Comments on: David Swindle’s Complaint is a Diversion

By: Spencer: Is There a Moderate Islam? — Winds Of Jihad By SheikYerMami

Spencer: Is There a Moderate Islam? — Winds Of Jihad By SheikYerMami — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:29:54 +0000

[...] the latest: “David Swindle’s Complaint is a Diversion,” by John R. Guardiano at NewsReal, March 15. In it, Guardiano takes issue with Swindle, a fellow NewsReal Blog writer, for saying [...]

By: sheik yer'mami

sheik yer'mami — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:50:36 +0000

Guardiano patronizing:

"That’s why I certainly will follow David’s advice by reading at least one of Mr. Spencer’s works about Islam. I enjoy reading, after all, and surely stand to benefit from Mr. Spencer’s learning and knowledge.

Still, this is all a diversion. This is all a diversion from what we ought to be doing, which is having a substantive discussion about Islam."

Educate yourself before you sound off, young man. If you don't know what you're talking about keep your trap shut.

By: DavidSwindle

DavidSwindle — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:29:37 +0000

At NRB we welcome a wide variety of views, including those that the editorial team might not agree with. Not all views are welcome, but John's ideas — wrongheaded as they may be — can be discussed and debated. I chose to allow him to publish his posts because it would get an important dialogue going. I was right.

At FrontPage Jamie frequently has debates and symposiums with those whose views he doesn't agree with. Why would you trash our publications because we promote debate? FPM and NRB would be very boring if they only allowed for a narrow range of views.

By: Abraham83

Abraham83 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:14:38 +0000

You say I am "castigating you as someone who has no rightful place discussing these issues." Yes, that's what I said. If NRB has given someone with your knowledge, logical skills and intellectual depth carte blance to write in these spaces, then it exercises no discrimination at all. In fact, I would be embarrassed to show a public face with the paucity of skills you've displayed.

It's quite one thing to be "open to ideas", and quite another for Jamie Glazov and company to drop all standards for submissions to this space. Certainly an intelligent debate can be combusted by someone capablle of carrying the load. Sorry to be so blunt, but you need to sharpen your skills a bit–and maybe find a compatible journal in a lower grade.

By: Is There a Moderate Islam? « Thoughts Of A Conservative Christian

Is There a Moderate Islam? « Thoughts Of A Conservative Christian — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:31:44 +0000

[...] the latest: “David Swindle’s Complaint is a Diversion,” by John R. Guardiano at NewsReal [3], March 15. In it, Guardiano takes issue with Swindle, a fellow NewsReal Blog writer, for saying [...]

By: “What is ‘Zlahm’, Johnny?” on NewsReal Blog « nampion.com

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:28:56 +0000

[...] Meanwhile, back at the Ranch, take a look at what all the ruckus is about, here and here. [...]

By: Is There a Moderate Islam? | FrontPage Magazine

Is There a Moderate Islam? | FrontPage Magazine — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 04:10:00 +0000

By: Behold the Dogmatism and Vitriol of the Anti-Muslim Right | NewsReal Blog

Behold the Dogmatism and Vitriol of the Anti-Muslim Right | NewsReal Blog — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:24:49 +0000

[...] apparent Christian, for instance charges me with being an “Islamic apologist,” and asks if I am a “convert to Islam.” This charge would be laughable were it [...]

By: Judahlevi

Judahlevi — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:03:14 +0000

John G.,

Your responses have been defensive and unpersuasive that you really have the credentials or maturity to argue with a scholar such as Robert Spencer. You confirm that you have never read any of his books but still feel you have unique ability to critique him and his ideas. From my perspective, that makes you either naive or arrogant. Reading a few articles on his website does not make you an expert about anyone or any subject.

I have read Spencer's books (I own a few of them) and his knowledge and research of Islam is impeccable and in very sharp relief to your own.

As for your comments that conservatives feel that Islam is the problem, it is a feeble attempt to categorize all conservatives as monolithic when, in fact, conservatives are broader thinkers, in my opinion, than liberals will ever be. We don't have a liberal orthodoxy that we must believe in to be good members of the tribe. We welcome dissent as long as it is thoughtful and well-researched.

It will be interesting to see if you have any comments that are worthy of Spencer. So far, you have added very little to the discussion.

By: Does moderate Islam exist? A reply to John Guardiano | FrontPage Magazine

Does moderate Islam exist? A reply to John Guardiano | FrontPage Magazine — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:36:19 +0000

[...] the latest: "David Swindle's Complaint is a Diversion," by John R. Guardiano at NewsReal, March 15. In it, Guardiano takes issue with Swindle, a fellow NewsReal Blog writer, for saying [...]

By: Does moderate Islam exist? A reply to John Guardiano | NewsReal Blog

Does moderate Islam exist? A reply to John Guardiano | NewsReal Blog — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:31:22 +0000

[...] Read More David Swindle's Complaint is a Diversion [...]

By: John Guardiano

John Guardiano — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:14:06 +0000

Heloise,
Yes, I have read all of the comments very carefully. However, there are not enough hours in the day to acknowledge or respond to all of the comments.

The issues concerning Islam, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the larger-scale war against radical Islam are tremendously important. I expect, of course, to address these issues again here at NewsReal Blog. This is necessarily a long-term endeavor. One, two or three posts in a one-week or one-month period clearly will not do this topic justice.

I welcome your thoughts and your comments as we explore these issues in the coming weeks and months.

Regards,
John