Atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris face Islamophobia backlash

[skepticscott]

21. I have no problem with the term

I have a problem when it is applied with hypocrisy, rather than objectively, to do nothing more than smear people whose arguments can't be answered legitimately. You're the one who posted the authoritative definition, not me. And now you're brought up short when you discover that it applies just as well to the way people on this site act towards Republicans as it does to what Dawkins allegedly says about Muslims? Tough shit.

Here's a classic example (only one of a multitude, btw):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6477614

"REPUBLICANS ARE ASSHOLES" This sentiment is greeted with praise. But imagine Dawkins or some atheist here posting the sentiment "Muslims are assholes", or "Catholics are assholes". Somehow THAT would be labeled with the smear of "bigotry", but not the other. Why would that be? Is it because one is more objectively true as a blanket statement than the others? Is it because ALL Republicans ARE assholes, but no Muslims or Catholics are? No. Is it because Republicans as a group and as individuals have done destructive and despicable things, but Muslims and Catholics never have and never do? No. Is it because one is less "hateful" or "intolerant" than the others? No.

If you're having trouble, here's a hint. It's because religionists expect and demand that their opinions, beliefs, practices and faith be given a special degree of deference and immunity from criticism or ridicule that is afforded no other system of thought or belief. It's because they as a group feel they're entitled to special protection from anything bad that anyone might say about them.

So tell us again...why is anything that Dawkins has said about Muslims worse in any objective way than what people here say about Republicans every day? Why does one deserve praise and the other a smear? Other than that religious folk feel entitled to special complaining and a special word to label their critics.