Just a few days ago, 4-19-2011.
Lieutenant Commander Jasser (USN) is an able debater. The first speaker, Ahmad Shqeirat, spends most of his time attacking Dr. Jasser's bona fides instead of engaging the issue of whether a popularly based reformation of Islam into an institution separate from the state will be possible, as was accomplished in the Christian West, centuries ago. Jasser does not let him get away with the ad hominem flim-flamery and skillfully uses those attacks as a leading wedge to get back to the issue at hand. You'll see that Shqeirat allows that a simple majoritarian reading of democratic polity would allow Muslim majority societies to outlaw things they deem bad for the polity (his example is prohibition). There seems to be no limits to such majoritarian paternalism or totalism, and over-ride of individual liberty, on his view. Jasser seizes on this.
That is a key issue at hand.
Well done Doctor.
The debate was set up by philosopher Michael Valle, one of my Facebook friends!
Check out Doc Jasser's American Islamic Forum for Democracy.
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