More "Spine"-Tingling Nonsense

Not that I’m surprised.

Marty Peretz is deeply concerned about a Pew Poll that Reuters reported on yesterday. It seems that too many American Muslims are too fundamentalist for Peretz’s taste, and there’s so much anti-Americanism in these Muslim communities, and we ought to do something soon guys, and hey you should listen up ‘cause this is super-serious and why is nobody else freaking out about this?!

Let’s take a deep breath, and say first of all that we respect Peretz’s moral clarity on international human rights issues. Instead, let’s take issue with his judgment:

Now, here's a good number. Three quarters of the American Muslim population believe that "suicide in defense of Islam is never justified." That's a solid majority and, as the report's title suggests, very mainstream. But what about killing? Still, if only 76% abhor suicide, that means nearly a quarter would condone it?

Of course it doesn’t, and the poll tells you so – “13 percent of all U.S. Muslims felt suicide attacks could be justified often, sometimes or rarely”. Passionate as he is about the rights of majorities to use political power to institute their own way of life, he might want to take a look at the plank in his own eye and wonder how many Christian and Jewish extremists might feel the same way? But make way for another epic non-sequitur:

In fact, among American Muslims themselves, 61% are concerned about the (possible) rise of Islamic extremism in the United States and 35% of these are "very concerned." They know their community. If they are concerned, than why should other Americans not be?

Well, we are – I would count myself as “very concerned” at the rise of Islamic extremism in America. I simultaneously hold the view that such a thing is impossible. It’s not at all clear that the respondents are expressing fears that the rise of extremism is imminent; as with me, a great deal of that concern likely has more to do with a high degree of antipathy toward extremism than with a perception that the wolf is at the door.

Anyhow, none of this indicates that we poor, intimidated non-Muslims are under any threat from American Muslims. One of the great things about the United States is its ability to let extremists blow off steam at meetings and Koran/Bible/Mao/Mein Kampf readings once a week and then get back to watching television. We have real enemies in the world, but we should keep in mind that compared to the other threats we’ve faced down in our history, they are extraordinarily weak and disorganized. Why invent enemies where they don’t exist? I do hope Marty Peretz calms down and tries some falafel soon, for his own sake.