Hamza Yusuf, Richard Bulliett, the Lakers

Yesterday Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Dr. Richard Bulliett spoke to a packed auditorium at Columbia University; their introductory presentations were followed by an hour-long conversation, talk-show style, moderated by Anisa Mehdi. All due consideration for Shaykh Hamza's presentations, comments and insights, it is Dr. Bulliett who most impressed me, by his ability to convey a series of powerful points in relevant and engaging fashion. I have become more and more a fan of his. (Unlikely he knows this.)

We need more historians and academics like him, and we need more people in our circles, and among like minds and sensibilities, to purchase and collectively discuss his book, The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization.  I demand you click on the link and purchase a copy; the book isn't very expensive, and is a must-read, because of its fascinating case for the parallel development of Islam and Christianity. More to the point, every major media organ has ignored the work, meaning it's brilliant and too provocative for the "master narrative," as Dr. Bulliett put it.

Maybe your MSA is facing Islamo-Fascism week? Another round of "The Clash of Civilizations"? What better remedy than Islamo-Christian Civilization? (Still more: Why not invite Dr. Bulliett to speak on the book, to put the lie to the totalitarian nonsense, fictional garbage narratives spewed out of sewer pipes... and to offer a fun, entertaining, educational, engaging presentation on why the history you hear isn't the history that happened.)

Elsewhere, to secondary effect:

The Times peeks inside Iran's nuclear program. Sort of. But they have pictures... even as Ahmedinejad visits India, and tests Indian foreign policy sovereignty. Get it, tests?

Wajahat Ali's wonderful interview of Robert Fisk, one of the greatest journalists and writers out there.

The Lakers, the No 1 seed out west, swept the Denver Nuggets, the number 8 seed. I watched only one game of the total four. (Blame absence of cable, a violation of my human rights.) Next up, either the Jazz or the Rockets.

Comments

[islamoyankee]

Brother, I've been pushing the book since it was in hardback. It's on all my syllabi. Get with it.