Reza Aslan, associate professor of creative writing at the University of California, Riverside, and author of No God But God, discusses the new anthology he edited, Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East.
Reza Aslan, associate professor of creative writing at the University of California, Riverside, and author of No God But God, discusses the new anthology he edited, Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East.
Comments [3]
Seems we've forgotten this is pre-recorded show!?
Brian, Here is a hard question. Without dancing around, ask your Islamic guest - what are your views re Jews & Israel? Press for a direct answer. You don't get to the bottom of the issue without digging; ask the hard questions..
Aslan, who seems like a nice guy, is the perfect pitchman for a rosy view of Islam that appeals to Western liberals (thus his appearances on Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, NPR, etc.). He has grown up with American sensibilities and he knows how to make progressives feel that they are getting a glimpse of what the future of this religion could be in a perfect world. Unfortunately, the history of the last 40 years suggests that the trajectory is in the opposite direction. In NGBG he had some reasonable arguments (and hope) for reform, but it would have been better had it been widely read in Tehran, Karachi or immigrant neighborhoods in London and Copenhagen than in Manhattan.
Ask him if this collection is an attempt to again reassure the wrong audience that we are all the same?
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