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Go Home Man Already Knows Everything He Needs To Know About Muslims

JONATHAN CHAIT AUGUST 30, 2010

Man Already Knows Everything He Needs To Know About Muslims

BY JONATHAN CHAIT

The Onion has a story today entitled, "Local Man Knows Everything He Needs To Know About Muslims":

Local man Scott Gentries told reporters Wednesday that his deliberately limited grasp of Islamic history and culture was still more than sufficient to shape his views of the entire Muslim world.

Gentries, 48, said he had absolutely no interest in exposing himself to further knowledge of Islamic civilization or putting his sweeping opinions into a broader context of any kind, and confirmed he was "perfectly happy" to make a handful of emotionally charged words the basis of his mistrust toward all members of the world's second-largest religion.

"I learned all that really matters about the Muslim faith on 9/11," Gentries said in reference to the terrorist attacks on the United States undertaken by 19 of Islam's approximately 1.6 billion practitioners. "What more do I need to know to stigmatize Muslims everywhere as inherently violent radicals?"

This made me think of Wall Street Journal blogger James Taranto, with whom I've been enjoying a running debate. It started about a week ago, when I pointed out how sneaky it was for Mitch McConnell to say, "the president says he's a Christian, I take him at his word," which suggests that Obama's word is the only evidence we have to guess his religion, and therefore that McConnell is bending over backwards to give Obama the benefit of the doubt on a question whose answer is uncertain.

Taranto replied that there is no other information to go on besides Obama's word. Then I noted that Obama's religious affiliation is well-documented, from his conversion to Christianity to many years of church attendance. Somehow I missed Taranto's hilarious rejoinder:

Does Chait really want to talk about the church Obama left 2½ years ago for reasons of political expediency? The one whose pastor blamed America for 9/11 and thundered, "God damn America!"? The one that published Hamas propaganda in its newsletter? No wonder some people thought the president was Muslim. This sounds more like the kind of thing you'd hear in an extremist mosque than in anything most Americans would recognize as a church.

Taranto's argument seems to be this: Obama's church had a left-wing minister who said anti-American things. Muslims also believe left-wing, anti-American things. So maybe Obama belongs to a Muslim, uh, church. The Onion really needs to interview this guy.

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36 comments

see, that's funny, because this onion article made me think of the spine

- miceelf

August 30, 2010 at 4:27pm

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After that incident with the construction guy in the wool cap who was harangued by the demostration at Ground Zero, you could say that the converse of the Onion piece is "Crowd Decides Who Is Muslim and Who Isn't."

- ironyroad

August 30, 2010 at 4:30pm

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Man, if that's the conclusion Taranto draws from the publicized sermons of Rev. Wright, then he'll be in for a real shock if he ever reads the Bible. In the older bits you've got prophet after prophet saying the ancient Judean version of "No no no, God damn America!" and then in the more recent bits you've got this Jesus fellow telling off the conservatives of his day. Pretty "extremist" stuff by Taranto's standards.

- rhubarbs

August 30, 2010 at 4:45pm

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And he reads that dangerous Islamic radical Reinhold Niebuhr! What more proof of Islamo-fascist sympathies do we need than this link with a liberal-with-a-German-name?

- timteeter

August 30, 2010 at 5:07pm

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James Taranto is such a perfect self-parody it is difficult to believe that he is real. Hilarious, barb.

- liberal reformer

August 30, 2010 at 5:08pm

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There seems to be a problem with public perception of Islam, as well as of what President Obama's religion really is. Why can't these rumors and speculations be put to rest, and why are the negatives denounced here so plausible?

- NR114746

August 30, 2010 at 5:12pm

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The negatives are so plausible because x percent of the populace are nutters.

- liberal reformer

August 30, 2010 at 5:14pm

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If someone decides to start a bunch of wild rumors about NR114746, I promise not to believe them. (Unless I get mad at him/her, in which case I reserve the right to spread the rumors myself, and then wonder why the rumors seem so credible to so many people.)

- Geoff G

August 30, 2010 at 5:22pm

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The Onion does not interview Taranto because The Onion is smart enough to know some things are already well beyond parody. Colbert, maybe...

- cspencef

August 30, 2010 at 5:45pm

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I think he's trying to change the argument to Obama's imagined penchant for extremism, from any religion, rather than whether Obama is a Muslim. What's funny is that he thinks there's some sort of correlation between Obama's 'unrecognizable' church and psychopatic terrorists. He's just pucked bigotry all over himself and he can't even smell it. Looks like another front in the clash of civilizations: a protestant one. What denomination is Taranto? Does his church match up? Maybe we should conduct regular audits of churches?

- IggyPop

August 30, 2010 at 5:48pm

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This is pretty funny --- the liberal jewish blogger is now an authority on sufficient proof of christianity. The less you know about a subject the more you opine? Waiting for his opinion on: - how to dunk a basketball - rapping - BBQ recipes Perhaps he will be the new spokesman for holiday inn

- mr_rationale

August 30, 2010 at 6:02pm

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I know this is risky, talking about Christianity in a liberal blog, but: - The best source for whether a person is a Christian is in fact that person. First person always better than third person. My perspective on why folks are uneasy: 1. He wasn't raised Christian. I guess his father became an athiest the instant after giving him a muslim name 2. His attendance at the Chicago church was a requirement of his job -- can't be a community organizer in Chicago without attending church 3. Doesn't attend church now. But, at the end of the day, I am taking Obama's word for it as well.

- mr_rationale

August 30, 2010 at 6:11pm

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The best source for whether a person is a Christian is in fact that person. First person always better than third person - Mr Irrationale

Actually, that would be their baptismal certificate, or certificate of baptism, or whatever document a particular branch creates when a person receives the sacrament of baptism and becomes a member.

- GSpinks

August 30, 2010 at 7:17pm

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The fatuous rationale puts in another appearance. That "folks are uneasy" phrase is hilarious. Unaccountably large numbers of people think Barack Obama is a Muslim and this mutates into "folks are uneasy?" I continually have to resist the conclusion that r. struts around out here to highlight how idiotic he is. And then, to top that off, he fancies himself smarter than J. Chait. I am a sucker for good and/or great conservative thought. We get none of that in r., rather, we get platitudes and narcissistic preening and hilarious tropes. Thanks for the free entertainment.

- liberal reformer

August 30, 2010 at 7:21pm

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NR114746, What is your definition of 'plausible'? I ask because there's another issue that usually is mentioned in the same breath as these, which is whether Obama was born in Hawaii or another country. That nonsense has been swatted down effectively and definitely, with you know ... proof. So, do you think it's 'plausible' that Obama was born outside of the USA? rationale, Forget for a moment that Carter was the last president to regularly attend church while in office. Why is attending church proof that someone is a Christian? If I had a dime for every Christian I know who doesn't attend church (save, perhaps, Easter/Christmas), I could probably afford to attend a professional football game.

- W_Bombay

August 30, 2010 at 7:23pm

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Didn't TNR report that Rev. Wright was a former Muslim? And wasn't the context that Community Organizer, Barrack Obama wasn't going to church? If he wanted to be a successful orgainzer in the Black Chicago Community that he would need to attend a Christian Church. Ryan Lizza seems to imply that Mr. Obama's conversion was more practical than spiritual in Reverend Wright's Church. But hey, what's the difference between Nation of Islam and Trinity United? Bow Ties.

- CRS9TNR

August 30, 2010 at 7:30pm

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As far as I'm concerned Barack Hussein Obama's years in that Black Christian Muslim Agnostic church are grounds for suspicion -- I'm uneasy as rationale's 'folks.' Give me the Wasilla Assembly of God, and my nervousness might be alleviated.

- ironyroad

August 30, 2010 at 8:18pm

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Agree about rationale, but there's not a requirement of baptism or any formal recognition by a church to become a Christian, at least in the eyes of some denominations. According to some versions, all one needs is a private and sincere conversion experience. jeremiah wright was born to a baptist minister and brought up a baptist. he attended a couple of divinity schools. There's no evidence he was ever a muslim. he was FRIENDLIER with the nation of islam than are many christian ministers, but so what- if he was friendlier to GLBT folks, it would not have proved that he was a transsexual.

- miceelf

August 30, 2010 at 9:01pm

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Irony, you fully earned your name with that line, "Muslim Agnostic Church". I'd dare say you hit it out of the park by 2 blocks. Did everyone forget to be polite and ask Mr. R how's the weather in his corner of Somalia is today? How rude this group is becoming.

- tnmats

August 30, 2010 at 9:14pm

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mr._rationale, Ronald Reagan never attended church either, and for a lot longer than Obama has not attended church. Unless you, or anyone, has the "window into men's souls" that Elizabeth I would not claim, and unless you want to engage in the fairly pointless argument of what, for purposes of public identity, constitutes a "real" Christian, then membership in, and regular attendance of, a church, even Trinity United, plus baptism, is all the proof anyone needs, even a liberal Jewish blogger.

- timteeter

August 30, 2010 at 10:39pm

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W_Bombay, I define plausible as widely believable. The number of repetitious threads on this blog concerning Islam and Obama's relationship with it indicates to me that Chait doth protest too much, which is why I worded my posting as I did.

- NR114746

August 30, 2010 at 11:45pm

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"Why can't these rumors and speculations be put to rest . . . ?" Because the GOP has a political interest in keeping them in play. It doesn't matter what Obama or anyone else does or says, the folks pushing the rumors and speculations aren't going to suddenly become amenable to fact.

- ironyroad

August 31, 2010 at 12:02am

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"Because the GOP has a political interest in keeping them in play." True enough. But it would appear that liberal publications like TNR also have an interest in keeping them in play. (And perhaps even the Democrat Party?) These ridiculous rumors keep the base stirred up. Witness this thread. 22 comments so far. Then go back and look at previous threads on this subject. Same level of comments. Not to mention a long 1200 word article by some guy who's main point seemed to be that it wasn't worth talking about.

- nacnud1

August 31, 2010 at 8:28am

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"Because the GOP has a political interest in keeping them in play." True enough. But it would appear that liberal publications like TNR also have an interest in keeping them in play. (And perhaps even the Democrat Party?) These ridiculous rumors keep the base stirred up. Witness this thread. 22 comments so far. Then go back and look at previous threads on this subject. Same level of comments. Not to mention a long 1200 word article by some guy who's main point seemed to be that it wasn't worth talking about.

- nacnud1

August 31, 2010 at 8:29am

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"Because the GOP has a political interest in keeping them in play." True enough. But it would appear that liberal publications like TNR also have an interest in keeping them in play. (And perhaps even the Democrat Party?) These ridiculous rumors keep the base stirred up. Witness this thread. 22 comments so far. Then go back and look at previous threads on this subject. Same level of comments. Not to mention a long 1200 word article by some guy who's main point seemed to be that it wasn't worth talking about.

- nacnud1

August 31, 2010 at 8:29am

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"Because the GOP has a political interest in keeping them in play." True enough. But it would appear that liberal publications like TNR also have an interest in keeping them in play. (And perhaps even the Democrat Party?) These ridiculous rumors keep the base stirred up. Witness this thread. 22 comments so far. Then go back and look at previous threads on this subject. Same level of comments. Not to mention a long 1200 word article by some guy who's main point seemed to be that it wasn't worth talking about.

- nacnud1

August 31, 2010 at 8:29am

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Not sure what happened. Sorry for the multiple repeats.

- nacnud1

August 31, 2010 at 8:30am

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Reverend Wright may be a left wing version of Glen Beck or Rush Limbaugh and may have opinions I dislike, but I listened to Wright once talking about the criticism of people of African American heritage who say axt instead of ask. Wright exampled the accents of presidents for ridicule. I no longer interpret that mispronunciation as an indication of poor education.

- Nusholtz

August 31, 2010 at 8:35am

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some facts for the heathen parasites: Going to a christian church doesn't prove you are a christian, it merely proves you go to church. Being a christian something more than attendance on sunday And only the individual know if they are a christian. That is why Obama's word has to be the first and last word on the subject. So chait was wrong again

- mr_rationale

August 31, 2010 at 9:26am

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libref, Always entertaining never insightful. try to form a cogent thought once in a while. You might be able to rise above your GS13 level. Are you arguing that Obama's word that he is a Christian is less compelling than his attendance at church? That's Chat's ridiculous point. In todays news: Republicans lead by 51% to 41% among registered voters in Gallup weekly tracking of 2010 congressional voting preferences. The 10-percentage-point lead is the GOP's largest so far this year and is its largest in Gallup's history of tracking the midterm generic ballot for Congress Just trying to cheer you up. You need something to make up for a failed career. Did you dream of being a Gov parasite growing up?

- mr_rationale

August 31, 2010 at 9:34am

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rationale: "Being a christian something more than attendance on sunday" Where I come from, being a Christian means you get a capital C!

- ironyroad

August 31, 2010 at 10:49am

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Speaking of the man who already knows everything he needs to know... Thanks for admitting that Obama's word that he's a Christian is the last word on the subject, Rationale. By the way, were you meaning to mock libref as being stuck in a sad joe job by that "GS13 level" bit? Are you aware that GS-13s and above are actually senior leadership, constituting the top 15.18% of the federal workforce? Hm. Probably not. Remember, everyone, EVERY government employee is a parasite to Rationale. Even soldiers. So take it for the compliment it is!

- janus

August 31, 2010 at 12:00pm

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That is an excellent put-down, janus. Howdy Doody repeats his mantra about me why? - because that is all he has and that is all he is.

- liberal reformer

August 31, 2010 at 3:35pm

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mr._rationale, you have a gift for unintentionally proving other people's arguments. Apparently you DO have a window into men's souls, since you can tell (from my posts, I assume, as we have never met) that I am a "heathen parasite." I'm sure my priest will find this amusing. Meanwhile, let us remember that we are discussing public identities, not the strength of inner convictions. At least, that is what I assume Mitch McConnell was referring to, unless McConnell considers himself qualified to comment on the depth of Obama's faith rather than Obama's public profession of it, which would be pretty obnoxious. Then again, "McConnell" and "obnoxious" go together in a sentence very well, so who knows.

- timteeter

August 31, 2010 at 5:18pm

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BTW, I think the, um, interesting grammatical and spelling variants displayed by mr._rationale are a deliberate attempt to hide his identity rather than mere verbal infelicity. He must be someone who wants to comment but needs to cover his tracks. So who is our mysterious guest? I'm open to suggestions, but my vote is for Peter Wehner.

- timteeter

August 31, 2010 at 11:45pm

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As I have created more private sector jobs than the Obomination, the GS13 pay scale is useful as a floor. All of those jobs I hired for, software-related, are well above the GS13 pay scale. And gasp .... my company /employees actually pay much more in taxes than they recieve. A top 15% parasite is sort of like a bottom 5% candidate for me. Given libref lack of critical reasoning / insight -- he wouldn't even qualify for an interview. Resume needs to show evidence of professional success, problem solving, technical skills, and top-tier academic/test scores. I doubt anyone here could even qualify for the interview. And in the interview cases are given that requires the candidate to demostrate structured problem solving. Funny to even think of the denizens here even attempting. Finally, there are no soldiers here. And I have always distinguished the 75% that are parasites doesn't include military. Defense and protection service are Gov goods. Econ 101

- mr_rationale

September 1, 2010 at 9:38am

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