Islam and Japan. (Another episode in "conservatism's" love affair with falsehood.)

Dear John,

Thanks for your email.

Sadly, "Islam and Japan" failed "the sniff test."

Even the anti-Islamic website, "Bare Naked Islam" gives "Islam and Japan" Four Pinocchios.

But before you read Bare Naked Islam's  account, check out Wikipedia's review of the same topic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Japan

The anti-epistemology of "The Right" is breathtakingly brazen. 

Consider these peculiar beliefs:  that deliberate falsehood is a virtue; and that relentless mendacity is essential for the health of democracy. 

***

Bare Naked Islam's response to the viral email re: ‘Islam and Japan’

There is a popular email going around that reveals how difficult the Japanese make it for Islam to take hold in Japan. Having lived in Japan some time ago, I have a bit of personal insight to add. So before you consider packing up and running off to Japan, take note of the following:

Did you Know????

Have you ever read in the newspaper that a political leader or a prime minister from an Islamic nation has visited Japan? (Hard to believe. Indonesia’s PM seems likely to have visited Japan)

Japan, a country keeping Islam at bay, Japan has put strict restrictions on Islam and ALL Muslims. (Japan puts strict restriction on ALL foreigners, period)

The reasons are:

a) Japan is the only nation that does not give citizenship to Muslims. (Japan makes it exceeding difficult, if not nearly impossible,  for any foreigner, Muslim or otherwise, to become a citizen)

b) In Japan permanent residency is not given to Muslims. (Rarely, if ever given to any other foreigners either)

c) There is a strong ban on the propagation of Islam in Japan. (Not that I could find)

TURKISH MOSQUE OF TOKYO

d) In the University of Japan, Arabic or any Islamic language is not taught.(There is no ‘University of Japan,’ but there are many universities in Japan, one of which I attended. Back then, Arabic was not taught at Waseda Univ, but I doubt that is the case today in every university)

e) One cannot import Koran published in Arabic language. (False)

f) According to data published by Japanese government, it has given temporary residency to only 2 lakhs Muslims, who need to follow the Japanese Law of the Land. These Muslims should speak Japanese and carry their religious rituals in their homes. (It is reported there are some 10,000+ Muslims in Japan, many are workers from Indonesia who have work visas and others are Japanese converts to Islam. Yes, all must follow Japanese laws)

g) Japan is the only country in the world that has a negligible number of embassies of Islamic countries. (Absolutely not true. See list here: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

h) Japanese people are not attracted to Islam at all. (Wrong, considering there are many Japanese converts to Islam)

i) Muslims residing in Japan are the employees of foreign companies. (Many are, but not all)

j) Even today visas are not granted to Muslim doctors, engineers or managers sent by foreign companies. (As stated before, working visas are hard to come by in Japan, but I am sure some have been issued to professionals listed above)

k) In the majority of companies, it is stated in their regulations that no Muslims should apply for a job. (Another point I find hard to believe)

l) The Japanese government is of the opinion that Muslims are fundamentalist and even in the era of globalization, they are not willing to change their Muslim laws. (Japan changes its laws for no one, Muslim or otherwise. All must obey Japanese laws)

m) Muslims can not even think about getting a rented house in Japan.(Preposterous)

n) If anyone comes to know that his neighbor is a Muslim then the whole neighborhood stays alert. (I have no idea how they come up with this information. The Japanese as a whole are very welcoming and friendly to foreigners living there)

o) No one can start an Islamic cell or Arabic Madarsa in Japan (There are several mosques in Japan)

MOSQUE OF KOBE

p) There is no personal (Sharia) law in Japan. (True)

q) If a Japanese woman marries a Muslim then she is considered an outcast forever. (In many Japanese families, a woman is an outcast for marrying any non-Japanese)

r) According to Mr. Komico Yagi (Head of Department, Tokyo University) There is a mind frame in Japan that Islam is a very narrow minded religionand one should stay away from it. (Head of WHAT department? This is just common knowledge about Islam)

s) Freelance journalist Mohammed Juber toured many countries after 9/11 including Japan. He found that the Japanese were confident that extremists could do no harm in Japan. (I believe that Islamic extremists would have a harder time of making trouble in Japan than in other countries, but it’s not impossible. Remember the Sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway some years ago?)

Alan: My California confessor, Tom Weston S.J., noted that “You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” 

Perhaps the surest sign of "perdition" is when we dedicate ourselves to cataloguing "who's damned." 

This passion self-apotheosis requires that an individual know the extent of God's mercy... and precisely which human beings lie beyond its reach.

A pathognomic feature of contemporary "conservatism" is its co-equal love of falsehood and the (purported) love of God.

Pax vobiscum

Alan

On Thu, Jan 31, 2013 at 9:36 PM, John Tarantino wrote:

I never knew this either, did you?

Ciao

----- Original Message -----

From: 

To: 

Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2013 11:28 AM

Subject: FW: Japan - I never knew

Begin forwarded message:

Date: January 18, 2013 11:12:58 PM EST

Subject: Re: Japan - I never knew

They are indeed a very evolved race. Have you ever read in the newspaper that a political leader or a prime minister from an Islamic nation has visited Japan? Have you ever come across news that the King of Iran or a Saudi Arabia prince has visited Japan?      Japan, a Country keeping Islam at bay.  Japan has put strict restrictions on Islam and ALL Muslims.      The reasons are:  a) Japan is the only nation that does not give citizenship     to Muslims. b) In Japan permanent residency is not given to Muslims. c) There is a strong ban on the propagation of Islam in     Japan . d) In the University of Japan,  Arabic or any Islamic     language is not taught. e) One cannot import ‘Koran’ published in Arabic     language.  f) According to data published by Japanese government,     it has given temporary residency to only 2 lakhs     Muslims, who need to follow the Japanese Law     of the Land. These Muslims should speak Japanese     and carry their religious rituals in their homes. g) Japan is the only country in the world that has a     negligible number of embassies of Islamic countries.  h) Japanese people are not attracted to Islam at all.  i) Muslims residing in Japan are the employees of     foreign companies. j) Even today visas are not granted to Muslim doctors,     engineers or managers sent by foreign companies. k) In the majority of companies, it is stated in their     regulations that no Muslims should apply for a job. l) The Japanese government is of the opinion that     Muslims are fundamentalist and even in the era      of globalization, they are not willing to change      their Muslim laws. m) Muslims can not even think about getting a rented     house in Japan . n) If anyone comes to know that his neighbor is a     Muslim then the whole neighbourhood stays alert.  o) No one can start an Islamic cell or Arabic ‘Madarsa’      in Japan  p) There is no personal (Sharia) law in Japan . q) If a Japanese woman marries a Muslim then she is     considered an outcast forever. r) According to Mr. Komico Yagi (Head of Department,     Tokyo University ) “There is a mind frame in Japan     that Islam is a very narrow minded religion and one     should stay away from it.” s) Freelance journalist Mohammed Juber toured many     Islamic countries after 9/11 including Japan . He found     that the Japanese were confident that extremists could     do no harm in Japan. Well done Japan… We salute your country..

Alan: Conservative Americans never salute another country unless it's a roundabout way of saluting themselves. The real face of "exceptionalism" is that "We are #1... and everyone else sucks."