Thread by @mehdirhasan

Since Christchurch, I've been talking/writing a lot about bigoted & hate speech & demonization, & the responsibility of journalists to get their rhetoric right. Words matter.

I feel it's crucial at times like this to be self-critical, too. So a tough thread for me:
*THREAD*
1/

Like a lot of journos (humans?) I've said things years ago that I now deeply regret. Chief among them for me is, more than a decade ago, in my 20s, when I wasn't a public figure, I gave a bunch of speeches to students on Islam/extremism. And I said dumb offensive ranty stuff.
2/

Speaking without notes, & trying to be bombastic, I made stupid sweeping remarks about non-Muslims, especially atheists. I cringe now when I rehear/reread those remarks. I made stupid offensive analogies to animals. Argh. I'm embarrassed to have to write about all this again.
3/

The problem is that I've never really been able to fully reckon with what I said, esp as it was weaponized by right-wing trolls + Islamophobes to smear me as an "extremist" & a "jihadist". Lol. It gets me death threats. Not-so-lol. So I've been defensive as years passed by.
4/

But the internet never forgets, I turn 40 this year, and Christchurch has again reminded me about why words matter. I was never one of those Muslim-extremists-turned-'reformers' (ugh) but as a much younger man I did on occasion say silly, offensive, extreme-sounding things.
5/

I've written re my offensive remarks before, & tried to put them in context & explain them (away):
huffingtonpost.co.uk/mehdi-hasan/an…
& here:
huffingtonpost.co.uk/mehdi-hasan/do…
I've spoken at events & on the radio about them. But I don't want to defend/explain today. I just want to say, I'm sorry.
6/

I'd like to think we all have a capacity to grow, mature, & re-think our views. I'd like to think I have. Check my work. I've dedicated my journalistic career & speeches since to fighting bigotry of all types, from all sides. We have to stick together. Especially minorities.
7/

Growing up in a conservative faith community, where you didn't interact with *actual* gay people, I ended up making insensitive remarks, that I've apologized for before:
barficulture.tv/people/208
And have since written about being Muslim & homophobic:
newstatesman.com/mehdi-hasan/20…
8/

I now believe that you can't really live in a secular society without supporting a legal right to marry for same-sex couples. I do. But I still cringe as I remember how I made my own contribution to homophobic discourse back in my 20s, over a decade ago. I can only apologize.
9/

This sounds cliched but it's true: some of my closest friends/allies in the media are gay & atheist, people like @OwenJones84 & @ggreenwald. They have stood shoulder to shoulder with under-fire Muslims in our darkest hours. And I regret not having had their backs in my youth
10/

Anyways, this is turning into an over-long thread about stuff I said in my 20s. I don't want to turn it into something huge (& I am sure delighted trolls are circling) BUT nor do I want to pretend I didn't say this stuff or act like it doesn't matter. It does. And I'm sorry.
11/

Final tweet: words matter. Let's treat each other with respect & compassion - & apologize when we get it wrong/hurt others (even unwittingly). This isn't political correctness/censorship. It's just basic decency & common sense. Treat others as you'd like to be treated.
*ENDS*

*LOGS OFF TWITTER FOR THE REST OF THE DAY*

Update: ok folks, just wanna say, THANK YOU, for all your feedback and messages. I'm overwhelmed by the support, solidarity and understanding. Means a lot to me. And I really wasn't expecting it on Twitter of all places. We live and learn. Oh yes we do! Thank you again.