A Perilous Premise

 

The apparent inability of the West to understand the motivation of Islamic extremism and terrorism, the lack of will, and the absence of any coherent and effective idea for dealing with the intrinsic problem of the diametrical nature of Islam to the Western ideals, is baffling. What is even more troubling is the doctrine of appeasement (excuses on behalf of Islam by western leaders) that is emerging in response to Islamic terrorist attacks, threats, and apparent intimidation of the West, whereby European leaders have elected to appease Muslims rather than engage them in honest and constructive dialog to transform the fundamental ideology that breeds hatred and inspires unspeakable acts of cruelty. This response is eerily reminiscent of the tepid response to the rise of Nazism, not too long ago.

To most Islamic leaders, perhaps, many Muslims, Islam is still at war with the Christian Europe, "crusaders", as the Islamic extremists and terrorists like to portray the West. Hence, efforts by the West to establish democracy in the Middle East are viewed as Christians invading Islam. To the West, this is a paradox, but to many Muslims, this is clearly an attack on Islam. After all, democracy being another ideology is invariably in competition with Islam. Moreover, democracy originated in the West, the land of the "crusaders", all the more reason for jihad. Hence, the mind bugling and most gruesome killing of innocent Iraqis by Islamic extremists and terrorists to stop democracy from taking root.

The incredulity that is at display over the fact that the London suicide bombers were home grown terrorist, is at best, naïveté and at worst, acute denial. The idea that assimilation is politically incorrect has led to the self-isolation of Muslims in European society and has encouraged the hostility towards the West that has emerged. Moreover, the added notion that life in the West is too good an alternative, and will inevitably dissuade and change the mindset of fundamental Islamists and terrorists, weaken their resolve to carryout the biddings of "Islamic holy edicts" ("fatwas") issued by clerics and regarded as the very word of Allah, is a perilous feel good notion.

Contrary to the expectations of the West, surveys continue to show that many western educated Muslims and Muslims dwelling in Western societies, including naturalized citizens and their descendants, are very resentful of the West. Their diatribes and incendiary comments are clear signs of danger that have gone unheeded. In the name of Islam, many of them have indeed taken up arms against their adopted Western countries and actively seek their destruction.

As they have shown, there is no question that Islam does not allow ijtihad (free play of the intellect - independent or innovative thinking) and qiyyas (analogical reasoning). After all, what is the need for those, if the only thing that matters is taqlid (imitation) of an act that took place in A.D 622 and A.D. 630. In Islam, the fundamental duty of each member is to submit to Allah and whatever Allah demands of him or her. Frequently, the "demands" that Allah makes of Muslims seem to be the unquestioned demands that Islamic clerics have presented, by way of fatwas (or holy edicts), which they issue to Muslims. Many of these fatwas are essentially calls to one "religious war" (jihad) or another, such as has been with Israel, and now is in Europe and America.

According to an article in the New York Times, about a year ago, by a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institute, who happens to be of the Islamic persuasion, "Many religious and community leaders were convinced that Islam would manifest itself in its truest form in this country. Some even proclaimed that one day America would be an Islamic state." In 1983, in a speech marking the dedication of an Islamic Center in Stockholm, Sweden, an Islamic leader declared, "In the next fifty years, we will capture the Western world for Islam. We have the men to do it, we have the money to do it, and above all, we are already doing it."

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, both regarded as American allies, have committed to fund the spread of Islam in America. Saudi Arabia has for decades funded the Madrasas in Pakistan and Afghanistan that have been the breeding ground for most Islamic extremists and every Islamic terrorist that has attacked the West, from 9/11 to 7/7. This perilous and borderless new army, primed on unbelievably warped ideology, has taken aim on the West and has committed to destroy its essence. They have all come to the belief that the greatest weakness the West has is its civil liberties, hence they have committed to employ the same to carryout their agenda. Is any one truly surprised at what is happening?

Denmark, France, and all over Europe —countries where freedom of expression and tolerance have been the hallmarks of the society, and on account of which, Muslims from all over the world, in spite of their intolerance and propensity for violence, have been welcomed into these societies. Now, these values that are the essence of these societies are increasingly on the run, essentially being exterminated. A situation where Europeans would lose their ability to speak freely in their own country, for fear of being assassinated by Muslims, is no longer a thing to be imagined, it is now a stark reality.

–

Discussion:

Omar / IRAQ THE MODEL:   Time for a cartoon post...

The Brussels Journal:   BBC Admits Fatal Negligence

Meryl Yourish / Yourish.com:   Lack of context  —  The mainstream media, particularly wire services …

Mark / Mark in Mexico:   BBC fanned flames of Muhammed cartoon fiasco

Jay Reding / Jay Reding.com:   Islam's Moment Of Choosing

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:   Two Myths  —  It is a myth that Islam has not allowed depictions of the Prophet.

Lawhawk / A Blog For All:   Connecting the Dots on the Rioting Over Cartoons

Sissy Willis / sisu:   Laugh, and the world laughs with you

Mike / Cold Fury:   Behind the veil

Reliapundit / THE ASTUTE BLOGGER:   ABU LABAN: BLASPHEMER

» All Related Discussion

« Hide All Related Discussion

Consider the fact that any citizen, even leaders in these societies, who says anything that Muslims don't like, is marked for death. In the Netherlands, Members of parliament who have been marked for death for their speeches, fearing for their lives and the lives of members of their families, in light of the murder of Theo Van Gogh and terrorist attacks, are now practically living under house arrest and in exile in their own country for fear of their guests. What an irony, an irony that is eerily reminiscent of the Trojan Horse.

As Muslims showed today in London and all over Europe, in the manner in which they are protesting the publication of cartoons about Prophet Muhammad, their value for freedom is only exploitative, only when it serves their purposes. They are destroying the freedom that enabled them to become part of these societies and they are using the freedom they seek to destroy, to achieve that end. Their expression of free speech is in incendiary statements like “Behead the one who insults the prophet,” “Butcher those who mock Islam,” “Be Prepared for the Real Holocaust,” and the sporting of suicide vests, yet they are unwilling to respect the right of others whose expressions are totally innocuous. These are not “Islamic extremists” voicing these terrorist threats in the name of free speech on the streets of London and all over Europe, or are they? The very fact that they are able to express these extreme views nullifies the grievance they have over the expressions of others which they protest.

A Molotov Cocktail Of Art,

After all the now famous cartoons were published in an Egyptian newspaper....last October. Ahem. Anti Media has a good laugh: "Now we're supposed to believe that millions of Muslims around the world are outraged? Give me a break. This lame attempt by the Jihadis to cow the west should be treated for what it is — a laughable joke."

Amir Teheri rather unusually stands up for the old ways of Islam. But then I have seen a liitle too much of that from Amir lately:

The truth is that Islam has always had a sense of humor and has never called for chopping heads as the answer to satirists. Muhammad himself pardoned a famous Meccan poet who had lampooned him for more than a decade. Both Arabic and Persian literature, the two great literatures of Islam, are full of examples of "laughing at religion," at times to the point of irreverence. Again, offering an exhaustive list is not possible. But those familiar with Islam's literature know of Ubaid Zakani's "Mush va Gorbeh" (Mouse and Cat), a match for Rabelais when it comes to mocking religion. Sa'adi's eloquent soliloquy on behalf of Satan mocks the "dry pious ones." And Attar portrays a hypocritical sheikh who, having fallen into the Tigris, is choked by his enormous beard. Islamic satire reaches its heights in Rumi, where a shepherd conspires with God to pull a stunt on Moses; all three end up having a good laugh.

Islamic ethics is based on "limits and proportions," which means that the answer to an offensive cartoon is a cartoon, not the burning of embassies or the kidnapping of people designated as the enemy. Islam rejects guilt by association. Just as Muslims should not blame all Westerners for the poor taste of a cartoonist who wanted to be offensive, those horrified by the spectacle of rent-a-mob sackings of embassies in the name of Islam should not blame all Muslims for what is an outburst of fascist energy.

Omar @ Iraq The Model concurs:

You know that those cartoons were published for the 1st time months ago and we here in the Middle East have tonnes of jokes about Allah, the prophets and the angels that are way more offensive, funny and obscene than those poorly-made cartoons, yet no one ever got shot for telling one of those jokes or at least we had never seen rallies and protests against those infidel joke-tellers.

What I want to say is that I think the reactions were planned to be exaggerated this time by some Middle Eastern regimes and are not mere public reaction.
And I think Syria and Iran have the motives to trigger such reactions in order to get away from the pressures applied by the international community on those regimes.

However, I cannot claim that Muslim community is innocent for there have been outrageous reactions outside the range of Syria's or Iran's influence but again, these protests and threats are more political than religious in nature.

The Astute Blogger, has the most offensive depiction of Muhammad, which happens to have been drawn by an Abu Laban who is of course a Muslim himself. Apparently all hell is breaking loose in Denmark. The Danish press are hot on the trail of the weasely Imams and have already confronted them with the bogus photo. A great post from Neander News, and some good investigative blogging.

Don't miss Alan Dershowitz on the subject as seen on Danish TV, via Michelle Malkin:

It's great hypocrisy on the part of those doing the burning, because these are some of the same people who read voraciously much worse cartoons directed at Christians and Jews and Americans and Israel. Deeply, deeply, offensive anti-Christian and anti-Semitic cartoons are a staple out of Gaza every week, and suddenly, when Muhammad is offended, they're prepared to burn down embassies and create this kind of havoc. It is extraordinary hypocrisy.
[...]
...When the burning down of embassies and the fear of fatwas and physical and economic retaliation are what determines the policy, it means that the terrorists have won. And the United States and other European countries have a policy: Never give in to terrorism. Well, they're now giving in to terrorism by not publishing these cartoons--not because they're offensive, they publish plenty of offensive cartoons, but because they are frightened and because they lack the courage to confront this kind of terrorist threat.

Editor and Publisher has a cowardly media round-up, and more firings over the showing of cartoons in Dubai, via Michelle Malkin.

How do the Muslim bloggers see it? Of course: Jamal is hoping Abu Hamza, the pig of a human being will be acquitted, presumably because he thinks one injustice in a Court of Law should begett another. Quite honestly after reading that, anything he says from then on is forthwith nullified and as far as I am concerned coming from a persona non grata.

He did however amongst other warped personal views manage to sow some real pearls of Islam wisdom: "Two important meanings from the Qur’an should be remembered in this respect. 1. The non-believers will not accept your view point until you leave your religion and become like them. 2. If you are unable to abide by the laws and policies of the country you reside in then, you should leave."

Yes if you are unable to obide by our laws and the policies of our country you should leave. Do you find that surprising? Shari'a would suit you better would it? Well you are going to have to fight for that one I'm afraid. Terribly unreasonable aren't we? We just simply won't lay down and die. How inconsiderate.

As for the religious intolerance, we simply don't believe we should be killed because we are infidel non-believers. Is that wrong? I wonder what the Qur'an says about that. No, wait a minute I forgot, we don't give a fig what the Qur'an says. Is that clear enough for you?

Memeorandum features this post here.

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Comments

[Huan]

the islamists want to make this a clash of civilization, between the Muslim world and the west. If we accept and embrace this depiction, which is not universally held regardless of how one interpret the Koran, then the inevitable solution and definitive conclusion to the "clash" is total war with either elimination or sujugation of the Muslim world.

acceptable?

[David]

As far as I'm concerned, the entire "Religion of Peace" meme is impeached by the life of its "prophet"--the lying thug, Mohammed. All that's needed is to point out that for the entire lifespan of this cult, the _normative_ practice of those who _remain true_ to the life of their "prophet" truly emulate the example he set at Medina, where he conquered by lying to the Jews there to obtain their surrender, then raping, murdering and enslaving those who tendered their surrender.

Mohammed was a savage thug whose example deserves absolutely no respect from any civilized human being under any circumstances. Those who faithfully follow his example are still savage, murdering, barbarous thugs. And those who act as apologists for the cult he founded are simply lying.

IF Islam were ever to truly become a religion of peace, of respect for human rights, it would have to begin by repudiating Mohammed. Until that happens, I have no respect for ANY of its adherents. They are either thugs or apologists for thugs, no matter how they couch their words.

[Dumb Ox]

On Charlie Hebdo, point well-taken. I've hated that rag since 1978... Makes my stomach turn at the kiosks. I have a subsequent post discussing their actual motives in posting that new Mohammed cartoon: they are anarcho-communist pervs, basically, and happy to sow disorder. It's their stock and trade...

Thanks for the reply,
D. Ox

[Paul of York]

Thank you Alexandra, what a tolerant person!

Liquid: I'm on my way over there, thank you.

[Huan]

there is nothing wrong with cherry picking your religion to be a moderate, especially if what you leave out are the violent parts. but then i am not religious and see nothing wrong with this.

[Liquid]

Paul, you should read some of my comments here, there isn't a one without a typo or something.HA HA...I am either half asleep or too in a hurry to proof read. I figure since there are so many educated people reading that they can surely have trained eyes to ride over the mistakes.

As far as Islam, I know alot of people might not agree with everything Craig Winn has on his site, but seriously, for any newbie to what the quran is all about, I suggest you check out The Prophet of doom, because it's written in a way that anyone can comprehend. It's a good place to start.
www.prophetofdoom.net

[Alexandra]

Dumb Ox,
Not sure what you mean I did not give you credit:

Consider the fact that any citizen, even leaders in these societies, who says anything that Muslims don't like, is marked for death."

Links to your site, and your link tells the story.

For me, I only linked at all because it's coming from YOU otherwise Charlie Hebdo does not get my time of day, regardless of circumstance. Don't forget I am European, spend quality time every year in France, and unfortunately all too familiar with their publication.

[Nasty_Ninety]

Despite the outrage that people of the USA had over 9-11-2001 the people of the United States have gone back to sleep at the lullaby that has been sung to them. The lullaby has the lyrics of “Islam is a Religion of Peace and it has been hijacked”. Perhaps the singers of such songs really believe the lyrics of this song. It’s a delusion and the singers of this song do not know that the creator of Islam was a savage. He slaughtered even elderly people who made fun of him… or the very young without the slightest pang of conscience. It’s time that this dispensation of ignorance concerning Islam comes to an end and those in power cease reveling in the kissing of the ass of savages who promote this sort of murderous doctrine. They are like King Hezekiah (in the Bible) who showed the treasury of Israel to her enemies and was told by God that what he had done was going to cause their enemies to attack in the future. He repented half-heartedly thinking to himself that things would be good for him in his lifetime. He could care less about those who were alive after he was dead.

[Alexandra]

Paul,

What a wonderful thing to say, thank you. But please don't stop simply commenting, you are always on the button when you do, and we do want to hear what you have to say.

[Paul of York]

I think what I should do, at the risk of incurring the derision of your true commenters, is once a month or so, just tell you that I agree with everything you say, just to let you know I'm a visitor.
I can tell you that because so far I do and it takes some time to digest what you've said and realize it. It is not necessary anymore, to come here with the hope of commenting; I'm coming here to learn and it would be ill-mannered to say after each of your posts something like, "great post, perfectly said, outstanding, I agree with everything you said," when once a month or so should do it. Though even your commenters are quite something and make one feel poorly educated. (Which I am)
I suppose it's a way of saying thanks. Used a lot of words to say it, didn't I?

[RL]

berryburger.com

"A day without laughter is a day wasted."
Charlie Chaplin

Ciao Bella !

; )

[Dumb Ox]

Dear Alexandra,

There's a great deal of confusion indeed surrounding this episode that may go down in history side by side the iconoclastic controversy of the middle ages in the Eastern Empire.

I sort some of it out in a new post:

http://thomistic.blogspot.com/2006/02/cant-we-all-just-get-along.html

A bit disappointed that you didn't give credit for the link you put to our blog with the NEW French comic... sniff, sniff. It was an exclusive in all of the America's as the first picture and English translation...

http://thomistic.blogspot.com/2006/02/french-mohammed-cartoon-reprint.html

All the best,
D. Ox

[JasonP]

That was a wonderful summary that leaves little more to be said. So I’ll say just a little.

Moderates like Teheri cherry pick the exceptions from Mohammad’s life. He obviously didn’t refer to Mohammad’s reign of terror where he had critics assassinated (an elderly critic and a poetess.) Thus, moderates can’t fight Islam on its own terms. The texts are on the side of the fundamentalists.

People miss the fact that the cartoons are true. Mohammad was a violent man who plundered caravans, slaughtered opponents, conquered and oppressed. He ethnically cleansed Medina of Jews. Thus, Islam, as an ideology, should be vilified and condemned as much as secular totalitarian ideologies of the 20th century. And mockery is just as appropriate as it was against the founders of secular ideologies. But I don’t expect we’ll see anything like Charles Chaplin’s “Little Dictator” any time soon.

[Huan]

There is an Islamist agenda driving the current demonstrations over the cartoons. If the moderate and more enlightened Muslims do not rise up and speak out, they will lose the religion of Islam to fundamentalists' perversion. In a way, this is similar to how the Nazi took power while the moderate Germans dismiss them as amateurs and inconsequential. Before too long, they were either forced into fearful silence or had to leave their homeland altogether. Remember that the Islamists is waging a two front war, one to usurp power at home and the other is to gain dominion over the west. Their most effective vehicle is Islam, even more so than terrorism.

Related:
The Worst of All Defenders
Why can't Muslims take a joke?