Dear members of FoTH,

 

I have resisted the temptation of taking part in this discussion about Tarek Fatah’s book because decency demands that one should only take part in a book discussion after having read the book which I haven’t – I’m almost halfway through it. One can disagree with Mr. Javed I. Chaudry’s review but at least he was decent enough to read the book before opining on it. I wonder if all the people who so enthusiastically endorsed his review had read the book themselves (after all Fatah's book is not a holy scripture that you can have an opinion about without ever reading it). I’m addressing one of the endorsers of Mr. Chaudry's review today.

 

Mr. Jawaid Virk has written in one of his posts

 

“Lately I have read a few books in which in its early chapter the author would criticize Islam and then elsewhere in the book praise the state of Israel.”

 

The discussion was about Tarek Fatah’s book and one would assume that the above characterization, in the context of this discussion, includes Fatah’s book. So, I would like to ask Mr. Virk: have you read the book, sir? (I would have also asked Mr. Virk if he had read Sam Harris’ book as well since he has endorsed Mr. Chaudry’s review of that book too but I won’t since we are talking about Fatah’s book.)

 

I am not done with the book yet, and I have mixed opinions on most of what I have read in the book so far, but I have no doubt in my mind that the chapter on Palestine is worth the price of the book. I would suggest Mr. Virk to do himself a favor and read at least that chapter if he hasn’t or doesn’t plan to read the book And to Tarek Fatah, I would say: take a bow, sir! You are no less articulate, erudite and passionate for the cause of Palestinian people than Hussein Ibish. If I hadn’t known you, I would have thought that that particular chapter was written by a Palestinian.

 

Thanks,

 

Rafi Aamer