We're using the wrong yardstick

Since the Tarek Fatah dust-up in Friday's National Post, a lot of people have been saying that we need to rethink our definition of a "moderate Muslim".

There's no question that Tarek Fatah has contributed a lot of positive things to Canadian society in his fight against extremist Muslims. His work was invaluable in preventing Sharia law from being given legal standing in Ontario. He has taken a stand against the niqab.

These are all important issues and he has been on the right side – our side – for freedom and democracy.

Some of us wince when we're reminded that Mr. Fatah isn't necessarily on-side with us regarding our Zionism. We do feel he's been too harsh on Israel at times. But, we remind each other, he's an ally in the fight against Sharia and Islamists and it isn't necessary for all of our allies to be Zionists. As long as he's not working against us, we can work together. He is entitled to his opinion, after all.

Many of us were shocked to read Mr. Fatah's highly emotional attack on Dr. Wafa Sultan more than a week after he attended her debate with Dr. Daniel Pipes in Toronto.

Mr. Fatah wrote that he was "traumatized" that Dr. Sultan had criticized Mohammed in a synagogue full of Jews and no one had stopped her. He did not acknowledge that the statements made by Dr. Sultan about Mohammed were based on Islamic scriptures. He did not understand that his criticism should have been directed at the man who committed these acts and not the woman who merely spoke disapprovingly of them. He did not admit that the thought of a man in his 50s forcing himself sexually on a little girl is repugnant to us; in fact, it is a major societal taboo and the act itself is illegal. Nor did he admit that slaughtering 800 non-combatants in one day and then raping a woman whose husband, brother and father you had personally killed is not what we consider a nice way to top off a genocide; instead, Mr. Fatah called this an "astonishing account" and accused Dr. Sultan of "catering to the fears of her predominantly Jewish audience."

As if Mr. Fatah had never heard about either of these Islamic facts before. Worse: as if we were too stupid or ill-informed to have ever heard of these Islamic facts before.

So who are we to believe, a "moderate Muslim" or Islamic doctrine?

We know that Islamic law forbids non-Muslims from questioning or criticizing Islam or Mohammed (see #3). In his debate with Wafa Sultan, Daniel Pipes characterized an Islamist as a Muslim who is actively working to have Sharia law enforced. We know that Mr. Fatah fought against the legalization of Sharia in Ontario, which would indicate that he is not an Islamist. How, then, can we reconcile Mr. Fatah's well-deserved reputation as a "moderate Muslim" with his attempt to enforce a kind of socially-imposed Sharia on us?

We can't. We can't do it because we're using the wrong yardstick.

We have to stop comparing Muslims to Muslims and start comparing them to those of us (in any country, of any religion or non-religion) who believe in and stand up for freedom: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and so on.

Compared to some Muslims, Tarek Fatah is a moderate Muslim. That's great. Let the Muslims use Muslim yardsticks; we need to start using our own yardsticks again.

How does Tarek Fatah – how does any Muslim – compare to us?

Based on his editorial in last Friday's National Post:

* He had no compunction about using placing the life of a vulnerable woman at increased risk.

Men in our culture have been taught to protect women.

* He expressed no outrage against the rape of a child but instead insulted a woman for talking about it.

Men in our culture have been taught to protect children.

* He was angry that an audience of 800 people (mostly Jews, but not all) had the audacity to allow Dr. Sultan to state her opinions about Islamic doctrine and Mohammed's actions.

We practice freedom of speech and freedom of religion. We like to hear all sides of an issue and make up our own minds.

* Despite having worked as a journalist when he lived in Pakistan, he used a Canadian newspaper to distort Dr. Sultan's message by accusing her of wishing for the conversion or death of all Muslims – despite her clear statements to the contrary – and making up quotes. By the way, the quote that he attributed to Dr. Pipes was also fabricated.

We hold our journalists to a higher standard.

And on it goes.

I no longer care if anyone is a "moderate Muslim". As far as I am concerned, Tarek Fatah has proven that the term is useless to those of us who care about preserving our Western civilization.

(Exit Question: I don't know what to call this new/old yardstick. It can't be specific to a country, a race or a religion. I keep thinking about the U.S. Declaration of Independence: that's the kind of freedom I believe in and that's the kind of person I'm talking about. Does anyone have any ideas?)

Update: Welcome, readers of Scaramouche and Closet Conservative!

Update #2: Mississauga Matt has posted video of Tarek Fatah on tonight's Michael Coren Show in which Mr. Fatah discusses his reaction to the debate.

Update #3: Welcome, readers of Blazing Cat Fur!

Update #4: Welcome, readers of The Daily Rasp!

Update #5: Welcome, readers of Steyn Online!