The Politics of Words

Labeling is a uniquely American phenomenon. It is our way to simplify something we would otherwise do not understand, or are too lazy to fully investigate, or comprehend. During the current presidential campaign, an ugly word is being tossed around, with complete disregard, to describe a threat to the American way of life: Islamofascism.

After 9/11, we needed a label to identify the enemy. “Islamic radicals”, “militant jihadists” and “Islamists” replaced the old enemy from the past – the Soviet Union. Except that “Islamic radicals”, “militant jihadists”, and “Islamists” are not frightening enough. The names are a little too exotic.

Calling the enemy by its actual name (Osama Bin Laden or Al Qaeda) is insufficient because it narrows the enemy to one individual and an organization. Designating Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations as enemies in conjunction with Al Qaeda leads to confusion – too many names to remember. The new label must represent a threat of global proportions and should be able to incorporate a large swath of people.

Islamofascism conveys a perceived threat of an external force determined to impose its way of life against the will of free people all over the world. The theoretical threat of Islamofascism is manifested in The Caliphate who imposes Shariah law, and creates a world government above all others. Therefore Islamofascism is a threat to America.

The word Islamofascism suggests an image. Fascism reminds you of Nazi Germany. Adolph Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany. Hitler had facial hair – a funny mustache. The Nazi’s wanted to take over the world. Hitler wanted to eradicate the Jews from the face of earth.

If you accept the premise that Islam equals fascism, then Osama Bin Laden is the leader of militant Islamists/jihadists. Bin Laden has facial hair – a beard. The militant Islamists/jihadists want to take over the world. Bin Laden wants to become The Caliphate, rule the world, and kill anyone who does not convert to Islam.

Islamofascism is a curious combination of two words. Like “jumbo shrimp,” Islam and Fascism is a contradiction in terms - an oxymoron that is being said by actual morons.

Fascism is “a political philosophy, movement, or regime that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.”[i]

Islam means peace, is derived from the word salaam, and is defined as complete submission and obedience to the will of God.

Most (if not all) of the people who shout “Islamofascism” do not know anything about Islam. It is clearly stated in the Quran, “Let there be no compulsion in religion” (2:256), therefore it would be highly unlikely that Islam, which believes in religious freedom, would encourage a worldwide movement against religious freedom.

Second, fascism by its very nature is a racist doctrine. Islam is a universal religion open to all nationalities and ethnic groups. It is contrary to Islamic faith for one Muslim to believe he has a higher status or is better than another Muslim. To God, all Muslims are equal.

In “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell argues the English language is being corrupted. “It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.”[ii]

Corruption of language is due to laziness. Regarding Islam and Muslims, the corruption is worse because Arabic words are incorrectly translated, and in most cases given new, sinister definitions. In this context, “Islamofascism,” the religion of Islam becomes a threat to national security.

Orwell argues “In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics’. All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia. When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer.”[iii]

In addition, “if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation even among people who should and do know better.”[iv]

There are other examples involving incorrect use of language. During the current presidential campaign, several news organizations have reported that Barack Obama attended a “madrassa” in Indonesia. By implication, Obama is labeled a closet Muslim. He should not be trusted, and we should make sure he does not become the next president.

“Madrassa” is the Arabic word for school. Barack Obama lived in a predominatly Muslim country as a child, therefore he attended a school or “madrassa.”

Would we become suspicious if someone reported that Governor Bill Richardson attended an “escuela” as a child? Would we refuse to support Mayor Rudolph Giuliani if we discovered he attended a “scuola cattolica riservata?” Would we deport Governor Arnold Schwarznegger if it was disclosed he attended a “schule?”

The reason for the apprehension over the word “madrassa” is because of a perceived link to terrorism. The media has reported that Saudi Arabia funds religious schools or “madrassas” throughout the Islamic world. In addition, the Saudi Royal family follows a particular form of Islam know as Wahhabism – which has been labeled as a militant/radical anti-American form of Islam. Muslims are learning Wahhabi Islam in madrassas, therefore Muslims are learning anti-American propaganda in their schools.

Wahhabism is a movement named after Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab. In modern terms, Mr. Wahhab was a fundamentalist preacher who travelled throughtout Saudi Arabia warning Muslims not to deviate from Islam as originally taught by Muhammad. He also preached the belief in the oneness of God.

At the time, Arabs were incorporating other beliefs into Islam which is forbidden. Muhammad Wahhab’s preaching was rejected by several tribes until he met Muhammad bin Saud. Wahhabism is the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia.

Wahhabism is associated with terrorism and anti-Americanism which is curious because Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab died in 1792 – four years after the United States Constitution was ratified. How can someone (Wahab) be considered against something (the United States) that did not exist.

Jihad is another word that has been incorrectly translated. Jihad literally means “to strive,” as in strive to become a better Muslim, a better human being. It does not mean holy war. Parenthetically, the term “holy war” does not appear in the Quran.

Fatwa is another Arabic word that has experienced an alteration. Unfortunately, the word is associated with Ayatollah Khomeini’s death sentence of British author Salman Rushdie for blaspheming the Prophet Mohammad in his novel “The Satanic Verses.” In addition, Osama bin Laden issued an infamous fatwa in the 1990’s instructing his followers to kill Americans.

A fatwa is a legal/religious ruling issued by an Islamic cleric. Currently, a fatwa is considered a death sentence because of the actions of Khomeini and bin Laden.

Allah is an Arabic word that is treated with disrespect. It is as if Allah is the equivalent of Zeus, a figure of another religion that is only culturally important to Arabs just as Zeus would be to the Romans.

Allah is a unique Arabic word. In Arabic, there is only one thing that can be called Allah and that is The God. In the English language, there is God with a capital “G”, and god with the lower case “g,” and we differentiate The God from Apollo the sun god by the use of the letter “G.”

In Arabic, there are no capital and lower case letters, and there is only The God – Allah, and there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. For example, in the sixties there were signs proclaiming, “Clapton is God.” In English, we understand that Eric Clapton is a guitar god, but you will never see an Arabic sign proclaiming, “Clapton is Allah.”

In his essay, “Politics and the English Language,” Orwell wrote, “Many political words are similarly abused. The word Fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies ‘something not desirable.’”[v]

It is important that we understand that words hurt. Words harm. Words cause damage. When we weaken Arab words, we are diminishing Muslims, and the religion of Islam. We are not treating Muslims with respect. With disrespect comes alienation.

It is a constant question, “Why do they hate us?” In the battle for their (Muslims) hearts and minds, equating Islam with Fascism will not change any minds. Islam and fascism do not belong in the same sentence, much less in the same word. Politicians should stop insulting Islam.

[i] Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
[ii] George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language,” 1950.
[iii] George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language,” 1950.
[iv] George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language,” 1950.
[v] George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language,” 1950.