Ramadan dodged this author’s questions …
Ramadan dodged this author’s questions
Weisberg had asked me at the outset whether I thought Ramadan said different things to different audiences, and whether I thought he evaded hard questions about the conflicts between the open society and fundamentalism. On the first, I said no—he has no hidden agenda, he’s an open book, and it’s essentially moderate. On the second, I said I wasn’t sure and hoped to find out. By the end of the evening, I knew the answer. Ramadan is building a worthy bridge on a rotten foundation.
mirelle, 
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee, 
abd-ul-satya, and 1 other are discussing.
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee 8:18 am on April 10, 2010 Permalink
Based on my reading of Ramadan’s works, I actually kinda agree that his ideas are not necessarily original and that his message is more needed and more closely fit to the European reality than the American one. Still, he is an eloquent exponent of a viewpoint that finds resonance among American Muslims and he has credibility with Muslim audiences.
I don’t understand what Packer wants here — Tariq Ramadan has to say explicitly that his grandfather Hasan al-Banna was a Nazi anti-semite? And if he won’t say that, we should suspect that he is one? What a bizarre way of thinking. In any event, the fact that Ramadan has such critics will only give him more credibility amongst Muslims.
InshAllah I am going to the CAIR-Chicago dinner tonight with Tariq Ramadan.
mirelle 8:31 am on April 11, 2010 Permalink
How was it?
I’m personally glad that Ramadan is able to come to the USA and speak.
Abu Noor Al-Irlandee 10:55 am on April 11, 2010 Permalink
It was quite good and very well received by the audience. Perhaps I’ll write more about it later.
mirelle 7:06 pm on April 11, 2010 Permalink
Please do. I live in flyover country and famous intellectuals like Ramadan don’t usually make it out this way.
Tec15 9:24 am on April 10, 2010 Permalink
Packer’s questions are nothing more than the beloved of decentists.
abd-ul-satya 3:04 pm on April 10, 2010 Permalink
I agree that asking people to denounce their grandfathers, etc. is generally a lame tactic. His second question was lame, too. Presumably, many Muslims would argue that “inherent in human beings” and “granted by the authority of” the Quran are not distinct or exclusive categories.