Dave Rubin has not shied away from hosting controversial guests on his virally-popular chat show, but yesterday’s segment in which the political commentator spoke with a member of Jordan’s LGBT community stands out in the current era of polarized debate on Islam and the West.
Political discourse on the topic of Islam and the West’s relationship with the Islamic world is, for the most part, divided, with one side calling for Muslim travel bans and the other promoting the narrative that the Middle East would be a feminist, progressive Utopia had it not been for Western interference. However there is a growing number of media personalities who are challenging both sides of thisdebate, and their popularity is increasing among those disillusioned by the “left-right” dichotomy.
Dave Rubin is notable among these figures for challenging stereotypes; he identifies as a “classical liberal”, is pro-weed and pro-choice, and is gay. Normally, that should situate him somewhere alongside Linda Sarsour or Occupy Democrats on the modern American political spectrum, right? Wrong.
His viral chat show, The Rubin Report, has been a platform for a myriad of vocal critics of Islam, including Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Sam Harris, and even Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the far-right (and vehemently anti-Islam) English Defense League. It is little wonder, therefore, that Rubin has been the target of criticism from others on the “left”. He is often called out for not adequately challenging the views of those he hosts, and has even been accused of helping to normalize “white nationalism”.
As an outspoken atheist and critic of what he calls the “regressive left”, Rubin naturally spends a lot of time discussing Islam and the difficulties involved with criticizing it. However, it is clear that his choice of guests provides easy ammunition for those critics who wish to attack his credibility, and label him an Islamophobic, alt-right apologist.
https://twitter.com/liberalstrawman/status/849315175614353408 https://twitter.com/marxofsuburbia/status/856746942818381824
However not all of his guests are critics of Islam. In yesterday’s segment, Rubin spoke with “Motaz”, a bisexual, Muslim Jordanian and fan of the Rubin Report. The excited young man, confidently speaking in perfect english, told Rubin that he was definitely convinced by Islam, but that he was also sure of his sexuality.
“I personally do believe that Islam is the right religion ... I do truly believe it ... but I also know that I am also bisexual.”
He struggled with being both Muslim and bisexual during his teen years, and while his family are still unaware of his sexuality, he said that his friends were “fairly progressive” and that there are “gay nights” at some bars in Jordan.
The discussion touched briefly upon Jordanian politics and the the legality of homosexuality in the Muslim-majority kingdom, however most memorable was perhaps the animated manner in which Motaz spoke about religion.
Speaking of the religious writing displayed in public spaces around the country, Motaz said that it does not feel like religion is being enforced, and that what is written is done in “good faith”.
“I don’t find it that intrusive, I feel like in terms of religion and things like that...you’re free to do whatever you want, but I don’t feel like it's intrusive.”
The young Jordanian appears to be quite the fan of Rubin, and has Retweeted a few of his free speech absolutism Tweets.
https://twitter.com/RubinReport/status/856723145889165313 https://twitter.com/RubinReport/status/857237643951611904
Motaz, as a passionate Muslim, is clearly not an “Islamophobe”. However, as a fan of The Rubin Report and with a Twitter profile which shows that he too is critical of certain elements within the left, he certainly doesn’t fit any right-wing stereotypes of Muslims as haters of freedom either.
He challenges those on both sides of the debate, and thus offers the type of insight which Rubin ought to be uplifting in order to build bridges and break the seemingly-cemented dichotomy.
Many ex-Muslims have become popular on social media for expressing their views on Islam and offering an insight into life as an apostate from a community overwhelmingly hostile towards those who leave it. Unsurprisingly, however, they too have been the target of criticism from the so-called “regressive left”. Ayaan Hirsi Ali, for example, probably doesn’t help herself by appearing on Fox News.
https://twitter.com/KiranOpal/status/825209543667875841
By hosting them on his show, Rubin is (rightly) giving them the opportunity to discuss their situation in front of a large and engaging audience, however he is unlikely to change any minds in the vastly-divided political debate on Islam.
Motaz, on the other hand, as a proud Muslim, member of the LGBT community and free-speech advocate, is harder to criticize, and thus opens the door for a proper discussion about Islam, LGBT rights, and the West.
