http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/03/19/the_hate_group_that_incited_the_middlebury_melee_133377.html

What an excellent letter Rik!

“I agree that the Trump administration poses an enormous threat, and I agree that the SPLC has done heroic and invaluable work over the course of it’s history. We need the kind of organization that you have been in the past and claim to be now, but recent decisions, such as the decision to put Maajid Nawaz and Ayan Hirsi Ali on your list of anti-Muslim extremists makes me believe that your fight against hate and bigotry has become skewed by ideology. I was willing to think you may have made an honest mistake, but the fact that the SPLC has doubled down (as exemplified by Heidi Beirich’s recent disingenuous misrepresentation of Nawaz’s thoughts) makes it impossible to maintain the more charitable interpretation of your decision.

I believe that if you would be true to your stated ideals and would take a look at the arc of Nawaz’s life and the body of his work, you would consider him an ally. Please look beyond the personal politics of the day and re-focus on the broader goals that you, Nawaz, and many good non-authoritarian liberals and progressives hold dear. Please, admit that you may have made a mistake!

I receive many solicitations that I toss out without sending a response. I’m taking the time to write because of the deep respect I have for what you used to be, and I hope can become again. It would break my heart to see a once great organization destroyed by allowing itself to follow a narrow ideological path–especially at a time like this. I may once again become a supporter, but for now you may consider me a part of the loyal opposition. I wish you the best in sorting out your priorities and look forward to the day when I can send you a check instead of a critical letter.”

So, if I understand you correctly, the SPLC is just a moneymaking scam?

It makes you wonder sometimes. 🙂

Their allies? Muslim extremists, Islamists, Wahabist Salafists, the House of Saud and the regressive left? Indeed, I wonder whether they are not sponsored by the Saudis,

I agree. It’s that regressive leftism thing we’ve discussed so often. The Muslims that they support hate Maajid Nawaz – calling him things like “porch monkey” and other revolting terms, so they’ll say anything to make him look bad. The end justifies the means.

I notice she talks of us and “our allies”. I’d like to know who those allies are exactly. Why do they take their word and not the word of those who support Nawaz and Ali?

Thanks Joan! 🙂

The problem isn’t the personnel, as much as it is a cynical, relentless and highly lucrative business model fueled by fake news and fear-mongering, abetted by uncritical and irresponsible media coverage. Rich white guilty-minded liberals (like everybody else) are easy marks for a scam that makes them feel superior.

Ha ha. Good idea.