Reasoned Dialogue

Nicole Greenfield: Media Matters for America has done a good job of keeping track of Pat Robertson’s reactions to the controversy over the Pope’s remarks about Islam.

On the September 19 edition of his show The 700 Club, Robertson stated: “We understand the leaders of Al Qaeda are calling for a holy war between Islam and Christianity. It’s going to come, ladies and gentlemen.” And in yesterday’s show, in response to the Pope’s meeting with Muslim leaders, Robertson had this to say: “It’s amazing how the Muslims deal with history and the truth with violence. They don’t understand what reasoned dialogue is, so if the pope succeeds, more power to him, but I doubt if he’s going to. And I hope he doesn’t totally capitulate to these people. After all, he is the head of the Roman Catholic Church, which is a very large body of Christians, maybe as many as 1 billion. So, let us hope he stands firm.”

First of all, why can Roberston get away with saying such things whereas others — like the Pope, for example — can’t? And secondly, Pat Robertson is claiming that Muslims don’t understand reasoned dialgoue? Now that’s just funny.