Funniest Muslim-Bashing Miscue Ever

Normally, it simply makes me sad to see Americans demonize Muslims. It reminds me of the way we hated the Huns, and the evil Japs, and the godless commies, and every other sociopolitical enemy we have faced over the years. All of our enemies have been bizarre, unthinking, insanely evil people with whom one could not reason. Until the conflict is over, and we find that they are pretty much like us, and excellent trading partners.

But now it is the Arabs we must hate, because they all want to strap bombs on their chests and suicide bomb us because they hate our freedom. Those other times we were told that our enemies were horrible people totally unlike us - well, we were wrong then. But now it's the truth.

It's sad and pathetic and disgusting. Won't get fooled again, indeed.

But today I saw a bit of Muslim bashing that was so beautiful that it shimmered in its ironic light. Marty Peretz, the hawkish owner/editor of the New Republic, managed to pen these immortal words, mocking Tom Friedman's attempts to find peace-loving Muslims:

Poor Tom Friedman. He is looking for a Muslim Martin Luther King. There is none, Tom. If one were living on earth, they'd break his windows. Imprison him. Or kill him. Finished.

Can you imagine a religion whose people would imprison a Martin Luther King? Or kill him?

How can we ever find common ground with these beasts?

Hat tip to Matthew Yglesias.