The Jewel of Medina: More Cowardice in the West

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
by Gary Fouse

Add Random House Publishing House to the list of cowardly Westerners who are submitting to the threat of Islamic anger. Now the esteemed publisher has announced that they are suspending publication of a controversial novel by Sherry Jones entitled; The Jewel of Medina-an account of the marriage of the Prophet Mohammed with an 11-year-old bride, Aisha. The author's Serbian publisher has also pulled the book. In the case of Random House, the decision was made upon the protest of a non-Muslim US professor. The Serbian publisher made the decision in response to the protest of a local Muslim group. After Random House sent out advance copies of the book, they received a protest from University of Texas Professor Denise Spellberg, who derided the book and warned the publisher that it would incite violent reactions from Muslims. (Why is it always the professors?)

In the Serbian case, when the publisher announced that the book was being pulled, an organization called the Islamic Community of Serbia accepted the "apology" and announced that planned protests would be called off.In her defense, Ms Jones denies any intent to portray Islam or the Prophet Mohammed in a bad light, and expressed disappointment with the decisions to pull the book.

What is disappointing is to witness another case of non-Muslims caving in to the threat of Islamic reaction, real or imagined. Random House states that they have received no protests from Muslims regarding the book. Apparently, Professor Spellberg speaks for them. I can't speak for Serbia, but US publishers like Random House would do well to contemplate the whole issue of censorship-and self-censorship. When it comes to the history of Islam, given the present-day situation in the world with Islamic terrorism, which, many would argue, is rooted in Islamic writings, we all have an intense interest in the true nature of this religion and its implications for the rest of us in the world. If, in fact, Mohammed took an 11-year-old wife, that is a legitimate issue for our consideration. If it is historical fact, then how can we suppress it? If Mohammed took an 11-year-old wife, are we not entitled to know of it?

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Gary Fouse is a regular contributor to Radarsite with his popular and incisive Fouse Report.

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A note from Radarsite: Thank you Gary for this disturbing -- no, this infuriating heads up. I doubt that I'm the only one around here who's finding it more and more embarrassing to admit to being a member of this chicken-hearted Western Civilization.

We are making Neville Chamberlain look like Clint Eastwood by comparison to our own pathetic compromises and concessions to our enemies. And here is another one. Why don't we just tear down that Statue of Liberty and replace it with some great Saudi mosque?
And just who is this Denise Spellberg, this modern female Judas? Ms. Spellberg is an associate professor at the University of Texas in Austin. And, surprise, surprise, her fields of expertise are in Middle Eastern Studies and Women's Studies. Any questions here about her political leanings? Spellberg has advocated the protection of the civil rights of Americans, telling a seminar audience on “Preventing another September 11,” that, “Now more than ever, all of us need to stand together. United is not simply against violence but for the protection of the religions and civil rights of all citizens of this country.” I wonder whose civil rights Ms. Spellberg is concerned about here? The Mormons? The Jews? The Christian community in general?
Evidently, she has written extensively and reverently on the life of the child bride Aisha, calling her story "sacred history". "I felt it my duty," she stated in a recent letter to the Wall Street Journal, "to warn the press of the novel's potential to provoke anger among some Muslims."

Well, Ms. Spellberg, I would suggest that you have another, higher duty. The duty of remaining a loyal citizen of the United States, the duty to do your part in protecting your country from its enemies during this time of utmost peril. Not only are you forfeiting this sacred duty, but by finding opportunities to defend and protect our sworn enemies you have committed treachery. And despite your erudite admonishments to the contrary, Islam is most certainly our sworn enemy, the sworn enemy of all Western Civilization, of all freed societies and democracies everywhere. By espousing the Islamic cause you have turned your back on your own country and your own people.

Sleep well, Professor Spellberg, and know that despite the fact that they have nothing but contempt for your "Women's Studies", and indeed for your own sacred femininity, the jihadis nonetheless value you for your tireless work on their behalf. - rg

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