Dawkins on Alien Rubbish

[JimC]

I find it surprising that Dawkins managed to avoid putting his feet into the 'ethnic-debate' quagmire before now. Especially given how religion and ethnicity are so often linked.

He hasn't. In 2007 Dawkins said: "When you think about how fantastically successful the Jewish lobby has been, though, in fact, they are less numerous I am told - religious Jews anyway - than atheists and [yet they] more or less monopolise American foreign policy as far as many people can see. So if atheists could achieve a small fraction of that influence, the world would be a better place." All hell broke loose. Dawkins was accused being anti-Semitic, slandering religion, and asserting victimhood. Just goes to show that you can't say anything if you want to avoid being accused of racism or slander.

Fair point, although I think he was following an anti-religion agenda rather than the political realities - the Jewish pro-Israeli lobby in the US is really a Zionist lobby, and is not limited to religious Jews as such...

My take is that he expressed his admiration for the bang per person the Jewish lobby managed to achieve in comparison to whatever the atheist lobby has managed so far. The key sentence is: "So if atheists could achieve a small fraction of that influence, the world would be a better place." I don't see how his reference to "religious Jews" makes him ipso facto anti-Semitic, let alone racist.

No, it doesn't make him racist or anti-semitic, they would definitely be unfair attacks.

However, he is a little blinkered, and unaware of political nuances; that was my point...

[Magicziggy]

This is an analysis of intention. A rather pointless endeavor. However, fwiw; I think he used the words that are in his vocabulary to express the forceful opinion of how non sensical the science teachings in faith schools are. His vocabulary is wide and he is deliberate in his speech and written word. When I read his words I listen to them through his voice. I've heard him speak and seen him on YouTube and tv many times. I have no doubt about the intention and it wasn't to convey a subliminal message. It was outright frustration and annoyance that this ALIEN RUBBISH is being taught to students in British schools.

How can this be? What should we be doing about it? What will happen if we do nothing?

But as I say, it's all rather pointless. Only he knows, right.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

In sum, this is just another attempt to slander the man.

[Atheist-Lite]

In sum, this is just another attempt to slander the man.

It also slanders aliens who are being compared with muslims but may be in advance of humans by miliions of years.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

In sum, this is just another attempt to slander the man.

It also slanders aliens who are being compared with muslims but may be in advance of humans by miliions of years.

Alien women wear burkhas in Saudi scifi movies.

[Clinton Huxley]

In sum, this is just another attempt to slander the man.

It also slanders aliens who are being compared with muslims but may be in advance of humans by miliions of years.

Alien women wear burkhas in Saudi scifi movies.

And they aint allowed to fly the UFOs.

[Jason]

Okay, go tell him that. I'm sure he'll consult with you in the future regarding word usage.

Sounds like, apart from yet another attempt to needle me, you agree with me. In any event, you haven't really come up with anything convincing to suggest that I've misinterpreted Dawkins's motivation. The fact is, he's an absolute bigot, and he uses language to match.

Yet again, you're the one making bald claims about facts. And yet again, you've proffered not a shred of evidence.

This is a war on religion and Dawkins is fanning the flames with propaganda and you ask for evidence?

The irony ...

I don't think he's doing that at all. He's commenting on real aspects of how Islamic practice affects education and women. Misrepresenting that as an intention to create further ethnic division is either misunderstanding his intent or disingenuous mischaracterisation.

I don't appreciate being accused of being disingenuous.

I don't know his intent, and neither does anyone else except Dick Dawkins himself and if it was his intent then he's not likely to share that with anyone is he?

Anyway, I'm done discussing this issue. I'm not interested in trading insults or being insulted.

[HomerJay]

More feedback from the muslim community but still no mention of the Alien word.

It's starting to look like people are being offended on their behalf.

[Robert_S]

More feedback from the muslim community but still no mention of the Alien word.

It's starting to look like people are being offended on their behalf.

What the helling fuck would they know about what's offensive to them? They're an oppressed minority and probably suffer from false consciousness from the manipulations of the evil imperialistic media machine and brainwave control psy-ops.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's starting to look like people are being offended on their behalf.

It's a case of being pouncy and poncy, nothing more.

[Coito ergo sum]

Does anyone actually disagree with the assertion that Muslim schools teaching children to believe the Koran over evidence are awful and deserving of significant criticism?

[charlou]

^ That's pretty much what I've asked Exi.

[charlou]

This is a war on religion and Dawkins is fanning the flames with propaganda and you ask for evidence?

The irony ...

I don't think he's doing that at all. He's commenting on real aspects of how Islamic practice affects education and women. Misrepresenting that as an intention to create further ethnic division is either misunderstanding his intent or disingenuous mischaracterisation.

I don't appreciate being accused of being disingenuous.

I don't know his intent, and neither does anyone else except Dick Dawkins himself and if it was his intent then he's not likely to share that with anyone is he?

Anyway, I'm done discussing this issue. I'm not interested in trading insults or being insulted.

It seems I'm the one who has misunderstood you. I'm sorry, PF.

[Robert_S]

Does anyone actually disagree with the assertion that Muslim schools teaching children to believe the Koran over evidence are awful and deserving of significant criticism?

If I were racist against groups that had a high Islamic infection rate, then I'd encourage that sort of thing so as to have an excuse to point and laugh at them.

[Coito ergo sum]

Does anyone actually disagree with the assertion that Muslim schools teaching children to believe the Koran over evidence are awful and deserving of significant criticism?

If I were racist against groups that had a high Islamic infection rate, then I'd encourage that sort of thing so as to have an excuse to point and laugh at them.

I don't know what you mean.