VERSION|0.5.1|SUBJECT|On the plus side...|CONTENT|On the plus side, this site gets mentioned in the same breath as Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins. Very much on the down side, I think I&#039;m being labelled an Islamophobe.

[url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/119099845/Anti-Muslim-Racism]http://www.scribd.com/doc/119099845/Anti-Muslim-Racism[/url].

[blockquote]In unsettled and unsettling situations human beings look around for scapegoats or, in a different metaphor, for lightning conductors with which to name and channel their anxiety and ensuing anger. Muslims are not the causes of the anxieties; they may nevertheless get to be blamed for them. [SNIP] The search for convenient scapegoats is additionally fuelled by concerns, programmes and agendas such as the following: 

[SNIP] 

- widespread scepticism, as articulated by for example ‘Hitchkins’ (Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens) and the Platitude of the Day website, towards religious beliefs and institutions – all religion, not just Islam – mixed with resentment and perhaps even envy towards those who claim religious certainty[/blockquote]

Just for the record, I don&#039;t consider myself an Islamophobe. As Robin Richardson, the author of the above points out, all religions receive equal treatment here. Islam is not singled out for special treatment.

Nor have I ever sought to scapegoat Muslims for anything. If a couple of Muslims insist on coming on TFTD and saying silly things then I do the same thing as I do when all religious people come on TFTD and say silly things. Likewise, when they say sensible things, that gets acknowledged too.

As for resentment or envy, I suppose there are people that I resent or envy. Can&#039;t say I&#039;ve noticed that they&#039;re particularly Muslim.

Anyone who knows this site well, knows that I clamp down quickly on any sort of hate speech, no matter who it might be directed at. Hell, I get quite annoyed when people are just rude. Of all the atheist sites on the internet, quite why this one should be singled out as being particularly Islamophobic is beyond me. 

It sounds to me like part of the constant attempt to shut down criticism of religion in general and Islam in particular. It won&#039;t work.|CATEGORIES|11|IP-ADDRESS|94.168.119.214|CREATEDBY|admin|DATE|1357489222