A reader (Martyn) has asked me to re-visit the word ‘Islamophobia.’
He writes: ‘Etymologically I understand its meaning to be a fear of Islam. However, many people don’t fear Islam, but they dislike it. I wonder why we don’t provide an alternative term, using the ancient Greek prefix of ‘miso’ meaning dislike -- e.g. misoislam? Some may find that offensive, but we are happy to apply it to men who dislike women (misogyny), or women who dislike men (misandry)—so why not misoislam?’
Martyn’s new word is unlikely to catch on, but there is a problem with ‘Islamophobia’ isn’t there?
The Oxford says that it means: ‘Intense dislike or fear of Islam, especially as a political force.’
And to dislike or fear the political intentions of Islamists makes perfect sense. Just a glance at the history of Iran since 1979 makes that clear.
But the word ‘Islamophobia’ is still a badly formed word.
And here’s the reason: this is one of a group of words are modelled on ‘homophobia’ which is recorded from the 1960s to the name opposition to the promotion of homosexuality.
That was a badly formed word, because it was based on the absurd notion that anyone who opposed the promotion of homosexuality must be afraid of homosexuality—when clearly Christianity (to take just one example) had been teaching for 2,000 years that homosexual behaviour is not part of God’ plan for his creation.
So that word was badly formed.
And every word using it as model (transphobia etc.) is similarly badly formed.
We must be allowed to be critical of Islamism with being labelled ‘Islamophobic’—that’s what matters.
If every word of criticism is silenced then we will be living in slave society, not a free one.
'Islamophobia' is an important topic -- and I'll have more to say about it tomorrow.
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