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Perhaps the best definition of prejudice is “any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.” There is no value judgment there. Indeed, prejudice is an inescapable and necessary aspect of living – a survival mechanism. A prejudice against bears could save your life. It becomes bigotry only when you refuse to alter your preconception of an individual in light of evidence to the contrary, like when someone ignores the substance of an argument to merely reassert their blunt accusation.
When you reinforce the notion that Islam is not a religion of peace due to specious and selective reasoning than yeah, you are reinforcing the notion that opposition to the mosque is nothing more than religious prejudice.
Behold my specious and selective reasoning:
[Ebert] states without substantiation that opposition to Islam is nothing more than religious prejudice. I could just as easily say opposition to Nazism is nothing more than political prejudice. Either statement dismisses the obligation to look into the substance of these ideologies. So, yes, that is moral and intellectual bankruptcy. It’s a mental shortcut which serves the emotional need to feel both safe and superior for being so “tolerant.”
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Islam is different in nature from the other [Abrachamic] faiths, as one of our commenters – ObamaYoMama – articulated well in response to another article. Jews and Christians faithfully exercise their religion without imposing it upon others. Muslims submit fully to the interpretation of their leaders, and require submission from others. There is no room in Quranic Islam for deviation, hence you get honor killings, disfigurements, stonings, etc. Far from an “irrational fear of the unknown,” these observations are quite real and occurring right now. Where are the Christian honor killings? Where are the Jewish stonings? Where are the global Christian terrorist networks? Where are the Jewish suicide bombers? No, mine is not an irrational hateful prejudice. It is discernment, my friend.
The only intransigent prejudice in this debate is on the side which refuses to deal honestly from a comprehensive view of Islam. The true “spacious and selective reasoning” ignores the substantive distinction between Islam and other religions so as to retain the Pollyannaish belief that all faiths are peaceful.
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Walter Hudson is a political commentator, activist, and Tea Party coordinator from the Twin Cities. He runs a blog and internet radio show, both entitled Fightin Words. He also contributes to True North, a hub of conservative Minnesotan commentary. Follow his work via Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
