Is leftism pro-Islam?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

f**ck no. I can't believe there are still people here who think leftists are Islam-lovers when I get bashed by right wingers all the time for what I say about Islam-and it ain't positive! Who was it who supported arming the Muslim terrorist trash in Afghanistan? Not the left!

[phk]

Of course, the left holds views that are further away from the views that the Islamic religion than the right does.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

that is true. Osama bin Laden is definately a right winger. He sure as hell isn't a social liberal. And he's a multimillionaire who made his profits through capitalism. And he has called socialists "infidels".

Osama bin Laden is a far right winger.

[opebo]

No.  The only reason these christian republicans think so is that many secular liberals view christianity and islam (and religion in general) as essentially the same thing, and equally bad.

[DanielX]

that is true. Osama bin Laden is definately a right winger. He sure as hell isn't a social liberal. And he's a multimillionaire who made his profits through capitalism. And he has called socialists "infidels".

Osama bin Laden is a far right winger.

Not really, no. Osama isn't an ecoomic conservative per se (an Islamic state is not capitalist but some combination of feudalist and mercantilist). He's a fiscal primitivist and a social reactionary - his goal is to re-establish the 10th century Caliphate and have it encompass the world.

The reason for the far left == pro-Islam confusion is threefold:
1. Both are rabidly anti-capitalist.
2. Both dislike the United States.
3. Some leftists (ie Galloway in Britain) at least seem to be pro-Islam.

[John Dibble]

It isn't solidly one way or the other. Don't try to make it a black and white issue.

[Richard]

The reason for the far left == pro-Islam confusion is threefold:
1. Both are rabidly anti-capitalist.
2. Both dislike the United States.
3. Some leftists (ie Galloway in Britain) at least seem to be pro-Islam.

Agreed.

[WalterMitty]

it isnt that the left is pro-islam, they are just blinded by political correctness.

'mishandling' a koran?  gimme a break.

there is at least one leftist here who ist still up in arms about bush using the word 'crusade' (right choice of words, by the way)

[minionofmidas]

it isnt that the left is pro-islam, they are just blinded by political correctness.

'mishandling' a koran?  gimme a break.

there is at least one leftist here who ist still up in arms about bush using the word 'crusade' (right choice of words, by the way)

I'm just glad it wasn't really the right choice of words. There wouldn't be many people left alive in Baghdad now otherwise.

[7,052,770]

The reason for the far left == pro-Islam confusion is threefold:
1. Both are rabidly anti-capitalist.
2. Both dislike the United States.
3. Some leftists (ie Galloway in Britain) at least seem to be pro-Islam.

Far-lefters don't all dislike the US.  Neither do all Muslims.  And "rabidly anti-capitalist" is a bit of an overstatement also.

[Mort from NewYawk]

The reason for the far left == pro-Islam confusion is threefold:
1. Both are rabidly anti-capitalist.
2. Both dislike the United States.
3. Some leftists (ie Galloway in Britain) at least seem to be pro-Islam.

4. Liberal sentiment demands that fanatic suicide bombers be identified as the frustrated poor, held down by American global domination.

5. Both see Zionism and Israel as evil encroaching Western entities.

[phk]

Easily, who supported the USSR, who supported the terrorists.

[A18]

No, they're just anti-America, and therefore have common ground.

[Beet]

"Leftism" is practically the exact opposite of fundamentalist Islam.

The fundamentalists have been one of the most effective destroyers of liberalism.

* Their young assasin killed the one man who could have saved us in 1968-- Robert Kennedy, for his support of Israel.

* Their oil embargo five years later undermined the economy, and with it, support for Keynesianism and other liberal programs of the time.

* Their 1979 Iranian revolution set back womens' rights the Middle East and ushered in the Reagan revolution.

* Their takeover of Afghanistan sparked the Soviet invasion which ended detente.

* Their invention of the suicide bombing in 1993 destroyed the Israeli left and gave the right-wing fundamentalists in the U.S. new neoconservative allies.

* Their September 11 terrorist attacks gave Bush cover to set America on the path towards theocracy and empire.

Yes, the conservative movement should be on their knees thanking Allah. They owe pretty much everything they have to him.

[True Democrat]

I'm a member of the left, and I support Islam.

[Gabu]

No.  There are very few things that must come in the package of "being from the left", and one's opinion of Islam is not one of them.  Debate would be a lot more productive if we stopped telling other people what they believe and instead discussed what they actually believe.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I'm no pro-Islam, but the 1796 US treaty with Tripoli must be noted.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/treaty_tripoli.html

[phk]

I'm a member of the left, and I support Islam.

Join your Republican buddies.

[Gabu]

I'm a member of the left, and I support Islam.

Join your Republican buddies.

hurrrrr

I was not aware that supporting Islam was a requirement for being a Republic, nor that opposing Islam was a requirement for being a Democrat.

[J. J.]

Do I respect Islam, and the devote and peaceful beliefs of millions of Muslims?  Yes.  Am I a leftist?  No.

Do I support the actions of every Christian on the planet?  No.  Am I a Christian?  Yes.

[phk]

Do I respect Islam, and the devote and peaceful beliefs of millions of Muslims?  Yes.  Am I a leftist?  No.

How do you respect something that is non-existant?

Muslims can be peaceful but thier religion most certainly isn't.

[patrick1]

There is a schizophrenic attitude and a schism among leftist thought on how to view extremist Islam just as the right is divided on how to view China.  Many in the left see Islamic fundamentalism as an assault against their deeply held belief in secularism and the rights of women.  Others on the left see Islamic extremism as a reactionary force against Zionism and encroaching capitalism.  The apologetic left blames America at all cost and worships at the altar of mutilculturalism.  To break it down on the left, I think the divide is against where your stronger loyalties lie- secularism or multi-culturalism.  The right's divide on China is those who view it as a  vital trading partner and others who see an oppressive communist regime.   

[Gabu]

There is a schizophrenic attitude and a schism among leftist thought on how to view extremist Islam just as the right is divided on how to view China.  Many in the left see Islamic fundamentalism as an assault against their deeply held belief in secularism and the rights of women.  Others on the left see Islamic extremism as a reactionary force against Zionism and encroaching capitalism.  The apologetic left blames America at all cost and worships at the altar of mutilculturalism.  To break it down on the left, I think the divide is against where your stronger loyalties lie- secularism or multi-culturalism.

I think this quote applies here:

Debate would be a lot more productive if we stopped telling other people what they believe and instead discussed what they actually believe.

[Rob]

Here's an excellent article on what you referred to, Patrick.

[Citizen James]

This probably breaks down closer to a libertarain/authoritarian axis than left/right, though that is imperfect as well.

I think it would be safe to say that most oppose the millitant fundementalist style of Islam as is preached by Bin Laden.

I would consider it almost as safe to say that most oppose the millitant fundementalist style of Christianity as is preached by Fred Phelps.

The real question is whether or not you beleive more moderate versions of the two faiths exist.