More Orientalism...

Can somebody please tell me what a rabid Orientalist such as David Selbourne is doing writing for The Times? Oh.... that's why he is writing for the times. Mr Selbourne appears to write as an "expert" on all affairs to do with the Islamic religion. He must be, he's written a book about the subject!

In this article, he's put down 10 points on why the West is losing it's war with Islam, presumably the version advocated by groups such as Al Qaeda.. of course the distinction vanishes by the time he finishes his second point, he concedes that Islam is misunderstood but then carpet bombs the whole concept by stating that, "It is neither a “religion of peace” nor a “religion hijacked” or “perverted” by “the few”." Islam, according to the great Orientalist Mr Selbourne is inherently set to conflict with the west because Muslims by there very nature, through following the teachings of the Koran, are unable or unwilling to "share a common set of values with non-Muslims". What these "common values" are or should be is left a mystery. It seems these people are incapable of normal human empathy or even reasoning and live by some mysterious sets of values such as offering their children to the god Malloch or forcing their daughters into temple prostitution. What utter drivel and an attempt to dehumanise millions of people around the world.

Selbourne then continues to dig deeper into his hole by arguing that "Islam is not even a religion in the conventional sense of the term.", erm and what is the conventional sense of the term. Can you tell us what a "conventional" religion is? Again, no clues from Selbourne. The utter stupidity of this man astounds me when in the very next sentence he mutters, "It is a transnational political and ethical movement that believes that it holds the solution to mankind’s problems." Excuse me but isn't that what a religion is all about? Come to think of it, what about these "common values" you referred to? Doesn't the West also have an (albeit extremely flawed) liberal capitalist ideology that is a transnational ethical movement that holds the solutions to mankind's problems?

In point 4 Selbourne even goes on to attack self proclaimed "experts" and "commentators" on Islam, calling them Islamophobes. Either he has forgotten what he has written, or he just doesn't have a clue and needed something to make up point number 4 and to seem "balanced". If Selbournes book is anything like the excerpt published in the Times, I shudder to think what other spurious drivel has emanated from his warped mind. Furthermore, I pity the fools who will buy his book hoping to learn something but then find themselves hostage to the ravings of a latter day Crusader. This man's ideas belong to Hyde Park and Speakers Corner on a Sunday.