Robert Spencer
Robert Spencer: A Voice on Islam and Free Speech
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Robert Allen Spencer is an American author, journalist, and blogger known for his critiques of Islam and its influence on the modern world.
#### Birth and Death Dates
Born on February 1, 1962, in New York City, USA.
#### Nationality and Profession(s)
Spencer is a naturalized citizen of Italy and holds both American and Italian citizenship. He has worked as an author, journalist, and blogger, with a focus on exposing the alleged threats to free speech posed by Islamic extremism.
#### Early Life and Background
Growing up in New York City, Spencer developed an interest in history, literature, and politics at an early age. He attended George Washington University, graduating with a degree in history in 1984. After completing his studies, Spencer worked as a journalist for several years, contributing to various publications including the _New York Post_.
#### Major Accomplishments
Spencer's work has been focused on exposing what he sees as the dangers of Islamic extremism and its impact on Western societies. He is perhaps best known for founding the website Jihad Watch in 2005, which monitors news related to Islam and its influence worldwide. Through his research and writings, Spencer aims to promote awareness about the alleged threats posed by Islamic extremism.
#### Notable Works or Actions
Spencer has written several books, including _The Truth About Muhammad: The Prophetic Legacy of Bloodshed and Violence_ (2007), _Stealth Jihad: How Radical Islam is Subverting the West_ (2008), and _Did Muhammad Exist?: An Inquiry into Islam's Obscurest Question_ (2012). He has also contributed to various publications, including the _New York Times_, _The Wall Street Journal_, and _National Review_. In addition to his written work, Spencer is a frequent guest on television programs such as the _O'Reilly Factor_.
#### Impact and Legacy
Spencer's views have been met with both praise and criticism. Some see him as a champion of free speech and an advocate for exposing Islamic extremism, while others accuse him of Islamophobia and promoting hate speech. Regardless of one's perspective on Spencer's work, it is undeniable that he has had a significant impact on the public discourse surrounding Islam and its influence.
#### Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Spencer's writings and interviews often generate controversy, which can make him a polarizing figure in public discussions about Islam and free speech. Despite this, his work continues to be widely read and referenced by scholars, journalists, and policymakers interested in understanding the complexities of Islamic extremism.
His quotes are frequently cited in academic papers, policy briefs, and online forums, often in relation to debates over Islam's compatibility with Western values or its alleged role in promoting terrorism. As a result, Spencer remains an influential voice on these topics, even if his views are not universally accepted.
Quotes by Robert Spencer
Of course, few conquered peoples have ever escaped this fate. The only people who have escaped Muslim dhimmitude have been those who were successful in resisting Islamic jihad: the Christians of Europe and the Hindus of India. Others were not so fortunate.
Guess what? Although the Crusades failed in their primary objective, they played a key role in staving off the jihad conquest of Europe. The peoples who lived in the “tolerant, pluralistic Islamic societies” of old dwindled down to tiny, harassed, despised minorities. Islamic distaste for unbelievers is a constant of Islamic history and persists today. Or would the world be different in other, quite unexpected ways? Do the words “St. Peter’s Mosque in Rome” mean anything to you?
But according to Islamic law, Muslims may only conclude truces during jihad warfare with non-Muslims when they are in a position of weakness and need time to gather strength to fight again. Those who concluded agreements with the Crusaders did not lose sight of this principle and never entered into a pact that ultimately weakened the Muslims’ position.
In the twenty-first century, as the 1,400-year Islamic jihad against the free world continued to advance, the best allies the warriors of jihad had were the very people they had in their sights.
Good became identified with anything that redounded to the benefit of Muslims, regardless of whether it violated moral or other laws. The moral absolutes enshrined in the Ten Commandments, and other teachings of the great religions that preceded Islam, were swept aside in favor of an overarching principle of expediency.
There is nothing in anything that I have ever written that could be reasonably construed as an incitement to violence against anyone.
At the “World Without Zionism” conference held in Tehran in October 2005, the assembled delegates chanted “death to Israel, death to America, death to England,” while the host, Ahmadinejad, predicted to the cheers of the assembled that, “with the help of the Almighty, we shall soon experience a world without America and Zionism, notwithstanding those who doubt.
There is no reliable way for American authorities to distinguish jihadists and potential jihadists from peaceful Muslims.
It is no coincidence that all these varied efforts to silence voices critical of Islamic supremacism recall one of the most important laws by which dhimmis must abide within the Islamic state: according to traditional Islamic law, non-Muslims must not speak about Islam in a manner that Muslims consider offensive.