Video: Ayaan Hirsi Ali argues with Alan Colmes about Islam
posted at 9:19 am on February 6, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Her new book, “Infidel” (shouldn’t it be “Apostate”?), is out today, prompting a rare AHA sighting last night on American television. Hannity probably wanted her on as one of the main segments and Colmes probably didn’t want her on at all, so they compromised: they gave her three minutes at the very end of the show, right before a segment on Whoopi Goldberg.
More than enough time for a little fun at Colmesy’s expense, though.
The Guardian published a red-meat interview-slash-book-review last weekend. Quote:
‘Tariq Ramadan is filled with contempt for Muslims because he believes they have no faculties of reason,’ she replies in a beguilingly friendly tone, as though she had remarked that he had an excellent taste in shirts. ‘If I say that terrorism is created in the name of Islam suddenly they take up terrorism? He gives me so much more power than I have. Why don’t my remarks make him turn to terrorism? Because he’s above that. Like many believers in multiculturalism, he puts himself on a higher plane…’
She also argues that it’s important to address white liberals because they need to overcome the self-censoring effects of post-colonial guilt. ‘If you want to feel guilty,’ snaps Hirsi Ali, ‘feel guilty that you didn’t bring John Stuart Mill and left us only with the Koran. It doesn’t help to say my forefathers oppressed your forefathers, and remain guilty forever.’…
She characterises the manner in which liberals sidestep such details as a confusion of facts and strategy. ‘Some people will accept that Islam is backward but they’re not going to say that because Muslims will be offended. “We want them to become liberals, so we’re just going to trick them into a secular humanistic way of thinking.”‘ At this she lets out a giggle, as if tickled by the absurdity of the idea. ‘But people are aware of what’s going on. That’s why many Muslims are suspicious of liberals. Because they know they are not being taken seriously.’
Perhaps a more telling symbol of the growing cultural gap between mainstream Western society and doctrinaire Islam is the veil. Again Hirsi Ali does not look around for a fence to sit on. ‘The veil,’ she says, ‘is to show that women are responsible for the sexual self-control of men.’ It’s a surgical observation, cutting right through to the bone of the issue. She goes on to note that in all communities where the veil is actively observed boys are not taught to restrain themselves. ‘They look upon all those who are not veiled as women who are looking for sexual contact and they just go about molesting and being a nuisance.’
Update: MM tells me she’s trying to schedule an interview with Hirsi Ali for Vent.
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I have such a crush on AHA. Brilliant and beautiful. Just the way I like ‘em!
JasonG on February 6, 2007 at 9:33 AM
That pretty much defines Alan Colmes, doesn’t it?
Lawrence on February 6, 2007 at 9:37 AM
She gets a few of my bucks today. They should have canned Whoppie and given her more time. Glad to contribute to her security fund.
Limerick on February 6, 2007 at 9:39 AM
H&C > why isn’t AHA a regular? So much more to offer than say… ohhh…. Kirsten Powers for example.
Griz on February 6, 2007 at 9:48 AM
She is indeed brilliant and beautiful.
And this clip is instructive, since it illustrates one of the key pillars of liberalism: no matter what, liberals know more than YOU do about what’s right and best for YOU.
To a liberal watching this clip, it doesn’t matter that AHA is, you know, a person with real-life experience in a Muslim culture …. or that Colmes is a pasty-faced yippie yuppie who has exactly zero first-hand knowledge of what he’s talking about.
He knows the truth.
Kinda like Sean Penn. That guy’s frickin’ brilliant.
Professor Blather on February 6, 2007 at 10:02 AM
First of all, do you think AHA is that easy to get a hold of? We’re trying to schedule an interview with her but it’s not like she can just pop over for coffee given her security situation. Second, why you got to be hating on KP?
Allahpundit on February 6, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Alan couldn’t wait to get her off the air. Isn’t it funny how the Left just does not want to hear voices like Ayaan’s but they’ve got nothing but time for those who posit dark fantasies of “Christianist” military coups or sinister conspriacies among backwoods Christian denominations?
Fred on February 6, 2007 at 10:12 AM
She’s doing the rounds apparently. There’s an interview with the Times of London and another with the NYT that I blogged here.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is an incredible human being.
Pablo on February 6, 2007 at 10:12 AM
I love hearing from KP. She’s great. Hear that Kirsten?
Call me!
Fred on February 6, 2007 at 10:13 AM
I’d bet there are all KINDS of single guys that would be willing to offer her “security” right about now.
All base and sexist comments aside, she’s sharp, articulate, and clean…er…you know…my mom had a saying…oh wait…
**shudder**…sorry…I was channelling Senator Biden there for a minute…
Pilgrim on February 6, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Yep. I’ll admit it. I could really develop some Kevin Costner/Whitney Houston, “The Bodyguard” fantasies involving me, Ayaan and Kirsten Powers…
I’ll be right back.
Fred on February 6, 2007 at 10:16 AM
It’s refreshing to see the truth leak out every now and again.
Mojave Mark on February 6, 2007 at 10:22 AM
What a dismissive interview. You’d think that a guest who risks her life just to appear on their silly little show wouldn’t be forced off so quickly.
I never want to hear about a “courageous” American feminist again.
billy on February 6, 2007 at 10:23 AM
Gee, it’s not like Hirsi Ali knows anything about Islam or anything like that …
Ian on February 6, 2007 at 10:29 AM
LOL!!! So Alan WANTS to believe that Islam is a “religion of peace”, so badly so that he refuses to see the writing on the wall. Typical brain dead liberal mind…
NRA4Freedom on February 6, 2007 at 10:34 AM
What a incredible woman Hirsi Ali is. She is really showing the true side of Islam - nothing but pure EVIL. I do hope that her bodyguards do their job well and protect this treasure so she can keep telling her story. Perhaps H&C can have her on for a LONG segment so more will hear first hand about true EVIL. Colmes won’t like it, but than again, no liberal will like what she says.
I am going out to buy her book NOW.
bjb on February 6, 2007 at 10:36 AM
Beauty + Brains + Courage = Damn Sexy
infidel4life on February 6, 2007 at 10:40 AM
Why does anyone still think we want to read sexual insults towards the females that are highlighted on HA? Does anyone think MM, KP, AHA, or any other woman is flattered by these comments?
Please, keep your fantasies to yourselves or if you do feel the need to “share”, go over to huffpo where that kind of rudeness is looked upon as a quality trait.
csdeven on February 6, 2007 at 10:42 AM
How screwed up does a religion have to be that it preaches that a face like hers has to be covered up?
billy on February 6, 2007 at 10:42 AM
excellent point. AHA deserves serious treatment based on her intellect. To that end, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit to see her on Hannity’s America at some point. I would like to hear more of her story without Colmes chiming in with his lame attempts at equivocation.
Apologies to AHA for my previous comments…she deserved better.
Pilgrim on February 6, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Lighten up, Francis. The remarks were tame and lighthearted. Besides, we think you’re hot too, csdeven.
JasonG on February 6, 2007 at 10:57 AM
This is an excellent comment. Some readers may not catch how important it is. Now, contrast this with the Judeo-Christian teachings for men to control themselves and to be responsible for their behavior. This is not just an insignificant cultural nuance, it is an active education in the home from birth, based on the concept of personal responsibility.
Foreigners, not knowing the US, cannot believe that a woman can drive from coast to coast and never have a problem, so pervasive is this foundation of a civil society.
Thanks to the Left, this concept of self-control is being whittled away - going with “feelings” including that there should be no controls on sexual activity. The big loss will be a disintigration of our society. Women will be the first to discover that the greater community is no longer providing those protections. It’s a bad, bad combination, Left licentiousness with Muslim refusal to take personal responsibility.
naliaka on February 6, 2007 at 10:58 AM
I am looking forward to hearing her on Vent with Michelle Malkin. Excellent. We cannot hear enough from her.
CrimsonFisted on February 6, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Finally, people are calling Islam out for the POS religion that it is and how jihad is the theological foundation of Islam.
Tim Burton on February 6, 2007 at 11:11 AM
Terrific.
Allahpundit on February 6, 2007 at 11:12 AM
bad ass! make it a three-parter.
jummy on February 6, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Reason with Colmes??? Never ever ever ever ever possible, he is a comitted luatic.. it’s a genetic problem… can’t ever be fixed..
retired on February 6, 2007 at 11:19 AM
And the Republican Nominee for President is… well maybe not, but man she’s great.
Can we trade Colmes, a dozen copies of the Koran two dozen slightly used Burqa’s for lets say… Glenn Beck?
Just a thought..
Viper1 on February 6, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Poor Colmes, he has no idea how foolish he looks when he asks those stupid questions. “Are all billion muslims…?” how dumb he sounds, he even makes Hannity look brilliant.
right2bright on February 6, 2007 at 11:29 AM
Colmes never ceases to amaze me with his total lack of principle and his continued apologies for Islam as ” a religion of peace” with only a few bad apples. The contempt knowedlgable guests, including Ayaan Hirsi Ali, have for him is always palpable.
I have no idea how he lives with imself as a defender of those who would obliterate him only because he is a Jew.
ptolemy on February 6, 2007 at 11:29 AM
I know. We all have our pet peeves and that one is (one of) mine. I wasn’t always this way though. Being a manly-man, I used to be the first one to remark on a womans sexual attractiveness, but have since realized I was only serving my desires and was insulting someone I was attracted to.
I know these gals do not need me to defend them, but I doubt I’ll ever stop asking members to cease commenting on them in ways that reduce them to sexual objects.
csdeven on February 6, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Her book is out today, and I’m going to do my part to push it up the NYT bestsellers list. Colmes and his ilk won’t be able to un-ring that bell.
The fact she now lives under a constant threat of death because of a book she wrote - is prima facie evidence that Islam is the problem.
Benthoven on February 6, 2007 at 11:31 AM
I think Hannity is brilliant but you’re right Colmes sounds like a hippy collage kid that regurgitates his liberal professor’s view with the utmost vigor. He’s an enormous tool.
x95b10 on February 6, 2007 at 11:41 AM
I’m buying the book. This is my comment for this post.
Ouabam on February 6, 2007 at 11:48 AM
csdeven has made a good point… any comments I read about the attractiveness of MM, or KP, or AHA is certainly not offensive to me; and I’m sure none of the above would turn away a compliment, however it really has no place here.
just my .02
dalewalt on February 6, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Hey, defending women is never something you should apologize for. Keep your powder dry, just maintain muzzle awareness.
JasonG on February 6, 2007 at 11:59 AM
Sorry, it is true, hence the footnotes.
How to deal with it without making the Communist killers look like children’s play? I don’t know. I guess that is why I keep giving to Voice of the Martyrs.
Tim Burton on February 6, 2007 at 12:10 PM
I so enjoy getting the chance to listen to her, and hope that HA/MM are successful in recording a lengthy discussion with AHA for Vent. That would be sweet. I will be buying the book to read and add to my library. There is a nice spot right next my copy of The Caged Virgin.
rslancer14 on February 6, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Did you guys see the Fox News special mentioned here about going inside radical Islam? Even I was shocked. Seeing what looked like a 6 yr old girl yelling into a microphone how she could not wait to die as a suicide bomber! If you haven’t seen it, I am sure they will repeat it. It is chilling. Fox News did an excellent job, but I wish that they could have made this special about 3 or 4 yrs ago.
Anyway, given that special, I am sure Fox News didn’t want to “pile it on” too much. It looks like we must as a nation, take baby steps in realizing the danger we face.
Rightwingsparkle on February 6, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Buying her book. Looking forward to a Vent with AHA on.
Produces for Hannity, get this woman more airtime, PLEASE!
opusrex on February 6, 2007 at 12:37 PM
I don’t care who you are, that there was funny!!!!
Lonevoice on February 6, 2007 at 12:40 PM
She did the best job yet of putting the blame for the hate where it belongs, the basics of islam. The very fact of a woman that grew up muslim and knows the truth deep to her core, telling facts on national TV is priceless .
Please AHA, keep safe and keep telling the world.
good luck MM, on getting her here.
shooter on February 6, 2007 at 12:50 PM
I’m sooooo happy this wonderful lady is in the U.S.A. now - she is one of US!!! Makes me tear up…
I saw the segment by chance, as I gave up on wasting my precious time with nice&shallow-tool-Colmes, and rejoyced when she named Islam a medieval society. No one has more moral authority than her to do that.
I find it curious that so far not one troll has commented, which is typical for such uncontestably truthful subjects. The hypocrisy would hurt them - therefore in hiding…
Pablo, you did an excellent job on protein wisdom, re. this brilliant and elegant subject. And, yes, not all of today’s women are “misandrists”.
Limerick, please share the source. It is most important that this precious lady be protected well.
Entelechy on February 6, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Because we can’t get her to date you…….yet.
VikingGoneWild on February 6, 2007 at 12:59 PM
Right. Ask Simon Rushdie how tolerant the religion of peace is. Or the Danes for publishing the cartoons. Or…..
BacaDog on February 6, 2007 at 1:00 PM
Colmes is just plain dense and stupid. Lawyers and tv hosts should follow one simple rule , most of the time.
..You don’t ask a question that you do not know the answer. Thanks for your ignorance colmes, you have helped America with those questions hopefully far more than we can know at the moment.
Bin Laden IS TRUE ISLAM.
islam has it’s basic tenets.
the BASIC elements of islam are not compatible with livable democracy.
Can you imagine a panel with Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Mark Steyn and Robert Spencer? Might have to be on Air Force One with it’s security, but it would be the best discussion yet.
MM , do a live link-up. Pass drudge on one day. (well maybe not quite that much )
shooter on February 6, 2007 at 1:06 PM
What bothers me the most is that the Left,Colmes example, does not want to hear the truth when it is in their face! How are we ever going to cope with that? How can we reason with such people? Wait! Isn’t that a major characteristic of Islamists too? God help us all!!
JonR on February 6, 2007 at 1:38 PM
Elsewhere in the Ummah, LSU muslims debunk myths;
Islamophobes are invited to debunk the bunk here.
Terp Mole on February 6, 2007 at 1:48 PM
she ought to consider getting Dr. Ergun Kaner on as well.
That man is powerful.
One Angry Christian on February 6, 2007 at 1:58 PM
Yeah my comment won’t be posted. Anyone care to place a bet against me?
One Angry Christian on February 6, 2007 at 2:06 PM
IMHO, the problem arises in the Muslim faith when the moderates refuse to stand against the extremists. There have been many theories put forth as to the reason why that is…but from my admittedly limited knowledge, it seems the reason is moreso the way the faith is practiced rather than what is taught.
Obedience to the tenets of the faith, including converting others to the faith (as a duty to the faith), are accomplished under threat of humiliation and even death. Well, when you are raised in a faith that exerts that level of threat as an everyday tool to accomplish obedience, you are not going to find a membership willing to stand up against conventional attitudes.
Even though the Christian faith has some pretty brutal stuff in the Old Testement, the basics of the faith is conversion through love and gentle persuasion, where as the Muslim faith threatens humiliation and death.
I apologize to those of the Muslum faith, but until the rank and file Muslim stand up against the extremists, they deserve a huge part of the blame for not holding to and practicing the peaceful teachings of the Muslim faith. And as such, ONLY those individuals who publically make themselves a voice against extremistism will get my respect.
Here is an example of “christian” extremism. I only call them “christian” is the loosest most general terms. Christians would stand up on national TV and denounce these kooks. You wont find that in the Muslim faith.
csdeven on February 6, 2007 at 2:27 PM
Love that woman! Hey, I have an idea, instead of H&C … how about Ayaan and Bridgette Gabriel???
Can’t wait to get her book. I was gettin’ worried that my little book store of choice was runnin’ out of titles for me (currently reading “We’ve Got It Made In America” by John Ratzenberger) ’cause I read one a week.
Thank you Ayaan, for all that you do for us! May God bless and protect you. Welcome to America, we’re honored to have you here. Please run for the Senate.
Libs crack me up when they act like they’re being soooo couragous for standing up to govt and protesting the war. Whoopyfriggindo, whatta they gonna do to ya, write you a ticket? But Ayaan really IS brave, to speak out against these headchoppin’ savages.
Oh yeah and she’s GORGEOUS!
Tony737 on February 6, 2007 at 2:40 PM
More Ayaan Hirsi Ali, please. She is as intelligent as she is smoking hot.
Also, I can see why she might be a little hesitant to come on Hot Air seeing as how the main blogger is named Allahpundit. :P
CorinthianJest on February 6, 2007 at 3:35 PM
She is gorgeous, courageous and articulate. I love the way she was able to get in that women in Islam don’t even own their own bodies, and about FGM. Thanks for posting this clip. VERY INSPIRATIONAL.
WriterMom on February 6, 2007 at 3:40 PM
When I read that it hit me even stronger how so few of us really know what deep fear truly feels like.
Bless you Ayaan Hirsi.
shooter on February 6, 2007 at 3:53 PM
Just to echo others, what a brave woman, no wonder Alan wanted her off the air asap.
Catie96706 on February 6, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Sure she seems brave….but, has she ever truly spoken truth to power? You know what I mean….has she ever asked Secretary Rice about the fact that she has no children?
That’s true bravery.
/sarc
JadeNYU on February 6, 2007 at 4:15 PM
Anyone else wonder why Hannity dropped the subject of ‘most of islam is incompatible with democracy?’ He had a perfect opportunity to run with that, but changed the subject to islam vs. women & Ayaan’s life.
Was it the end of show shortage of time?
or the ‘religion of peace and only a very few are bad’ mantra? He has said this on his radio, but I thought it was PC.
.
.Maybe PC/Fox has him hamstrung on the ‘majority of islam is basically flawed in this millennium’ and he couldn’t pursue it further???
shooter on February 6, 2007 at 4:16 PM
From the Guardian piece:
The Brits are in so much trouble.
bookwurm322 on February 6, 2007 at 5:05 PM
There’s a Noble Peace Prize candidate if I ever saw one.
Why do idiot liberals want to love Islam so much? Because they are terrified to face the truth about it?
Halley on February 6, 2007 at 5:16 PM
They should do a special on her! She has proven time and again to be a brilliant voice for reason. It’s to bad that the Muslims who might transform the faith are outnumbered by the rest. They will probably all end up dead, because of it.
USA, all the way!
ValhallaMike on February 6, 2007 at 5:31 PM
The left doesn’t understand that big government can not protect you from individuals run amok, only a culture of personal responisbility can.
Resolute on February 6, 2007 at 7:12 PM
A fine lady who makes Colmes look like a disturbed grub wriggling away in distress after you turn over his rock.
The extreme-Leftists like Mr. C. must also fear her because she’s not only telling the hard truth about the soft-headed Religion of Peace, but she’s supposed to be one of their iconic types as well.
All of their prejudices implode in the face of a courageous gay Black female who dares to faces down the intolerant impulses of resurgent Imperialistic Islam.
Her jihadistically-murdered colleague (co-maker of the short film “Submission”) Theo Van Gogh, must be laughing from the afterlife.
profitsbeard on February 6, 2007 at 8:03 PM
“Jihadistically”.. what a cool word!
VinceP1974 on February 6, 2007 at 8:30 PM
It sickens me that any man would want to make her wear a burka.
PRCalDude on February 6, 2007 at 9:11 PM
VinceP1974-
Sounded like a cross between sadistically and jihad, as I thought about the slaughter of Theo Van G., thus fitting.
profitsbeard on February 6, 2007 at 9:55 PM
Entelechy on February 6, 2007 at 10:31 PM
I’m in more awe over this woman than I can truly express in words. Soft voice…but SUCH power, knowledge and courage.
God bless her, and keep her safe!!
tickleddragon on February 6, 2007 at 11:11 PM
Entel, thanks for posting that story. I can’t wait for my next 4-day trip so that I can get AHA’s new book.
Profit, I think you may be confusing AHA with Irshad Manji, but point well taken anyway.
Tony737 on February 7, 2007 at 1:05 AM
I was just testing the AP to KP infatuation level. Seems high. Of course, I feel the same way. She’s the only one worth becoming a liberal for.
Ow she’s a Brick—–house,
She’s mighty mighty, just lettin’ it all hang out
She’s a brick—–house, that lady’s stacked, and that’s a fact,
Ain’t holdin’ nothin’ back, ow she’s a brick—–house,
Yeah she’s the one, the only one,
Built like an Amazon. :)
It is a shame MM & KP have such a hard time getting a word in edgewise with papa Bill. Oh well. Back the your regular programming.
Griz on February 7, 2007 at 9:53 AM