liberals gather information and amend their ideas based on new information.
Yes the irony is that they complain about their fantasy of the "Shaira Law" while they openly want to turn the USA into a theocratic Christian Oligarch Dictatorship, under much harsher, much more restrictive and much more dangerous terms as set out in Project 2025. Seems every NeoCON, Republican, Tory, Reform, Populist, Billionaire, predatory capitalist or whatever name you use for them, accusation is indeed a confession. I admire the ability of people like Qashim to remain calm in the face of such libel, slander, lies, injustice, hypocrisy and hate aimed at good people by evil people.
This was so educational. Thanks a million. America has deliberately kept citizens ignorant by choosing to teach propaganda that glorifies the “white race”. And now we are where we are. You have done so much to teach us and keep us informed in such a kind way. I share everything with my young sons. Hopefully they’ll have a better chance to make things better in the future. I am so grateful.
Thank you for explaining the religion so many Americans know so little about. Your responses to the nonsensical Rogan/Vance interview should be required reading.
Salaams thanks so much for keeping us updated. I voted for MVP, before I left Charlotte NC. Finally, I retired after my mom’s death on 9-18-24. I’m here in Dharahan, KSA, with my youngest maternal aunt. I plan to be here until 1-15-25. My news feed is filled with propaganda. I had to search and find my regular YouTube channels. The misinformation is so heavy over here. It is sickening. Everything that’s mentioned about VP Harris, is in a negative light. I mean brothers who have been here over 40 years are talking about “she locked up black men. Oh and her laugh…not one kind or honest thing to say about her. Many “others” live here and no one likes the USA, hence the reason why most of them live here.
wasalaam and thank you for reading, Briggette. Yes the disinformation is truly nauseating. I'm doing what I can to help combat it. I appreciate you helping spread the word.
I don’t think we have anything in the west like Islamic jurisprudence, which is kinda baked into the religion. It means that scholarship and argument have always been prominent and despite the centrality of the Quran, which is Muhammad’s absolute miracle, Muslim societies have in a way been more ‘democratic’ than our own. After the terrible massacre in Christchurch, notable Muslim women led the movement to investigate fully and they did not let up. They held the government to account. Also, every year in Christchurch we now have peace week. There are concerts and children’s events. There is a march called Walk the Talk for Peace. These events are also organised by formidable, educated Muslim women. Instead of collapsing in resentment, the Muslim community here has reached out and ensured we do not forget, that we unite in joy and food and music, while the terrorist struggles in prison.
Thank you for sharing that update on Christchurch. What a horrible atrocity and I'm glad the community has built an even stronger coalition for justice since.
Thank you for analyzing and rebutting the Rogan/Vance hate-fest for us, as difficult as it must have been. I just couldn’t. I do, however, always appreciate a true opportunity to learn. Is it appropriate for a non-follower to use (sa) when using his name?
Thank you, Rosalind. And yes absolutely appropriate. It's simply a sign of respect and respect is universal. I appreciate you being so thoughtful about it.
This was a truly enlightening piece. I had no real knowledge of the religious view of women in Islam. I did know that the U.S. was woefully behind in moving women toward equality.
I don’t bother with Joe Rogan. Vance I consider a hateful man. He position on his family, and the fact that his in-laws are immigrants, is most peculiar. He recently spoke of his children as if they were the exclusive property of his wife. Perhaps he considers himself caught between a MAGA rock and his own hard place—he cannot decide how to handle the conflict. To me the family should clearly be first which would mean he is being spineless. No surprise.
He is behaving in accord not so much with Project 2025 but with Opus Dei tenets. They have always been big on running school systems and training children, then selecting those they think will rise to prominent positions. Vance was only baptized in the Catholic Church a few years ago. But the white male talking points are all spot on for Opus Dei. I have found it interesting that most would say the US began as a predominantly Protestant nation. So why would you choose Catholicism if you wanted to be considered the original people? Catholics were widely discriminated against well after JFK was president. Sorry—too many thoughts. All very disturbing. And there is a strain of hatred Vance displays which is both MAGA and Opus Dei. The Islamophobia is disgusting, but he seems to be an equal opportunity hater.
Thanks for reading, Alexandra. I'm grateful it was of helpful insight. I don't bother with Rogan either. I just wanted to dive into this episode specifically because he's interviewing a man who might be VP, and we simply cannot allow that to happen.
Vance is horrific. His ties to big power players like Thiel and Opus Dei make him very dangerous. From a psychological perspective I always worry about people who flip between extremes. They tend to be more violent in their reactions no matter which side they choose at any given moment. It is as if they have to prove they really do believe their current position. I thought Vance knew better than to be so bigoted. And I thought his family connections would have made him a better person. Seems I was very wrong.
I appreciate this information, some of which was unfamiliar to me or that I might have just forgotten, because I was an English/Religion major in college. Nonetheless, this kind of calm, decisive, straight-faced lying that Vance is capable of makes him so much more dangerous than the babbling idiot Trump. I fear him more than anyone because he is totally without a conscience. I honestly don’t know how his wife tolerates this; it’s beyond my comprehension, but again I have no insight into that marriage. When I lived in Boulder, Colorado, a close friend of mine lived a few blocks from a mosque. There were times while I was at her house when I heard the call to prayer, and to me it sounded beautiful. I’ll share this post.
I live in Minneapolis. I’ve heard the call to prayer infrequently when on the street in a neighborhood by a mosque. It’s no big deal and no more intrusive than a church bell. It still has to abide by noise ordinances.
I cannot fathom any reasonable objection about it other than racism.
Joe Rogan is the King if wantaboutism- - he's admitting his white supremacist views but "think" they should be acceptable. No Joe, your bull don't go. Your white supremacist choice stands alone at the top of faulty Individuals. Until, you do that every message you speak is taken as having a white supremacist twist. We're not buying what Joe knows nothing got to say. We don't care about his following of lost Derelict sheep. To listen to his show is right out of demonic trump failed university. It's like streaming reality Beavis and Butt-heads. Aka American worst loser's.
Your succinct dissemination of facts & history should be required learning for America. They would be a lot better informed and enlightened about the essences & qualities their societies require to function more harmoniously. Ignorance is bliss.
Thank you for this calm, rational and fact based response to the increasingly rabid, emotive and lie based Islamaphobia being pushed by MSM and populists in the West. It is equally bad here in the UK and I am still hearing all sorts of rubbish (including GRT nonsense in a pub where not a single person was not wyt or middle class (though most were fairly wealthy retiree, boomers of course). The calm and dignified response we have seen from Islamic sources compared to the rabid emotive lies from the Xtiran ones is stark in it's contrast. A bit like a comparison of the truth, compassion, control and restraint being shown by Islamic Levant in compassion to the rabid, violent, lying, vengeful, hate filled ravings coming from Israel and its supporters. It reminds me of a children's book where the character overcomes negative accusations by "living it down" as in showing by their actions and conduct that their accusers, not them were the ones in the wrong. Exemplifying integrity in the face of such lies. Thank you for this excellent post.
Thank you for reading and sharing, Maria. We absolutely have work to do to counter this global Islamophobia movement.
I am astounded by how much I have learned from just 2 of your posts since I stumbled across your substack this week. I especially like your closing lines: Our responsibility... I am deeply grateful for your knowledge and perspective.
That's heartwarming to hear, Jacquie. Thank you for the trust and for the support. ❤️✊🏽
I appreciate your debunking of Joe Rogan's and JD Vance's bigoted claims about Islam. They are, however, very easy targets, given their ignorance and biases. I would like to you see take on Sam Harris's criticisms of Islamic doctrine. Harris has argued for many years that Muslims who commit violence are not just extremists who have misinterpreted the concept of jihad. Rather, Harris argues, "doctrines that directly support jihadist violence are very easy to find in the Quran, and the hadith, and in the biography of Muhammad" (https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-bright-line-between-good-and-evil). Harris also claims that Islamaphobia is a disingenuous idea designed to "conflate any criticism of Islam, which is a doctrine of religious beliefs, with bigotry against Muslims as people." Ideally, I would love to see you debate Harris in person, but, short of that, I would appreciate a response to his criticisms.
Thanks for reading, John. And thanks for your question. The fact is that I've challenged Sam Harris directly on Twitter (before he deleted his account) and he had no rebuttal to me. Sam Harris is one of the most dishonest critics of Islam. A cursory glance at the link you provided further cements this point.
He ignores everything prior to 10/7 and blames it on "jihad." I detail the many problems with that approach here: https://www.qasimrashid.com/p/the-history-prior-to-107-that-media
He never once correctly defines Jihad as "struggle against evil," and conflates it to mean violence against innocent civilians. I address what Jihad actually means here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/07/08/jihad-is-not-a-dirty-word/
He asks "If its about territory, where are the suicide bombers of others faiths?" He ignores University of Chicago Professor Dr. Robert Pape's entire work of scholarship in Dying to Win where he documents that the Tamil Tigers coined suicide bombing. They are a Hindu Marxist group, and they have committed more such attacks than Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Isis COMBINED. You can read his scholarship here: https://www.amazon.com/Dying-Win-Strategic-Suicide-Terrorism/dp/0812973380
I could go on and on, but here's the key point to demonstrate how dishonest Harris actually is. You will not see him debate an actual Muslim academic or scholar. He'll bring on ex-Muslims, debate with other atheists, even unwillingly debate with Ben Affleck -- but ask him to debate an actual Muslim academic and scholar and he hides behind his computer screen and microphone. I know because I've directly challenged him and he's responded that he's not interested -- all while refusing to address the very real arguments I put forth debunking his nonsense.
Harris is an insecure bully without a shred of academic integrity or honesty in his approach. If he ever got the courage to stand toe to toe in a debate, I'd welcome the opportunity. But I'm not holding my breath.
Many thanks for your enlightening reply and the links to clarifying articles, Qasim. I am not a religious person, but I am tolerant of people who practice religion, as long as they do not harm others. I am a long-time fan of Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens), and I appreciated his positive take on Islam in his book Why I Still Carry a Guitar. Sam Harris certainly is a problematic figure. I have found him to be hyper-sensitive, taking too many things personally. He had no response to a critique I wrote of his book, The Moral Landscape. My more charitable assessment of his mistakes is that they are based on his insecurities and lack of understanding rather than intentional lying. I think he truly believes that he is correct when he is mistaken. At any rate, it is, unfortunately, almost impossible to have a debate with him because he is so sensitive. One of the strange things that he claims about Islam is that the words of the Prophet literally make Muslims behave in violent ways (to a greater extent than, say, The Bible made the crusaders kill people or ordinary Christians burn so-called witches). Now, I do think it is problematic that ancient scriptures are written in such a way that they can be interpreted as a call to commit violence. It would be better if there were nothing in holy books that could be interpreted that way. But, ultimately, words do not force people to commit violence. In my opinion, there is something defective in the brains of those who commit violence in the name of religion, and we need to better educate people so that they do not do that.
Co-sign your assessment of Harris and I'd love to read your critique of his work if it is something you can share. Please do email me at qasim.rashid@gmail.com.
Regarding your point about if holy books were written in a way that would prevent misinterpretation, this is a question I've addressed in detail. I hope you might take a moment to read this: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/islam-muslim-terrorism-islamist-extremism-quran-teaching-violence-meaning-prophet-muhammed-a7676246.html
Thank you for the education. Vance and Rogan are for a theocracy based on their words -- as long as it follows their flavor of Christianity. They like the idea of controlling everyone not like them (in other words women, BiPOC, LGBTQIA+, pagan, athiest, etc.) They lie and inflame small minded folks. We know from numerous studies that the conservative brain is structured and functions differently than a liberal brain. Conservatives live in fear. Liberals gather information and amend their ideas based on new information.
Yes the irony is that they complain about their fantasy of the "Shaira Law" while they openly want to turn the USA into a theocratic Christian Oligarch Dictatorship, under much harsher, much more restrictive and much more dangerous terms as set out in Project 2025. Seems every NeoCON, Republican, Tory, Reform, Populist, Billionaire, predatory capitalist or whatever name you use for them, accusation is indeed a confession. I admire the ability of people like Qashim to remain calm in the face of such libel, slander, lies, injustice, hypocrisy and hate aimed at good people by evil people.
from experience i can assure folks that we are not even close to any form of sharia law…
we are currently experiencing worse.
this sort of crap is exactly what the USA corporate/government propaganda machine vomits out hourly… and the ignorant fall for it…
how sad for humanity and ultimately how sad for our planet.
This was so educational. Thanks a million. America has deliberately kept citizens ignorant by choosing to teach propaganda that glorifies the “white race”. And now we are where we are. You have done so much to teach us and keep us informed in such a kind way. I share everything with my young sons. Hopefully they’ll have a better chance to make things better in the future. I am so grateful.
Thank you Myra ❤️✊🏽
Thank you for explaining the religion so many Americans know so little about. Your responses to the nonsensical Rogan/Vance interview should be required reading.
I appreciate you, Sandy. Thank you.
Right back at you.
Salaams thanks so much for keeping us updated. I voted for MVP, before I left Charlotte NC. Finally, I retired after my mom’s death on 9-18-24. I’m here in Dharahan, KSA, with my youngest maternal aunt. I plan to be here until 1-15-25. My news feed is filled with propaganda. I had to search and find my regular YouTube channels. The misinformation is so heavy over here. It is sickening. Everything that’s mentioned about VP Harris, is in a negative light. I mean brothers who have been here over 40 years are talking about “she locked up black men. Oh and her laugh…not one kind or honest thing to say about her. Many “others” live here and no one likes the USA, hence the reason why most of them live here.
wasalaam and thank you for reading, Briggette. Yes the disinformation is truly nauseating. I'm doing what I can to help combat it. I appreciate you helping spread the word.
I don’t think we have anything in the west like Islamic jurisprudence, which is kinda baked into the religion. It means that scholarship and argument have always been prominent and despite the centrality of the Quran, which is Muhammad’s absolute miracle, Muslim societies have in a way been more ‘democratic’ than our own. After the terrible massacre in Christchurch, notable Muslim women led the movement to investigate fully and they did not let up. They held the government to account. Also, every year in Christchurch we now have peace week. There are concerts and children’s events. There is a march called Walk the Talk for Peace. These events are also organised by formidable, educated Muslim women. Instead of collapsing in resentment, the Muslim community here has reached out and ensured we do not forget, that we unite in joy and food and music, while the terrorist struggles in prison.
Thank you for sharing that update on Christchurch. What a horrible atrocity and I'm glad the community has built an even stronger coalition for justice since.
Thank you for analyzing and rebutting the Rogan/Vance hate-fest for us, as difficult as it must have been. I just couldn’t. I do, however, always appreciate a true opportunity to learn. Is it appropriate for a non-follower to use (sa) when using his name?
Thank you, Rosalind. And yes absolutely appropriate. It's simply a sign of respect and respect is universal. I appreciate you being so thoughtful about it.
This was a truly enlightening piece. I had no real knowledge of the religious view of women in Islam. I did know that the U.S. was woefully behind in moving women toward equality.
I don’t bother with Joe Rogan. Vance I consider a hateful man. He position on his family, and the fact that his in-laws are immigrants, is most peculiar. He recently spoke of his children as if they were the exclusive property of his wife. Perhaps he considers himself caught between a MAGA rock and his own hard place—he cannot decide how to handle the conflict. To me the family should clearly be first which would mean he is being spineless. No surprise.
He is behaving in accord not so much with Project 2025 but with Opus Dei tenets. They have always been big on running school systems and training children, then selecting those they think will rise to prominent positions. Vance was only baptized in the Catholic Church a few years ago. But the white male talking points are all spot on for Opus Dei. I have found it interesting that most would say the US began as a predominantly Protestant nation. So why would you choose Catholicism if you wanted to be considered the original people? Catholics were widely discriminated against well after JFK was president. Sorry—too many thoughts. All very disturbing. And there is a strain of hatred Vance displays which is both MAGA and Opus Dei. The Islamophobia is disgusting, but he seems to be an equal opportunity hater.
Thank you for this lucid dive into the issue.
Thanks for reading, Alexandra. I'm grateful it was of helpful insight. I don't bother with Rogan either. I just wanted to dive into this episode specifically because he's interviewing a man who might be VP, and we simply cannot allow that to happen.
Vance is horrific. His ties to big power players like Thiel and Opus Dei make him very dangerous. From a psychological perspective I always worry about people who flip between extremes. They tend to be more violent in their reactions no matter which side they choose at any given moment. It is as if they have to prove they really do believe their current position. I thought Vance knew better than to be so bigoted. And I thought his family connections would have made him a better person. Seems I was very wrong.
This was a fresh take. I want to hear more … Very interesting 🍺🇺🇸💙
Thank you. Will be sure to share more.
I appreciate this information, some of which was unfamiliar to me or that I might have just forgotten, because I was an English/Religion major in college. Nonetheless, this kind of calm, decisive, straight-faced lying that Vance is capable of makes him so much more dangerous than the babbling idiot Trump. I fear him more than anyone because he is totally without a conscience. I honestly don’t know how his wife tolerates this; it’s beyond my comprehension, but again I have no insight into that marriage. When I lived in Boulder, Colorado, a close friend of mine lived a few blocks from a mosque. There were times while I was at her house when I heard the call to prayer, and to me it sounded beautiful. I’ll share this post.
Honored. Thank you, Janet.
I think Usha & her snitch have an act going to save their own skin while the planet burns. They threw their lot in with vile terrorists.
It’s terribly sad, and it’s beyond disheartening how many people have been hoodwinked by this New York con man.
I live in Minneapolis. I’ve heard the call to prayer infrequently when on the street in a neighborhood by a mosque. It’s no big deal and no more intrusive than a church bell. It still has to abide by noise ordinances.
I cannot fathom any reasonable objection about it other than racism.
Yep, its racism through and through. Also amazing how the "free speech absolutists" are suddenly offended by (checks notes) free speech.