Pop quiz—What does more to galvanize radical anti-American sentiment in the Muslim world: (a) Israeli settlements on the West Bank; or (b) a Lady Gaga music video?
Who's more scandalous?
Thus reads the first sentence of Bret Stephens’ myopic Wall Street Journal opinion piece*. I’m sure most of you are thinking “a” but ah, wait…”If your answer is (b) it means you probably have a grasp of the historical roots of modern jihadism. If, however, you answered (a), then congratulations: You are perfectly in synch with the new Beltway conventional wisdom, now jointly defined by Pat Buchanan and his strange bedfellows within the Obama administration.”
Ah yes, I see where this is going. A thinly veiled statement on how Arabs hated America long before Israel occupied Palestine, based on writings by Sayyid Qutb on American decadence in 1951. The piece claims, of course, that these writings occurred “after” the occupation of Palestine, making the impossible case that Palestine wasn’t at all occupied until 1967, using the “only crazies believe that” to diminish the fact that Palestinian displacement is a fact. Regardless of whether or not the establishment of Israel was just, it is academically dishonest to claim that the creation of Israel in 1948 didn’t at all affect, hurt, or anger Palestinians.
But that’s not really a surprising stance. What is truly surprising is Stephens’ complete ignorance of reality in the Arab world, evidenced by his (or his editor’s) thematic example of “the American Temptress,” the term used by Qutb in his 1951 piece. Stephens posits that Arabs can’t tolerate 1950s America, let alone 2010 America (his symbol for that being Lady Gaga), saying, “In other words, even in some dystopic hypothetical world in which hyper-conservatives were to seize power in the U.S. and turn the cultural clock back to 1948, America would still remain a swamp of degeneracy in the eyes of Qutb’s latter-day disciples.”
Stephens appears to be suggesting that Muslims and Muslim culture (he says Arabs, but we all know what he means) have not evolved at all in the past 60 years. Not only is that terribly racist (pointed out earlier by Justin Logan at the Cato Institute), it’s flat-out wrong.
Exhibit A. For that matter, here, have Exhibits B, C, D…well, just check the Kfest’s Pop Culture channel; you get my drift.
Now, the aesthetics are certainly different, and you can’t call Maria, Ruby, or Haifa, or Nancy (etc) particularly liberated women, but I’m not sure that’s the point; Stephens’ initial argument implied that pop stars are the problem, using Madonna, Lady Gaga, Farrah Fawcett, and Marilyn Monroe as examples. Now, Madonna and Lady Gaga are in the extreme minority of pop stars, in that much of their work is subversive, playing with gender roles and expectations, but Farrah Fawcett? No offense to the late star, but she’s as bubblegum pop as it gets.
In fact, the mostly Lebanese pop stars are probably best compared to the American pop stars of the ’80s and ’90s in both aesthetic and complexity–Britney Spears, J.Lo, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany (who, may we remind you readers, is Syrian-American). “Feel-good fluff” is one way to describe these ladies’ bodies of work.
As it turns out, Stephens’ reads the blogosphere and has returned to the subject in a second piece in which he–in a rather roundabout way, I might add–fails to address most of the points raised by bloggers. Instead of analyzing the second piece, I’ll leave you with this gem of a quote:
If America wants to tilt the balance of Muslim sentiment in its favor, it needs to stand up for its principles, its liberties and its friends—Israel, Playboy and Lady Gaga included.
Ah yes. As one Kfester sarcastically pointed out, “You know you’re on solid ground when that’s how you define your liberties, freedoms and friends.”
Additional Reading: Abu Muqawama’s ingeniously titled “Lady Gaga : Westchester County :: Haifa Wehbe : Southern Lebanon”
This was, in part, originally published on my blog.
(tarboush tip: Jason)
Related posts:
- Abunimah on Abu Rahm, Obama and the Dire Prospects of Mideast Peace
- The Real Existential Threat
- UK Architects Threaten to Boycott Israel Over ‘Apartheid’ Barrier
- Biden’s Farce of a ‘Peace Mission’ Too Much For Israelis
- Abunimah: Obama and the Prospects for Peace
This is very interesting, Jillian. Palestinian displacement is a fact, yes, I collected some facts and interesting pictures about that HERE and HERE.
A thinly veiled statement on how Arabs hated America long before Israel occupied Palestine, based on writings by Sayyid Qutb on American decadence in 1951. Yes, but more accurately: Islamists… Islamists hated America long before Israel occupied Palestine. It's ideological, not racial as so many are trying to make it today.
To point out that Islamists do in fact hate America because of its decadence and "sinfulness" is not racist, as you say. Osama Bin Laden even said some of the same things. It's very common, from Bin Laden to Islamic clerics all across the Middle East… it's a common theme. (The films are all over the internet). Why would you try to make a case that this is not true?
(I don't think anyone is saying "all Muslims" just the Islamists which are Islamic extremists and terrorists.)
You wanna know what's weird? These themes of sexualization of even the mention of Lady Gaga appeared in Sana's criticism of the Bodies Exhibit .
Posted by Admiral_Akbar | April 2, 2010, 11:17 pmThis is very interesting, Jillian. Palestinian displacement is a fact, yes, I collected some facts and interesting pictures about that HERE and HERE.
A thinly veiled statement on how Arabs hated America long before Israel occupied Palestine, based on writings by Sayyid Qutb on American decadence in 1951. Yes, but more accurately: Islamists… Islamists hated America long before Israel occupied Palestine. It's ideological, not racial as so many are trying to make it today.
To point out that Islamists do in fact hate America because of its decadence and "sinfulness" is not racist, as you say. Osama Bin Laden even said some of the same things. It's very common, from Bin Laden to Islamic clerics all across the Middle East… it's a common theme. (The films are all over the internet). Why would you try to make a case that this is not true?
(I don't think anyone is saying "all Muslims" just the Islamists which are Islamic extremists and terrorists.)
You wanna know what's weird? These themes of sexualization of even the mention of Lady Gaga appeared in Sana's criticism of the Bodies Exhibit .
Posted by Admiral_Akbar | April 2, 2010, 11:17 pm"I don't think anyone is saying "all Muslims" just the Islamists which are Islamic extremists and terrorists."
You don't? Stephens, and other columnists (Friedman for example) repeatedly refer to Arabs or the "Arab street" when making these claims. They are racists. I agree with you that making such statements against "Islamists" is not racist, but I really don't think they know the difference, or care to.
I suppose that what it comes down to is whether or not you believe that Islamists are the majority, or a minority.
Posted by JillianKF | April 3, 2010, 2:29 pmYou're right, there is an issue of differentiating between terrorists and non-terrorist Muslims.
But who is the major onus upon? Who bears the burden?
People who view Muslims badly or are afraid of them are innocent, they are not "racist". Muslims killed thousands of people on 911 with hijacked airplanes, Muslims murdered people in London with bombs, Muslims murdered people on the trains in Spain…and many many other acts… all for the glory of Allah, all for jihad holy war, all in the name of Islam.
Muslims release videos of statements from suicide bombers praising Allah, they release videos of Muslims beheading helpless people while they chant "Allahu Akbar" and Muslims release videos making threats of death and destruction on a regular basis.
So it is completely rational not to like or to be afraid of Muslims. It is not some sort of irrational bigotry, as so many try to make it into around here.
Posted by Admiral_Akbar | April 14, 2010, 9:22 pmI suppose that what it comes down to is whether or not you believe that Islamists are the majority, or a minority.
I have to completely disagree with that. Suppose that you and I are members of a large global religion called Jillian. And imagine that there are some Jillianists who commit murder and horrific acts in the name of our religion. Would it matter what percentage of the Jillians were Jillianists? And should you and I be bitter and hateful towards anyone who thought badly of Jillians? Would those innocent people be to blame? What would OUR responsibilities be?
Posted by Admiral_Akbar | April 14, 2010, 9:23 pmsurely… why not hate America… all This Insecured Community World needs is American Money not their existence in TICW. It just not that and since IT's born out INSECURITY make them vulnerable to that feeling self imposed INSECURITY. I not sure I'm right or not but it is a common opinion among the world.
Need of the day is to communicate, educate and brotherhood will help to eradicate this feeling among TICW. Even then OIL RICHer will never stop propagating and promoting among poor segments or keep others on their toe to eradicate this social evil.
Posted by hnh | April 9, 2010, 7:45 pmWTF does that mean???
Posted by huh | April 14, 2010, 1:10 ami wonder if lady gaga is involved in the recent attempted alien attack in jordan….
Posted by Nikolai | April 14, 2010, 9:38 pmMadonna is definitely the best loved singers in the world. I really hope she keeps on releasing albums.
Posted by Nelia Calender | April 17, 2010, 4:25 pmi just found out that Lady Gaga is also a mezzo soprano. she really has a great voice and i love her style. “
Posted by Liam Martin | April 29, 2010, 12:15 amAnother wonderful post! Where do you get this stuff?
Posted by Emmett Teuteberg | August 23, 2010, 10:51 pmI think people should cease near lady gaga´s meat enclothe and vantage worrying nigh privation…
Posted by Isabelle Hulsman | September 23, 2010, 5:30 pmLOL I positively love Lady Gaga! I love that she is extreme. Thanks for writing about her. I have book marked your web site and definitely will visit again!
Posted by Karen @ Best Baby Strollers | November 11, 2010, 3:57 amHi,
I'd like to inquire about doing a sponsored blog post about our company on kabobfest.com – I can write the post for you if you'd like for $15. If you don't do sponsored posts, we'd be interested in purchasing a simple text link on your homepage – something like "Modern Design – Engagement Rings" $40 per year.
We sell engagement rings and diamond jewelry and have been in business since 1978 and I thought our products might be a good fit for your readers. Let me know if you'd be open to this!
Regards,
Jeff
Modern Design
Posted by jeff | July 16, 2011, 5:40 amNice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m inspired! Very useful info specially the ultimate section
I maintain such information a lot. I was looking for this certain info for a lengthy time. Thanks and best of luck.
Posted by ipad textbooks | August 12, 2011, 5:53 amI actually wanted to jot down a quick remark to say thanks to you for all the unique steps you are writing here. My time consuming internet lookup has finally been rewarded with beneficial insight to go over with my best friends. I ‘d suppose that most of us readers are very much blessed to be in a notable community with very many lovely professionals with beneficial principles. I feel really privileged to have seen the site and look forward to really more entertaining moments reading here. Thank you again for all the details.
Posted by Zofia Malinconico | September 27, 2011, 5:44 pmHi this is kind of of off topic but I was wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
Posted by Mina Pacek | December 2, 2011, 4:31 am