“As the non Marxist philosopher-athelete, Lawrence Peter ‘Yogi’ Berra, said, ‘this is dejavu all over again’. Although the global political situation may be different, present-day anti-Muslim racism (broadly defined) not only bears a good deal of resemblance to the anti-Jewish racism or anti-Semitism of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but some of the social economic factors are similar, as are the political forces exploiting and developing this racism….

“Those who challenge expressions of intolerance against Muslims in the U.S. are mocked by chauvinists and the political Right generally for being ‘politically correct’ as those who praised the achievements of Jewish immigrants and the richness of Jewish immigrant culture a century ago were mocked by chauvinists and the political Right as naïve and misguided believers in a ‘melting pot’ society who were protecting socially dangerous elements….

“As Marxists we must both understand and oppose the present attacks on Islam as a religion and Muslims as people as a continuation of both the search for scapegoats at home and enemies abroad by the most reactionary supporters of our ruling class, just as we actively fought and fight against anti-Semitism.”

Norman Markowitz in Political Affairs, 6 March 2007