What is it about people on the far right that makes them so gullible when it comes to conspiracy theories? One would think that anyone with a reasonable amount of intelligence would actually do some research before writing letters to the editor with wild accusations, but obviously that’s not the case.
Over the years, Dee Gibney has written some particularly cringe-worthy letters. A case in point is her letter in the June 8th Bitterroot Star, where she writes:
“So many still think bringing Syrian refugees here would be ok! Wake up and see what the Muslims are doing here in our country. There is a college professor in Tennessee who teaches Islamic studies and is very popular, of course, with Muslims students. Just so you know, this man, Abu Ammaar Yasir Kazi, is American born and doesn’t think too much of Americans! In his lectures he tells his students that those who are not of the Islamic faith are of no value, they are the most evil of evil, they are filthy, and are an impure dirty substance. He says he is commanded to fight us until we convert to Islam. He also states that Muslims should take non-believers lives and property, it is free for the taking. Since women are considered property in Muslim culture those women who are non-Muslim can be taken as sex slaves.”
Well, I did some research, and here’s what I found out:
First, the professor in question is Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi (Gibney couldn’t even spell his name correctly), and he is an adjunct at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN.
Second, there is a right-wing-promoted, audio-only video circulating that makes it seem as if Qadhi said the terrible things Gibney claims. That video, however, has been proven to be a fake. As Qadhi writes in his defense:
“This audio clip is a shoddy cut-and-paste job from a lengthy theological series (around 15 hours of audio) I gave many years ago, discussing the reality of the Islamic concept of shirk (associating partners with Allah). The series had absolutely nothing to do with politics or jihad. Rather, some theological statements from that lecture have been taped together and made to look political. The audio recording as it stands is a complete distortion. Someone literally took sentences from different parts of that series and constructed a very menacing sounding paragraph in my voice. As such, that paragraph in the audio clip is a complete fabrication.”
Additionally, Rhodes College investigated the matter, and agreed that the video was doctored. That’s why Qadhi still has his job!
Third, Qadhi has been a critic of terrorism and ISIS has targeted him for assassination.
I don’t expect right wingers will listen to me, but I had a great argumentative writing teacher in high school. She taught me the difference between legitimate and fallacious sources. She also taught me to check multiple sources, not just the ones that fit my belief system. Over the years, I have tried to closely follow my teacher’s advice every time I write something. Dee Gibney, and others like her, either didn’t have an equally fine teacher, or they’ve just chosen not to pay attention.
Marty Essen
Victor