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Pamela Geller

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Pamela Geller is a American right-wing political activist, blogger, and co-founder of Stop Islamization of America. Her strongcriticism of Islam has lead her to be one of the most visible opponents of what many dub the "Ground Zero Mosque", slated to built near the site of the former World Trade Center Towers.

She also maintains a website and blog, "Atlas Shrugs", an allusion to Ayn Rand's 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged.

Early life, education and career

Before she got into blogging and political advocacy, Geller spent nearly a decade at the New York Daily News, starting as a financial analyst and making stops in the advertising and marketing departments. Later, Geller was associate publisher of The New York Observer for five years, in the early 1990's.

She later co-founded the Freedom Defense Initiative (FDI) organization with Robert Spencer, a blogger and author of articles and books relating to Islam and Islamic terrorism. A spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, Mark Potok, has described Geller's rhetoric as "over the line" and "hate speech". In response to accusations that she is anti-Muslim, Geller says that she is not anti-Muslim as that is "a slanderous slur and it's unfair."

In addition to her anti-Islam stance, Geller has also lent her support to a number of other political causes. She has been a strong defender of former Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic, and has denied the existence of Serbian concentration camps. She has also claimed that black South Africans are launching a "genocide" against whites, and expressed support for the English Defense League.

Stop Islamization of America and the "Ground Zero Mosque"

Main article: Park51

Geller and Robert Spencer co-founded Stop Islamization of America (SIOA).. In July 2010 their co-authored book, The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America, was published. Two months earlier, they began a strong campaign against the proposed Park51 Islamic community center, which Geller has referred to as the "Ground Zero Mega Mosque". She claims that Park51 is viewed by Muslims as a "triumphal" monument built on "conquered land". Her organization has also sponsored anti-Muslim ads in several cities, and appeared on an array of cable news show speaking out against the proposed Islamic Community Center.

Geller first blogged in Atlas Shrugs about the building in reaction to coverage in The New York Times on December 8, 2009. On December 21, she again blogged on the subject, referring to is as 'Mosque at Ground Zero' and calling it "a stab in the eye". (Sarah Palin later used the phrase "stab you in the heart" in her July 2010 Tweet about the building.) Geller didn't blog about it again until May 24, 2010 when she reported on a self-selected reader poll connected with a report in The New York Daily News, urging her readers to vote in it. This is when she first used the phrase "Mega Mosque at Ground Zero".

Commenting on the specific "Mosque" controversy, Geller says, "I'm not leading the charge against the Islamic centre near Ground Zero. The majority of Americans – 70% – find this deeply insulting, offensive. To call it anti-Muslim is a gross misrepresentation and to say that I'm responsible for all this emotion, again a gross misrepresentation."

However, Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations has criticized Geller, stating:

"People say don't give her too much credit, she's a fringe character, but she is a fringe character who every day is on CNN, Fox, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. She is the driving force behind the Islamic center campaign. I would say that she is the queen of the Muslim bashers, I see her rise and the rise of these anti-Islam hate groups going hand in hand."

Eric Boehlert, a senior fellow at Media Matters for America concurs with Hooper's sentiments, remarking that "she's been instrumental, she has whipped up hatred in the right-wing blogosphere and now that's spilled out into the wider community."

Atlas Shrugs blog

The name of her website and blog, "Atlas Shrugs", is a reference to Ayn Rand's novel Atlas Shrugged. Geller says Rand is "the greatest philosopher in human history," and that "I read the book in my early 20s when a close friend of mine whom I respected enormously casually mentioned it was her favorite book." Describing her blog, she said "My blog is, and its purpose is, clearly defined by Rand's philosophy."

Controversial postings on "Atlas Shrugs" have included a video suggesting Muslims have sex with goats, a doctored photo showing President Obama urinating on an American flag, and a fake image of Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan (who is Jewish), wearing a Nazi uniform. Geller has also used her site to accuse President Obama of anti-Semitism and doing the bidding of "Islamic overlords," while posting an essay suggesting that the President is the "love child" of Malcolm X.

Works

References

  1. ^ Pamela Geller, "Queen Of Muslim Bashers," At Center Of N.Y. "Mosque" Debate by Daniel Burke, The Huffington Post, August 20, 2010
  2. ^ McGreal, Chris (August 20, 2010). "The US blogger on a mission to halt 'Islamic takeover'". Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  3. The Woman Behind The Anti-Ground Zero Mosque Bus Ads, David Freedlander, The New York Observer, August 11, 2010
  4. Biography, Freedom Defense Initiative
  5. Contact, Stop Islamization of America
  6. How the "ground zero mosque" fear mongering began, Justin Elliott, Salon.com, August 16, 2010
  7. Untold story behind the so-called 'Ground Zero mosque', Ahmed Rehab, Chicago Tribune, August 20, 2010
  8. Giving Thanks, Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs, December 8, 2009
  9. Muslim Prayers and Renewal Near Ground Zero, Ralph Blumenthal and Sharaf Mowjood, The New York Times, December 8, 2009
  10. Mosque at Ground Zero: Adding Insult to Agony, Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs, December 21, 2009
  11. Palin's "Refudiate" Tweet on Mosque Near Ground Zero Draws Fire (for Substance and Style), Stephanie Condon, CBS News, July 19, 2010
  12. Vote on Mega Mosque at Ground Zero, Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs, May 24, 2010
  13. Lower Manhattan board mixed on planned mosque and Islamic center at Ground Zero WTC site, Samuel Goldsmith, The New York Daily News, May 24th 2010
  14. McCain, Robert Stacy (Oct 5, 2007). ""'Atlas,' at last, on map; Rand's novel set for 50th fete, film adaptation"". Washington Times. p. A.2.

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