A "Phobia" Is Nothing to Be Afraid Of

A columnist in the United Arab Emirates is accusing the West of "Islamophobia" for objecting to the proposed takeover of operations at six major American ports by an Arab company owned by the UAE.  "Islamophobia is rising and has become like an infectious disease that spreads... in the West," wrote columnist Rashid Saleh al-Oraimy in the UAE daily Gulf News this week, according to reports.  Other columnists, like Mansoor Ijaz at National Review Online, are joining in the chorus of Islamophobia.  Michelle Malkin notes that the cries of Islamophobia are beginning intimidate some into backing down on the ports issue.

Well, that settles it for me!  I wouldn't want to be guilty of "Islamophobia" -- something akin to an "infectious disease!"  I'll have to abandon any reservations I've had about the port deal and get on board immediately.

Or not.  Actually, as someone who has previously spoken out against pointless ridicule of Mohammed and pointless alienation of our Muslim allies and in favor of showing religious tolerance even toward Islam, I am immune from legitimate charges of "Islamophobia." 

I will, however, confess to a bad case of "terroristophobia," which I share with every sane human being, including decent Muslims and rational people around the world.  Hence my continued concerns about the proposed takeover of American ports by a United Arab Emirates company.  The UAE, after all, is closely allied with sworn enemies of the United States.  It merits a closer look than it has yet received.

But apparently this whole "-phobia" suffix, as used in the political realm, is powerful stuff.  It perhaps originated with the use of the term "homophobia," which is defined as "fear or hatred of homosexuality or homosexuals."  The use of the suffix "-phobia" also implies that such fear or aversion is excessive and unreasonable. 

Of course, what one person sees as "excessive, unreasonable" aversion to something may be seen by another person as common sense.  That's why the use of the sufix "-phobia" is so powerful.  It takes control of the terms of the debate by defining a fear or dislike for something as being akin to an "infectious disease."  It defines one thing as the norm, and any opposing viewpoint as bigotry.

With that in mind, and keeping the example of "Islamophobia" in mind, we can all participate in defining previously-unrecognized "phobias" in the political realm.  Here are some widespread phobias that badly need to be recognized:

• Bushophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear or hatred of President George W. Bush)
• Rovophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear or hatred of presidential advisor Karl Rove)
• Cheneyphobia (excessive, unreasonable fear of Vice President Dick Cheney)
• Iraqophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear or hatred of the Iraq war)
• Maternophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear or hatred of turning into a soccer mom)
• Paternophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear or hatred of becoming a minivan-owning dad)
• Conservophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear or hatred of conservatives or conservatism)
• Wal-Martophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear of or hatred of Wal-Mart)
• Unbornophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear of recognizing humanity of the unborn)
• Petrophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear or hated of oil companies)
• Incorrectophobia (excessive, unreasonable fear of being perceived as "politically incorrect")

As you can see, the world is full of "phobias," and those who are afflicted with too many political phobias must surely live angry, panicky, difficult lives.  You can do the world a public service by helping to identify these and other phobias when you see them.

We can only hope that those who recognize some of these phobias in themselves will better educate themselves so that they can, in time, learn to rise above their fears.

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