Spencer does it again (he can’t help himself)

Erich, the author of the blog Jihad Watch Watch, writes,

Today on Jihad Watch, Robert Spencer writes:

There are millions of Muslims who are not fighting the jihad and never will be, but can they be counted on to fight on our side? There is no reason whatsoever to think so—especially since no attempt whatsoever is being made to counter the jihadist appeal to them, which bases itself on Islamic loyalties.

Notice, on one hand, the strong language discounting the hope of moderation among Muslims, and then, on other hand, slipping in the possibility (the “attempt…to counter the jihadist appeal to them”).

LA replies:

There is, Spencer says, “no reason whatsoever” to think that non-jihadist Muslims will oppose jihad. That is a categorical statement about Islam and the beliefs of Muslims. The weakly believing average Muslims will never openly oppose the devout core of their religion, which includes the command to wage jihad. But then Spencer implies that if we of the West attempted to convince these Muslims to oppose jihad, maybe we could succeed. So, according to Spencer, something that he says is precluded by the very nature of Islam, might become possible if non-Muslims tried to persuade Muslims to do it.

It’s simply amazing. Even when Spencer makes an absolute statement about the unreformability of Islam, he immediately turns around—in the same sentence—and makes it non-absolute.

- end of initial entry -

Erich replies:

Your observation—“It’s simply amazing. Even when Spencer makes an absolute statement about the unreformability of Islam, he immediately turns around—in the same sentence—and makes it non-absolute”—reminds me of that type of person who retorts with “well, anything’s possible!” when confronted with an eventuality whose improbability is so high it becomes de facto impossible. Of course, the retort enjoys the wiggle room of being theoretically correct, but it is functionally irrelevant to concrete considerations—and veers toward being positively counter-productive if not dangerous when those concrete considerations relate to a menace as grave as Islam.

Erich adds:

Note: I have retired my Jihad Watch Watch blog, since after over 130 essays there examining Spencer’s and Fitzgerald’s flaws every which way but loose, I noticed I was just ending up repeating myself.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at June 17, 2008 04:38 PM | Send