The emasculation of Juan Cole continues..
Mary Madigan
..this time, Cole himself is responsible.
On his site, Informed Comment, Arabist Juan Cole has responded to Steven Vincent's widow's criticism.
In his response he displays the intellectual weight and the personal dignity of a tantrum-spewing five year old. He calls people names, he shows his contempt (and fear of?) women, he stomps his little feet and he just doesn't understand why clueless Americans keep picking on him.
Of course, since Cole is an American, and, by his definition, clueless, he may never figure it out.
When you read this, remember that this is a college professor. This is a spokesman for the Left. This was a grown man. This is Juan Cole:
The wingnuts are going crazy over this contretemps, which is what is really interesting. I think it is because Vincent is a symbol for the pro-War American Right. He was inspired to his journalism in Iraq by September 11. That was his first mistake. The poor Iraqis had nothing to do with September 11...[Americans are "clueless" because we don't approve of gender segregation?]..Everything I have said here is true. Clueless Americans don't understand the principle of gender segregation for the most part, and if they do understand it they are horrified by it...
.. But in large swathes of the world, it just is not considered right for a male to be in the company of an unrelated female. It isn't just a matter of sleeping around, as my wingnut correspondents assume.[the use of the word "wingnut" indicates intellectual maturity and restraint..]
Clueless Americans don't understand gender segregation, and they don't understand clan honor as practiced in most Arab societies. We American men aren't dishonored in particular if our sisters sleep around, though I suppose in high school it can't be pleasant for a guy to have everyone taunt him that his sister is a slut. But in Arab culture, a brother can't show his face in public if his sister is known to be a slut.The things that come out of his mouth. In his attempt to explain the concept of honor, Cole demonstrates that he has none. When Lisa Ramaci-Vincent said "whatever Cole's qualifications, they do not seem to include really important virtues, such as decency, humanity, kindness, compassion and charity", she was absolutely right.
* Update * More from Mrs. Vincent on Murdoc's page.
Cole brings to mind the old adage about being thought a fool and opening your mouth to prove it.
Cheers,