This is a guest post by MoreMediaNonsense
There’s been an interesting discussion on Socialist Unity about (again) the Peter Tatchell row.
Andy Newman of Respect published a piece agreeing in some points with the nasty (and since withdrawn) “Gay Imperialism” attack on Peter Tatchell by Jin Haritaworn, Tamsila Tauqir and Esra Erdem.
Andy’s view on this is in opposition to a supportive piece, also on SU, by Derek Wall of the Green Left (PT is a prominent member of the Greens).
And guess what … denigrating PT for his tactics and describing other members of Green Left as “Islamophobic” hasn’t gone down too well :
“Andy you smeared me as an Islamphobe as a member of Green Left which you described as Islamaphobic.
Frankly as I have a life and am finishing a book manuscript I find it difficult to keep up with what you may or may not be saying about me.
My impression is for reasons you alone know you want to undermine the progress made by Green Left in encouraging the Green Party not to stand against Salma Yaqoob.
Comment by Derek Wall – 9 November, 2009 @ 9:09 pm “
What Andy and Respect haven’t quite caught on to is even their potential allies are getting very fed up with the old SWP/Respect line of calling everyone who attacks the MCB and vile Islamists as “Islamophobic”. This time it seems to have really caught them out.
Good – this kind of dishonest rhetoric is a disgrace and deserves to be opposed wherever it appears.
