Polite Conversations

I chat with Journalist Evan Balgord (@ebalgord) who covers the Canadian far-right and antifa. He’s been on the ground for a lot of the rallies and provides some very interesting insights. The rising far right in Canada is not covered enough in my opinion, especially as Canada seems to be discussed in this idealistic way in comparison to Trump Country. Of course, things are better in Canada and racial tensions are not as high as the US. But a lot of key far-right, alt-right, alt-lite figures are indeed from here (Lauren Southern, Stefan Molyneux, Gavin McInnes to name a few) - something to keep in mind. We talk anti-Muslim movements, the controversial and often misunderstood M103, plausible deniability as a far-right tactic, and some ways in which also the left misses the mark on addressing Islam. Here is Evan’s wonderful episode for Canadaland on The Rise of the Right: http://www.canadalandshow.com/podcast/the-rise-of-the-right/ We also discuss hypocrisy in the ‘free speech movement’, the SPLC lawsuit. Not everyone will agree but here are some links regarding my views on that:https://twitter.com/NiceMangos/status/909205261650399237I found this to be a good piece: https://www.popehat.com/2017/06/29/how-the-southern-poverty-law-center-enraged-nominal-conservatives-into-betraying-free-speech-values/And this part of the write up was especially concerning: https://twitter.com/21logician/status/885998178008477696More free speech hypocrisy re ACLU https://twitter.com/RubinReport/status/884941607740375040——Some links we discuss: Shooting at Charlottesville https://gizmodo.com/new-video-shows-man-shooting-gun-near-crowd-of-counter-1798463559Texas mosque fake story http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-41147572BLM escorting Nazis: https://twitter.com/qwrrty/status/898999067673378817https://twitter.com/qwrrty/status/898998907375464448https://twitter.com/qwrrty/status/898998824760487936https://twitter.com/qwrrty/status/898999471396212736If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting via Patreon. The show is entirely listener funded and only made possible by listeners like you! https://www.patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode, historian @MikeStuchbery_ joins me to discuss his epic factual-Twitter-smackdown of Paul Joseph Watson. You know PJW right? The guy from Infowars who got upset over a BBC short that depicted a black guy in Roman Britain. We talk about how alt right/lite types twist history to suit their agendas, how they influence young minds, and what role historians can play to set the record straight. You can check out the backstory of the PJW-Stuchbery standoff on Twitter here:http://aplus.com/a/roman-britain-historian-paul-joseph-watson?no_monetization=true&utm_content=inf_686_459_2&utm_campaign=i2984&tse_id=INF_575eca70760a11e785e8bfcdfe5d7856Check out Mike’s podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BREHR8HvcNwMike mentions Vox Day and The Hugo Awards, see the backstory to that here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/26/the-hugo-awards-george-rr-martin-vox-day-and-alastair-reynolds-on-the-prizes-future---Please note: this episode was recorded before the tragedy at Charlottesville, which is why it was not discussed. ---I you enjoy the show pls help it continue to exist and grow by supporting via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me and @vadimnewquist from the popular Creationist Cat channel as we discuss the ins and outs of the Youtube skeptic/atheist scene. He breaks down the shifts in the community and discusses strange bedfellows.This is a pretty YouTube specific episode, so my apologies if you are not familiar with the YouTube personalities discussed. The general trends we talk about are observable outside Youtube as well.You can check out the Creationist Cat channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/creationistcatSome links we discuss:His Peterson/REM mash up clip https://twitter.com/vadimnewquist/status/891670167394164736My piece on Peterson: http://nicemangos.blogspot.ca/2017/07/professor-jordan-peterson-charlatan.html----If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting it via Patreon, it's your support that makes this show possible https://www.patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My thoughts on Charlottesville by Eiynah

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me, Thomas Smith from the excellent Serious Inquiries Only Podcast (@seriouspod) , and @ShireenQudosi - Trump supporting, Sufi Reformist Muslim Director of Muslim Matters at America Matters - As we have a fiery discussion about Trump, Linda Sarsour, Sharia & Feminism. Links:Shireen's Article in The Federalist: http://thefederalist.com/2017/01/24/linda-sarsours-muslim-identity-politics-epitomize-feminisms-hypocrisy/Thomas' Episode on Sarsour: http://seriouspod.com/sio60-objective-look-linda-sarsour/Linda's problematic associations with RW imams and Sheikhs:https://twitter.com/ViniKako/status/881633914695155714https://twitter.com/ViniKako/status/878700744815333377 http://hurryupharry.org/2015/03/18/yasir-qadhi-mend-and-baroness-warsi/An example of Linda sanitizing Sharia: "Sharia makes a lot of sense" https://twitter.com/dovesandletters/status/823606770006392834---If you enjoy the show please consider supporting via Patreon https://www.patreon.com/nicemangosThe show is entirely funded by listeners like you, and only exists because of your support. Thank you!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I got together with my fave youtuber Contrapoints for a weirdly specific conversation about Fascist Fashion, Emoji Nazism and the frightening possibility of #LOLJihad.

This convo was every bit as awesome/disturbing as it sounds :D

----

Mother Jones referring to Spencer as Dapper https://twitter.com/motherjones/status/794075448334491648?lang=en

Michael Jordan Hitler Mustache https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p74Ux6IJV6I

Rubin thinks there's good comedy coming out of the alt right : https://twitter.com/21logician/status/809218688909971460

Tila Tequila's descent into Nazism: https://www.buzzfeed.com/kateaurthur/tila-tequilas-descent-into-nazism-is-a-long-time-coming?

-----

Contra's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ContraPoints

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ContraPoints

My previous podcast convo with Contra: https://soundcloud.com/politeconversations/episode-27-contrapoints-islamophilia-crossdressingand-kink-oh-my

My convo with Contra on Contra's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihl5QxfeqDk

----

If you enjoy the show pls consider supporting via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nicemangos

You can also support the show by leaving an iTunes review https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/polite-conversations/id1086199663?mt=2

This episode I chat with writer Hussein Kesvani (@HKesvani) - He gives us a rare look into Muslim 'NoFap' reddit culture, and Muslim MRAs, 'AlphaMuslims', etc. As a journalist interested in these subjects he's delved into these online subcultures quite a bit and provides fascinating insight. MRA: Men's Rights Activism- which has less to do with Men's issues/rights and more to do with hating on feminists. MRAs will disagree, obvs. NoFap : is an internet community forum or sort of support group for those want to avoid masturbation and/or porn. Masjid: Another term you'll hear a few times in this episode = Mosque. Hussein's articles that are referenced in the podcast are linked below:https://melmagazine.com/masturbating-while-muslim-120c09a891a7https://melmagazine.com/the-small-growing-world-of-muslim-mras-cf4a0bccba0eIf you enjoy the show please consider supporting via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode I speak with journalist Cathy Young, who sometimes refers to herself as a “dissident feminist” - She’s a former Milo ally, with some interesting insights into the anti social justice scene. We discuss the Social Justice Warrior (SJW) vs Anti Social Justice Warrior divide , the Alt Right, feminism, rape, and the general polarized political landscape.Pls note this was recorded over a month ago, so recent campus events were not discussed

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode I’m joined by Pakistani Journalist Saqib Tanveer (@saqibtanveer), who recently wrote a controversial piece, about the lynching of a Pakistani student over allegations of blasphemy. His piece was removed by the publication that published it initially (The News).(Pls note this episode was recorded a couple of weeks ago, so the arrests made in Mashal Khan’s murder were not discussed.And pls excuse the buzzing sound on Saqib’s end…If I remember Pakistan, that’s gotta be a rusty fan or something.)Here’s a screenshot of the text we refer to throughout https://twitter.com/SaqibTanveer/status/855686726559309824 - I recommend you read this first. Its just a short paragraph. Soon after the Mashal Khan lynching (a horrific incident where a humanist student was accused of blasphemy and murdered by a furious religious mob) many Pakistani journalists, public figures & politicians were intent on 'clearing' Mashal’s name. Proving him to be a pious person who respected the religion. I wrote a blog post http://nicemangos.blogspot.ca/2017/04/the-beast-of-blasphemy-takes-another.html?zx=a05fba0110d35249 , lamenting the fact that this was even necessary or relevant…but I understood the desire to calm the toxic Islamic extremist sentiment that was still thick in the air after Mashal’s unjust murder. As a non-believer myself, obviously I think blasphemy should not at all be a crime, this is a law that doesn’t belong in this century. I have often stated that the government of Pakistan contributes to this dangerous climate where vigilante murders for ‘blasphemy’ occur on the regular by legitimizing it as a crime in the first place. Even politicians who have dared to question the existence of this blasphemy law have been murdered. Right wing preachers have been accused…it’s an Orwellian tool to police people’s thoughts. In the previous episode I interviewed prominent, liberal-secular Pakistani journalist Raza Rumi who survived an Islamist attack. We had a lovely, civil discussion…where he gave me such hope for the future of Pakistan. However, today’s conversation is in stark contrast to the intellectually stimulating discussion I had last episode. Today’s Pakistani journalist is pro blasphemy law, pro blasphemy punishment, as he considers it to be ’the law of the land…which must be upheld'…. This is a frustrating, yet entertaining roller coaster of a conversation that takes many twists and turns in attempts to deny the obvious flaws with punishing people for ‘blasphemy’.——Here are some links for further reading, on topics discussed in the episode:About the influence of Wahhabism in Pakistan:http://www.newstatesman.com/world-affairs/2014/11/wahhabism-isis-how-saudi-arabia-exported-main-source-global-terrorismhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/haroon-khalid/the-influence-of-wahhabism-in-pakistan_b_11329322.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/islam-pakistan-barelvi-saudi-wahhabiMashal Khan story: http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-39603126/pakistan-blasphemy-the-student-lynched-for-being-a-humanistGovernor Salman Taseer shot by his guard Mumtaz Qadri for questioning blasphemy law : http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35684452Mumtaz Qadri murder celebrated and funeral attended by over 100, 000 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/01/funeral-pakistani-mumtaz-qadri-executed-salmaan-taseerPakistan literacy rate http://ilm.com.pk/pakistan/pakistan-information/pakistan-literacy-rate/----If you enjoy this show, pls help it grow by supporting via Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode, I’ve got prominent Pakistani journalist and TV anchor Raza Rumi (@RazaRumi). He was attacked by gunmen in 2014 for being an outspoken critic of the Taliban and just islamism in general.https://www.dawn.com/news/1096198Luckily he survived, and continues to speak out about the threat journalists face today. An incredibly brave man pushing for change in a society very resistant to it. He’s had to leave Pakistan for the time being, and currently lives in the US. I find it painful to think that terrorists get to dictate people’s lives like this, uproot them, scare them, separate them from their families and friends…but I am thankful that people like Raza continue to speak up. Even with bloody and brutal attacks, they didn’t succeed in silencing him. However increasing far right sentiment in the US definitely puts him off. We chat about all this and more. As a Liberal practising muslim, of course Raza has some pretty fundamental disagreements with me about religion in general. and that’s ok! In fact I think critics of Islam now really need to build bridges with liberal and secular Muslims to have their criticisms resonate at all, especially in a time where the risk of polarization is so great and in a climate where the far right is quickly alienating all people of Muslim background. There’s also a misconception...I think, that vocal atheists like myself, won’t acknowledge other contributing factors to religious fundamentalism. So he really tried to drive that home…but I do acknowledge all the geopolitical & social factors that have an impact on increasing the toxicity of religion. I don’t think many sensible non-religious people would deny that yes foreign policy, history, poverty, lack of education all play a role. However the reverse issue is one that is often denied by adherents of religion…that religion itself is a factor. We tussle politely a bit about whether scripture is ‘twisted’ or simply provides the raw material for such interpretations. Anyway, hopefully at some stage we can get together again and schedule a proper discussion based on scripture. This chat was focused on the blasphemy law in Pakistan, the climate contributing to it.. and the recent Mashal Khan lynching in Pakistan, over blasphemy accusations. Mashal was a young student who described himself as a humanist. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/26/lynching-of-a-student-sparks-uproar-in-pakistan-against-blasphemy-lawsOther stories we discussed:Preacher being accused of blasphemy: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/04/pakistani-preacher-junaid-jamshed-blasphemy-accusationsGovernor killed for questioning blasphemy law: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/world/asia/05pakistan.htmlGoverner’s Murderer celebrated, thousands attend his funeral: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/01/funeral-pakistani-mumtaz-qadri-executed-salmaan-taseerPlease note: this episode was recorded a few weeks ago, so recent news regarding Mashal Khan’s killer, etc was not discussed. If you enjoy the show please consider supporting via patreon https://www.patreon.com/nicemangos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.