Call for Bush to stop using 'Islamic fascists' (Feingold)

[sabra]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14800287/from/RS.2/

Call for Bush to stop using 'Islamic fascists'
Feingold says term offensive and unconnected to global terrorism fight

WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold called on President Bush to refrain from using the phrase "Islamic fascists," saying it was offensive to Muslims and has nothing to do with global terrorists fighting the United States.

"We must avoid using misleading and offensive terms that link Islam with those who subvert this great religion or who distort its teachings to justify terrorist activities," Feingold said Tuesday in a speech to the Arab American Institute on Capitol Hill.

The Wisconsin senator, a potential 2008 presidential candidate, said the label "Islamic fascists" makes no sense and doesn't help the U.S. effort to combat terrorism.

"Fascist ideology doesn't have anything to do with the way global terrorist networks think or operate, and it doesn't have anything to do with the overwhelming majority of Muslims around the world who practice the peaceful teachings of Islam," Feingold said.

[bluestateguy]

1. No, no let him use it

just so long as we can call Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell Christian fascists.

[donco6]

2. Christians can't be fascists.

Don't you know? When you're right about everything, and God is giving you an inside track into eternal truth, it's not fascism. Think of it more as benevolent dictatorship.

[aquart]

3. But they have to use it to defuse its power.

By making fascist a generic rather than specific evil, it ceases to have meaning when accurately applied, as in Republican fascists, neocon fascists.

[hughee99]

6. Is it too late?

IMHO, the term "fascist" has been overused to the point of taking almost all real meaning out of it anyway, and it's not just the repukes that are doing it.

[aquart]

17. It is not over-used if used correctly.

That is simply factual description and repetition sticks in the mind....as TV commercials prove daily.

The deliberate use in incorrect contexts is what is causing the dilution of meaning. This is not a case of six of one, half a dozen of the other. This is deliberate language sabotage. For the purpose of covering their own fascist asses.

I really hate when people bend over backwards to be fair to the unfair.

[hughee99]

21. Here's what I'm saying...

I've heard about the "fascists" at Starbucks who refused to honor an online coupon, the "fascist" who ratted out his teacher for what he lectured his class about, the "fascists" who voted for "Crash" instead of "Brokeback Mountain", and the "fascists" who took Mike Malloy off the air. I'll admit that I'm not that familiar with the people who run Starbucks, the kid in Colorado (I think) who taped his teacher, the names of anyone who voted for Crash for best picture, or the people actually responsible for Malloy leaving AAR, but I find it hard to believe that they all fit the definition of fascists.

Yes, the word fascist gets thrown around often, especially here on DU, and sometimes appropriately, but how often have you seen it used seemingly interchangeably with generic terms like asshole or fuckwit? I'm not trying to be the language police here, if someone wants to call the guy who puts up "Keep off the Lawn" signs in his yard a fascist, go ahead. People can use the word however they like, just don't be surprised when it starts to lose it's true meaning.

[Ragin_mad]

4. Islamic fascists is an incorect toerm anyways

Islamic genocidist is a much more correct term.

[Bridget Burke]

7. Nope.

Try again.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Perhaps he meant...

"my muslim counterparts."

[KyndCulture]

10. uh yeah sure.

[sui generis]

5. yeah and Seinman woulda sucked with the "Soup Fascist"

actually I'm of the mind that every time we react to name calling we're not attacking. There is no call to decency with this administration that has ever had the effect of them doing anything but ratcheting up the rhetoric another notch.

I am all for our public leaders openly referring to the republican administration as war mongering child molesting poor hating bank robbing self-enriching godless perverts smearing the good name of christians everywhere.

They wouldn't be able to STOP sputtering.

[jrw14125]

8. ya but it sure makes a good bumpersticker...

[maxsolomon]

11. i object to the term "great religion"

i fail to see what is so great about any monotheism, and if any religion needs an enlightenment, its islam.

[ShortnFiery]

12. Hey Pres, it sounds spooky but "fascist" is an inaccurate term for

Al Quaeda, Inc.

Fascism sounds more of an USA Neo-Con aspiration to me. ;)

FASCISM: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.

[geardaddy]

14. Ding ding ding!

[mark414]

13. i think this is an unpopular thing to say, but i call bullshit

on the idea that islam is a peaceful religion. like hell it's not! have you read the koran? the crazy muslims and the crazy christians aren't the ones perverting religion...they're following the book to a T.

but my man russ is right that it's the wrong term to use.

[bunny planet]

15. Why doesn't someone just ask him what the definition of fascism is.

He either won't know or won't say (I'm betting on won't know because....well), because the true definition is of course a closer description of his own administration, extreme nationalism combined with rampant corporatism. The person who asks him should have the real definition handy, perhaps read off some of the 16 signs of fascism while he or she is at it. The blivet can't handle that question and it'll become clear that the term he's been using is totally misleading.

[elehhhhna]

16. I know a Translator for the Mil. He is Iranian. His son

is ROTC in HS here in TX & speaks flawless Persian, Spanish & English--and wants to do what his Dad does. They are a fine family. (DEMS, btw)

HOW THE FUCK DOES GW EXPECT to recruit OR retain these American Patriots (AKA High Value Assets) while he uses this bullshit rhetoric?

This deperately stupid pResident is off is rocker and should be removed , tried, convicted, and etc.

[YOY]

18. What the hell was wrong with calling them "Religious Fundementalists"

Oh I forgot, you woudln't want to get them confused with OUR religous fundementalists who are such 'nice people', right?

[Pacifist Patriot]

20. Fundamentalist doesn't work for these groups either.

Fundamentalist implies getting back to the fundamentals of a faith. The original "correct" teachings. I've yet to meet a fundamentalist doctrine that remotely resembles the teachings of the founder, be he Jesus, Paul or Muhammed.

Religious Extremist is as close as I've been able to come for my personal comfort. I'm sure there is a better phrase out there.

[LynnTheDem]

19. bush (like another figure in history) is a Christian fascist.

And the other figure? I don't mean Timothy McVeigh.