Since the United States was attacked by Muslim terrorists on September 11th, the Carnegie Corporation, and many others, believe that concocting theoretical doctrines on how to live with selective aspects of Islam and sharia law will create a world in which jihadist intentions are eliminated under a grandiose vision of peace and tolerance.
Unfortunately, all this research typically does is ignore or obfuscate reality and reinforce the aspirations of jihadists by falsely suggesting that Islam is compatible with Western ideals, and should be incorporated into Western societies. Rather than shedding the ideology that led many Muslims to flee their native countries, "scholars" are doing their dhimmi best to rewrite history and ensure the West allows the oppressive ideology to flourish unscathed.
To that end, in the last five years Carnegie has funded a total of 117 scholarships to research and promote Islam and sharia law at universities across the U.S. To be expected, it is Americans and the West who must understand and submit to Islam and sharia law while Muslims keep on waging various forms of jihad against us.
Commenting on the 2009 Carnegie Scholars and the program's focus on Islam, Gregorian said, "We are cultivating a diverse scholarly community spanning a range of disciplines with the expectation that their voices will help Americans develop a more complex understanding of Muslim societies here and throughout the world–revealing Islam's rich diversity. Only through vibrant dialogue, guided by bold and nuanced scholarship, can we move public thinking into new territory."
The 2009 Carnegie Scholars are drawn from a number of disciplines and represent public (6) and private institutions (17) ranging from liberal arts colleges to traditional research universities, and one independent scholar. This year's awardees include:
- An art historian offering a nuanced understanding of the role of contemporary mosques in the construction of modern Muslim identity.
- A historian tracing the little known story of how Thomas Jefferson and other founding fathers opposed dominant, negative views of Islam.
- A diplomat analyzing the formulation of U.S. foreign policy in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
- A Medievalist revealing a virtually unknown history of the Crusades in which thousands of Muslim and Christian soldiers were traded to serve in kingdoms of the other faith.
- An economist exploring how pilgrims, following their return from Mecca, have an increased desire for peace and tolerance—toward fellow Muslims and non-Muslims.
- A political scientist examining the dynamics of Muslim representation in North American and West European parliaments.
- A political scientist analyzing the impacts, in their respective countries, of Islamist groups in electoral politics.
- A historian offering a comprehensive account of U.S.-Iran relations beginning during the time of the American colonies.
Two other topics funded: "What's Missing When We Say Shari'a" and "Islamic Law and Legal Change". Get the idea?
Without researching each of the scholarship winners, one did stand out. Denise Spellberg, an Associate Professor (of Islamic history - but Carnegie didn't include that in their description) at the University of Texas at Austin. She happens to be the Islamic riot manufacturing associate professor who forced a book about Aisha - Mohammid's six-year old child bride - from being published (by the same publisher Spellberg was under contract with). A full account can be read here and here:
After he got the call from Ms. Spellberg, Mr. Amanullah dashed off an email to a listserv of Middle East and Islamic studies graduate students, acknowledging he didn't "know anything about it [the book]," but telling them, "Just got a frantic call from a professor who got an advance copy of the forthcoming novel, 'Jewel of Medina' — she said she found it incredibly offensive."
Meanwhile back in New York City, Jane Garrett, an editor at Random House's Knopf imprint, dispatched an email on May 1 to Knopf executives, telling them she got a phone call the evening before from Ms. Spellberg (who happens to be under contract with Knopf to write "Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an.")
"She thinks there is a very real possibility of major danger for the building and staff and widespread violence," Ms. Garrett wrote. "Denise says it is 'a declaration of war . . . explosive stuff . . . a national security issue.' Thinks it will be far more controversial than the satanic verses and the Danish cartoons. Does not know if the author and Ballantine folks are clueless or calculating, but thinks the book should be withdrawn ASAP."
Not only was the book pulled, offices were closed based on Spellberg's hysteria and dissemination of misinformation. Carnegie apparently didn't take any of that into consideration when doling out its dawah scholarships. There's probably interesting stories and connections with some of the other winners as well should anyone care to research their names.