Bobby Jindal (cc photo: Derek Bridges)
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is still spreading the myth of Muslim “no-go zones” in Europe–and even claiming that they will come to the United States (CNN, 1/21/15). Declared Jindal in a London speech:
In the West, non-assimilationist Muslims establish enclaves and carry out as much of Sharia law as they can without regard for the laws of the democratic countries which provided them a new home.
When CNN International correspondent Max Foster challenged Jindal to name an actual “no-go zone,” Jindal offered this non-answer: “I think your viewers know absolutely there are places where the police are less likely to go.”
Arsalan Iftikhar on MSNBC before the ban.
In response, human rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar (aka “The Muslim Guy“) opined on MSNBC (1/19/15):
I think Governor Jindal is protesting a bit too much. He might be trying to scrub some of the brown off of his skin as he runs to the right in a Republican presidential exploratory bid.
This statement prompted MSNBC to ban Iftikhar from the network deeming his comments “offensive” and “unacceptable” (Mediaite, 1/20/15).
But Iftikhar was merely suggesting that there is prejudice based on skin color in our political culture–hardly a far-fetched claim–and that non-white politicians like Jindal may tend to bash other minorities (in this case, Muslims) in order to avoid the consequences of this prejudice. (Iftikhar’s use of the skin-scrubbing metaphor indicates that he finds this a futile endeavor.)
Jindal has a history of invoking his background as an Indian-American raised in an Hindu household–only to climactically emphasize his ultimate conversion to Christianity, which he calls “the most significant moment” in his life. He received laurels for highlighting this part of his life story in his commencement address at Liberty University, a private Christian (and right-wing) university (Times-Picayune, 5/10/14; Washington Post, 5/12/14).
Emphasizing a politician’s Christian credentials, of whatever skin color, obviously appeals to the Republican Party’s religious base, but with Jindal it has the added benefit of positioning himself as a child of immigrants who has changed his worldview to conform to the beliefs of the majority.
As Iftikhar suggested, Jindal does devote considerable effort to criticizing minority groups who don’t fit in as well with American majority self-image. This strategy was on full display in Jindal’s softball interview with Fox News host Neil Cavuto (1/21/15), where Jindal was allowed to spread as much fear as he wanted:
There are neighborhoods in the UK and in France that have been documented, very well-documented by Ambassador [John] Bolton and others, where there are attempts to impose Sharia law. There are neighborhoods where women do not feel comfortable walking in without veils.
He also added his obsession with cultural assimilation:
But absolutely there are neighborhoods where you have communities of people that don’t want to integrate, don’t want to assimilate…. They’re actually going in there to colonize, to overtake the culture. That’s what going to happen in America if we’re not careful.
Cavuto shied away from directly challenging the validity of Jindal’s specific claims. Instead, Cavuto asked Jindal to respond to Iftikhar’s ban from MSNBC, react to a statement from the Democratic National Committee and reaffirm whether or not he would back off his original claims. (Jindal responded, “Absolutely not.”) In effect, Cavuto gave Jindal a platform to promote his rhetoric without any scrutiny. It’s almost as if Fox News wanted to apologize for its apology for its “no-go zone” coverage by bringing on a guest who would espouse the same false rhetoric.
MSNBC was quick to punish the Muslim guy who made a blunt observation about a minority member obsessed with assimilation. Meanwhile, Bobby Jindal is free to roam media circles, fearmongering around a discredited notion that treats Muslims as alien invaders. If he can keep this up, maybe he’ll prove Iftikhar wrong by showing that it really is possible to overcome prejudice by playing to prejudice.
Embrace of racism when directed at an ideological opponent is hardly unique to FAIR, but it is one example of why I became disenchanted with professional leftists.
From MSNBC, another object lesson in the contextual cluelessness, to be kind, that connotes true “political correctness”, in contrast to the epithet hurled at those who challenge prejudice and demand respect for all.
I’ve been subject to both.
“Jindal has a history of invoking his background as an Indian-American raised in an Hindu household–only to climatically emphasize his ultimate conversion to Christianity …”
What — in addition to being an idiot, he’s also a global warming denier?
(An Hindu?)
Jindal has destroyed the governmental structure of Louisiana, sold off state assets to please his masters, hugely dropped their taxes and has one of the worst approval ratings in the U.S. He’s been a full time Koch ‘ho’ for years, traveling back and forth to back candidates like John Kasich and Scott Walker. Liberty is “Jerry Falwell” U., just like Regents is “Pat Roberts” U.
Jindal is hyphenated, actually. He is an idiot-charlatan.
Since the right is so obsessed with “Barack Hussein Obama”, why does nobody call Piyush Jindal by his real name?
In any case, the real no-go zones are those of the wealthy, behind guarded gates.
I’ve seen the “no go zones’ first hand. The Muslims aren’t being marginalized or shunned by the French, they have no intention of assimilating into French society. I get tired of hearing that some how the French are not accepting the Muslims, they have more than accommodated the imigtants who brazenly establish their areas and have many children while the French are too busy worrying about the cost of 1 child, the Muslims procreate as much as they can. Someday soon the Muslim minority will gain enough critical mass to make France their own. They will do the same in Spain and any other country foolish enough to let themselves be invaded willingly by a group of people more than eager to take advantage of the west’s weakness of politically correct multiculturalism.
Sound xenophobic? Xenophobia is an IRRATIONAL FEAR of immigrants, a paranoid fear not supported by reality. The islamicification of Europe is happening right before the eyes of the Europeans. Can’t call it xenophobia.
The Muslims don’t want to conform to Europe, Europe will accommodate islam, and Islam will flourish while the aging childless population of Europe fade away.
People can ridicule religion all they want but the power and the built in evolutionary survival of organized religion is the true wisdom of the word of god. In 1000 years there will still be islam but the eurozone will be a foggy memory. The catholic church protects Europe from invasion for hundreds of yeard but its become hip to trash the catholic church and as well as the jews and muslims. Charlie Hebdo represents the naive mentality of European culture. 10% Muslim population is already too late. Who’s to blame? Not Islam or immigrants. The French crafted their own demise.
You fomenters are a real bunch of geniuses, judging by the childish commentary lacking in any facts and void of insight of any kind. Fair.org? Better name would be fail.org, just saying :)
I haven’t seen any Muslim bashing, oh but weren’t 40+ churches burned down during riots in Nigeria? How many mosques have been burned? I don’t think anyone needs to worry about Muslim bashing, but churches should be afraid and the Jews living in France.
Scott: I’m very interested in what you have written. You have provided first-hand experience. Now, give us an example of a European city or district that is a no-go zone.
I point out that another person in the news has played a similar role as Jindal: Bill Cosby. White conservatives just love it when a black man admonishes the black community. It confirms their own racism. “See, don’t take my word for it; just listen to Bill Cosby.” And now we have Ben Webster.
Scott is a regular birdbrain. Anti-Muslim violence has been a staple of Western Society for a long time, and is much worse presently.
“The National Observatory Against Islamophobia said 116 anti-Muslim incidents had been reported to authorities since the January 7-9 shooting spree by three French jihadists that killed 17. The two-week tally was more than double the number of incidents recorded for the full month of January 2014, the observatory said, reporting 28 attacks on places of worship and 88 threats.”
In the U.S., Muslims have been fatally attacked by bombers from the Jewish Defense League.
Scott, like JB said, what city did you witness this “No Go Zone” in? What Year?
I’m not passing judgement. I’m not being snarky. But I would like to know the particulars.
Pancho: I disagree. Ben Webster lives! He, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Billie Holiday, and a whole host of others still play in that Great Jam Session in the Sky.
You are right; I meant Ben Carson, our dear Dr. Ben. You know, it is rather inevitable, I guess, that he becomes a fool, a libertarian. He views himself as a self-made man. I wish in no way to detract from his accomplishment, he coming from humble origins. But any successful person of course has had many helping hands along the way–a whole social support structure. As it should be. As it often isn’t for someone black. But to develop a right-wing, pull-yerself-up-by-the boot-straps ideology that the Republicans just love, well I think he should think again.
He is a deeply religious man. I think he must thank God each day for where he is. Hmmm . . . is that consistent with libertarianism? I’ve made myself . . . but then I thank God for it . . . Oh well, God helps those who help themselves!
Isn’t religion wonderful? so flexible? ou can bend it to any conclusion you want.
I guess I should point out to those who don’t understand why Republicans and others defenders of the rights of property (I call them Democrats) love that “pull-yerself-up-by-the-bootstraps” ideology so much. It’s used as the basis for justifying the abolishment of anything that stands in the way of maximizing profits–abolish the EPA, abolish the Board of Education, abolish unions, abolish the minimum wage, abolish universal health care, pensions, social security, and so forth. Pull yerself up by the bootstraps. Trickle down theory, my lads! When the private sector benefits, then it’s mash potatoes and gravy for everyone (well, maybe not the vegans). I hope someday to grow up and be a professional leftist. Most of them are so unprofessional.
before bashing Jindal do some research.
here is a place to start: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2367/european-muslim-no-go-zones
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2367/european-muslim-no-go-zones