Half the Answer #5: The Rationalists and Islamophobia
Caitlin and Trent spoke with Polite Conversations host Eiynah about the ways Islamophobia disguises itself as rational, genuine liberal-minded concern, and the hateful roots that hide beneath.
Half the Answer can be heard on Spotify, on Apple, on YouTube, on Amazon, and elsewhere via its RSS feed.
References
Polite Conversations: https://open.spotify.com/show/25FhI3g0wZMjWT19aIxcOn?si=x6hs5ldDQAWYmlHFLcgTJw
Matthew Sears discussion on orientalism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyCuaPkbA4M
Mondon and Winter on liberal Islamophobia: https://repository.uel.ac.uk/download/058b90c6ed91fbf82e3f93e3c8cc00a12a095a0bddec44a4b564d2d4230b0252/428501/Mondon and Winter Article 2017.pdf
Bill Maher comments: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/oct/06/bill-maher-islam-ben-affleck
Atheists for Liberty op-ed: https://www.atheistsforliberty.org/opinion/richard-dawkins-says-hes-a-cultural-christian-this-isnt-news/
Douglas Murray as Europe’s Paul Revere?? https://archive.is/PpgDC
Media portrayals of Muslims: https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/report-muslims-most-negatively-portrayed-minority-in-us-media/
Mahmoud Khalil Detained: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/nyregion/mahmoud-khalil-columbia-university.html
Sam Harris comments: https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-reality-of-islam
Julianna Margulies comments: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-12-01/julianna-margulies-faces-backlash-over-podcast-discussion-of-israel-hamas-conflict
