Question Time Tomorrow

[Udo Erasmus]

I don't want to re-type what I have written on the other thread specifically on the cartoons that addresses your questions and would suggest any further debate on the cartoon's take place on that thread - as I can't be bothered to re-type what I have written there.

But Lewislewis, do you agree that LW should have condemned the cartoons and the general points where I have disagreed with hers and others take on them? Or more specifically, do you think that racism and islamophobia is a key issue when talking about these cartoons.

I think everyone would have reservations about joining a demo called by reactionary Islamists, but if ordinary Muslims are taking to the streets (and not all the demo's on this issue are called by Islamists) surely the best way to challenge Islamist politics is for the left to take up this issue and show that it is not an "Islam vs. the West" issue that concerns Muslimsonly but an issue of racism. We can then show that Socialists are the people who defend and stand shoulder to shoulder with the victims of racism, which would be challenging the main assumptions and positions of Islamists - this would be building workers' unity in the face of a right wing Danish tabloid attempting to stoke up racism and demean an ethnic minority/religious group on the receiving end of an ideological offensive that flows from the war on terror.

 

[lewislewis]

Yes Islamophobia is the key issue concerning the cartoons, as LW said.

I think she should have been more outright in her condemnation of the cartoons.

However Udo, on the BBC television coverage of one of these Islamist demos (in Beirut i believe) the female contingent could clearly be seen walking as a separate bloc a good number of paces behind the men. Call your own demonstrations by all means, that is your right, but to want to join an Islamist demo in 'solidarity' is insane!

Of course, these cartoons were published four months ago, and it is their republishing that has caused such offence. The backdrop of Islamophobia caused by unjust wars against Afghanistan and Iraq, racist government jargon against asylum seekers and the attacks on civil liberties needs to be dealt with. The cartoons themselves are just a representation of Islamophobia which is the 'big picture'.

Udo, the placards being wielded in London don't cry out 'ordinary Muslims' to me. Come on. I do not believe in religion being brought into politics.