Porter on Amiel

Porter: Is it acceptable that people can question multiculturalism?

Awan: "not in a manner that casts aspersions... on all Muslims, including, without distinction... what does multiculturalism mean in the context of a Muslim takeover."

I'm not saying that makes sense. I'm just saying that's his answer.

Porter: Asked Awan about Amiel's column; asked him about her report that fourteen textbooks were pulped because they weren't multiculti; asked about the three academics Amiel cited in support of her opinions. Asked if he knew anything about those academics.

Awan: Acknowledged he knew nothing about the facts therein.

Porter: are you denigrating Amiel's right to have an opinion?

Awan "not really; it may have reflected my opinion; I'mnot able to tell you what my opinion was, unless you direct me to the context in which I tendered the opinion whatever it was"

Huh?

Porter: "I was really quite struck when you said "I don't even know if the library was burnt down" So you're making a remark about it, but you don't know?"

Awan: "That particular statement is occuring in the context of a particular article... in what seems to be a military conquest, by a military ruler, in which she is discussing our educational system.. I just do not see how a Muslim ruler burning down a library seems to be perhaps what Ms. Amiel is saying is if we have multicult taught to our kids, and respect for Muslims... it will somehow result in having libraries burnt down..."

Did you get that?

It's tough.

It's a big, incoherent mish-mash of half thoughts and half sentences.

But the nugget was this: Awan "testified" that Amiel's criticism of the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria meant that she believed Canadian Muslims would do the same if we treated them with respect.