Quran not misogynistic?

Now, we are told that contrary to centuries of horrific oppression, mistreatment and Islamic legal codes and practices, that lo and behold, the Quran doesn't justify such things against women.

So claims Asma Barlas, a female professor of politics at Ithaca University, in her new book and her lecture at Stanford. It's had to say if this is wishful thinking, genuine misinformation or outright propaganda but it's a herculean suspension of disbelief regardless.

Barlas, whose talk was sponsored by the Muslim Student Awareness Network, concluded her lecture by broadening her critique from the Islamic world to global society, focusing particularly on the United States.

“Violence against women is universal,” she said. “What I find most discouraging is not Muslim societies that mistrust and abuse women, but rather U.S. support of those regimes.”

She added, “I do not believe in the legitimacy of the Afghan and Iraq wars or the broader neoconservative agenda for the Middle East. I do not believe that the United States has developed a viable policy vis-a-vis Muslims.”

Ah, the wisdom of the academy. Somehow, someway - it's all America's fault. Though it is quite astonishing that she made it through the entire lecture without blaming Israel for something. I hope she realizes that peer review isn't going to put up with that!