The American Spectator

home
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Largest Selection of Liberal-baiting Merchandise on the Net!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Political Hay
Print Email

Political Hay

False Hopes Spring Eternal

"Barack Obama's election ushers in a sense of hope. Above all we can hope that America will enter a period where it brings peace to the world, rather than inflaming tensions across the globe."

With these words a local pastor began his sermon in the wake of Barack Obama's recent victory in the elections for President. Such views have asserted themselves in much of the liberal West, both inside and outside the U.S. Yet such views, though well meaning, are based on two very faulty assumptions. First, it is true that America is unpopular across the Muslim world. Muslim statements following the Obama election victory might appear to provide the reason for such unpopularity. Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, wished Obama well "as he proceeds to fix the damage done in our international system and in the Muslim world following the misadventure in Iraq." Such statements feed those legions of Western commentators who, like the pastor, believe that a rapid American withdrawal from Iraq, as part of a significant reshaping of American foreign policy, will heal the chasm in West-Islamic relations.

However, how much would that policy need to be reshaped in order to win Muslim hearts and minds? Indeed, would anything short of a wholesale Islamization of American foreign policy be sufficient? Unlikely. Because if one examines the statements of Islamist militants it becomes clear that they see the Iraq conflict as merely one chapter in an ongoing struggle with the "Christian" West, also including other conflicts in Palestine, Afghanistan, Chechnya, the Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand, Sudan and so forth. So a withdrawal from Iraq would need to be followed by an abandonment of Israel to its hostile neighbours, as well as a withdrawal from Afghanistan, and so forth. President Obama is highly unlikely to go that far in his readjustment of foreign policy, especially given his call for an increase in American troop strength in Afghanistan. So much for the first faulty assumption.

The second faulty assumption built into the pastor's comments is that Muslim anti-Americanism is just about foreign policy. Well, it isn't. Muslim hostility to America, and the West in general, relates to a range of other factors, most prominently perceived moral decadence and sexual shamelessness. The export of American soap operas to the Muslim world which portray teenage dating, kissing, and living together out of wedlock with little complaint from parents causes disdain by Muslims around the world for Western society. In short, Muslim parents fear that the globalization of Western culture will lead their daughters to bring dishonour to the family.

Is the onset of the Obama administration likely to assuage Muslim concerns in this area? Most certainly not. Ironically, a social conservative such as George W. Bush is likely to have more in common with Muslim moral values than the more libertarian Barack Obama. Remember the latter's opposition to the ballot designed to ban same-sex marriage in California. During his victory speech Obama referred to "gay and straight" in the same breath, with implications of equivalence, in a way that no doubt caused many Muslim listeners to baulk at his words. In fact, rather than Obama's moral liberalism winning Muslim hearts and minds, it is far more likely to increase anti-American rhetoric from Islamist militants who will see a more gay-friendly administration as being condemned by Allah -- and therefore being a worthy target of attack. So much for the second faulty assumption.

Contrary to the pie-in-the-sky predictions of many pastors and political commentators, the Obama administration is not going to be the darling of the Muslim world in four or eight years time. The instinctive anti-Americanism across much of the Muslim world will continue, and may well increase. The big question relates to whether President Obama will have the courage or insights to deal effectively with it.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Barack Obama

Peter G. Riddell is professorial dean of the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at the Bible College of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, and a senior fellow of the Kairos Journal.

Comments

USAF| 11.14.08 @ 10:43AM

Good points. You could have mentioned abortion as well. While Muslims have no qualms with blowing up themselves and mutilating others, They view abortion as criminal and therefore a strictly western practice. Just ask Barry's pal Louis Farrakhan.

Eugene Debbs| 11.14.08 @ 11:39AM

The silly ignorance of USAF aside, this piece has some interesting points.

The NY Times reports on its front page today that the head of the CIA is saying Al Quaeda is stronger, more diversified, and better able to establish base operations in more countries now than ever.

Pop Quiz: Is the CIA's assessment

1. Part of the liberal elite conspiracy;

or

2. Proof the Bush adminstration's policies to defeat Al Quaeda not working;

or

3. Proof that Barack Obama and his wife are behind 9/11?

I know this quiz won't be easy for many Am Spect. readers, so I'll give you all the time you need to answer. Use as much scrap paper as you need. Feel free to ask any questions you have before beginning, but no cheating.

Eugene Debbs| 11.14.08 @ 11:43AM

"Professor" Riddell may have pointed out that the vast majority of Muslims in this world descry violence and terrorism.

He may also have pointed out that indeed foreign policy positions of Britain and the US might reasonably be seen as a cause of anger in the Muslim world. (Say the entire colonial history for starters or the celerity with which our governments have interfered in domestic politics so we have more control over their oil resources [e.g. Iran]).

I know it's a lot to ask.

Non-Muslim| 11.14.08 @ 1:01PM

"Eugene Debbs" the known idiot refers to an article from the Old Gray Whore as if it weren't obvious leftard traitor propaganda and offers us a multiple choice quiz. (1) is the closest to the correct answer, Ms. Debbs, though there's no conspiracy, just more fevered ravings from the sufferers of BDS. In response, I offer you a quiz of my own.

1. Why are the queers in California rioting against the victory of Proposition 8 at Mormon temples in Utah and a church in Lansing, Michigan instead of at black and hispanic churches and Muslim mosques in California?

A. They're really just so stupid that they don't realize the Muslims oppose them far more than Christians and/or Mormons ever did.

B. They don't dare to rile black people or hispanics because they know the hard-bitten ghetto-dwellers among them would mow them down with their .45s and uzis.

C. They don't dare protest outside a mosque because the Muslims would slaughter them all with scimitars and maybe hang their corpses up around the neighborhood as a warning to any other queers who might be thinking of testing the tender mercies of Islam.

D. All of the above.

2. Given what we know about Muslims, what would they do if someone were to publish some cartoons that portray their prophet as the bloodthirsty cult leader and pedophile he actually was?

A. Hold massive--but peaceful--protests against the cartoons while calling for a boycott of anything made in the artists' homelands.

B. Hold *mostly* peaceful protests that *only* kill a few hundred people, in which they scream for the blood of the infidel cartoonists and hold signs saying "Freedom go to Hell" and other such amusing slogans. Then call for boycotts against anything made in the artists' homelands.

C. Fire more rockets at Israel.

D. Push for a UN resolution condemning "Zionism" and forbidding any speech that goes against Allah and his Prophet. Issue fatwas condemning anybody in violation to death by beheading.

Eugene Debbs| 11.14.08 @ 2:14PM

Non-Muslim.

That's a penetrating analysis, Non, and you give us much to think about. "The old grey whore" was a particularly classy flourish.

You write:

"Given what we know about Muslims, what would they do if someone were to publish some cartoons that portray their prophet as the bloodthirsty cult leader and pedophile he actually was?"

Your phrase "Given what we know" says it all. Because you seem to have learned everything you know about Muslims listening to idiots like Sean Hannity and surfing paranoid fringe rightwing websites, there's not much I can do to help you. It would require you being curious to learn something that might challenge beliefs you already possess -- something you're clearly incapable of doing.

I have a question for you:

If the CIA's report on the resurgence of Al Quaeda is "really" part of the liberal elite media conspiracy against America, does that include the entire CIA or just Hayden? Does the liberal elite conspiracy include Bush as well?

Who is NOT a part of the liberal Muslim elite terrorist communist conspiracy against America?

I'd be interested to know.

L. Ross| 11.14.08 @ 2:18PM

Couple of thoughts. Professor Riddel neglects to mention a central tenant of islam. They divide the world into Dar al Harb and Dar al Islam, or the house of war and the house of islam. The upshot of this is that the prophet instructed his followers to make war on all the non-islamic world until they submit (literal translation of the word islam) to the will of allah. So, yes, professor, they do despise us for our decadent and licentious culture, but they have fought like furies for 1400 years because this religion was started by a warlord. mohammed birthed a death-cult fixated on the afterlife which is at war with the rest of the world. Amazingly, this offshoot of Christianity and Judaism hasn’t burnt itself out, but has captured over 2 billion adherents. None of them seem to have an issue with the ongoing jihads around the globe, because mohammed makes it quite clear that fighting in support of islam is the duty of all muslims.
A second thought is that muslims don’t respect our restraint in this war on islam in which we are currently engaged. (no one wants to admit it, but that is exactly what is going on.) They think our mercy indicates that we are weak, and lack the courage of our convictions. Tragically, in order to turn the tide against islam, I believe we have to a) be willing to descend into a total war without limits against them, the kind where they are all fearing for their lives to raise arms against us. Fear that runs so deep they are willing to turn jihadists in to our forces, or even kill the jihadis themselves and B) we need to convert them to a less martial, more civilized religion. Because as long as they are studying the koran they will hear the prophets call to make war against us.
We face a much bigger challenge than most people realize.

R. Lonnay| 11.14.08 @ 2:34PM

If only more people would open a book and read a little muslim history and grow a pair of balls to stand up and speak about it, maybe what you say- mr. Ross- may happen.Until then we will have to wait until something catastrofic happens to us.

Josh F| 11.14.08 @ 2:53PM

Don't forget that Obama possesses a magic wand that no other US president has ever had: his skin color. According to John Kerry, that is Barack Obama's chief qualification for easing US/Muslim tensions. You have to see it to believe it: http://tinyurl.com/2qedow.

Carl H.| 11.14.08 @ 3:46PM

Riddell uses the same line of argument that Dinesh D'Souza employed in his absurd book, "The Enemy at Home." In his mind, America needs to suppress its "immoral" TV shows, movies and magazines, lest terrorists abroad, properly "offended," inflict their violent, albeit understandable payback.

Don't give to these thugs. Our culture is far nobler than theirs. Refuse to be a Judeo-Christian version of Islamic radicalism with a bit more benevolence.

David | 11.14.08 @ 4:04PM

Muslims have been making war on America since the late 1700's. At the time Thomas Jefferson became president (1801), America did not have a Navy. For years the Muslims (pirates) attacked our private ships, robbed them, raped our women, enslaved our men and women, and yes, demanded that our citizens convert to Islam. Jefferson established a navy and began a war against them. Do you recall the song with the line, "from the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli"? That's right, Tripoli, in Libya.

I don't believe that America was exerting its influence around the world at the time, or that we were exporting our decadent lifestyle and exposing the Muslims to it back in the 1700's. So their flippin' excuses for why they attack non-Muslims is a bunch of crap. The devout Muslims are doing exactly what the Koran tells them it is their duty to do.

The jihadist battle against non-Muslims will never change until the vast majority of the "moderate" Muslims (I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt) stand up and clearly and unequivocally state all day long, every day, that the violence done by the jihadists is wrong, and if they make a case, if it is possible, that Allah would be against the killing of innocents even though they are non-Muslims. I don't expect that to happen.

As to Iraq and the broader war against the jihadists, Americans aren't against the war because they believe there was nothing worth getting into a war with jihadists. Americans and the West turned against the war because we know we have the ability to crush the jihadists, but don't do it because they hide among innocents in mosques, schools and hospitals, and we aren't willing to kill quite so many innocents. It is very frustrating for Americans to watch our men and women killed a few at a time when we know they don't have to die if our leaders did what we did during WWII. This light footprint and not willing to offend their culture and all of that other politically correct crap is what makes this such a slow win and turns-off the vast majority of people.

I'll end with a little story. When England controlled India, there was a town or village or whatever that practiced human sacrifice. The leader tried to persuade the British general that that was part of their culture, etc. The general replied, "fine - you go ahead and practice what is part of your culture, and when you are finished, we will practice ours and hang you." The first time that Moqtadr al Sadr holed-up in that mosque about 5 years ago, we should have obliterated him, his men, and the mosque, which, as they always claim, is one of the holiest sites in Islam. Then the jihadists and everyone on our side would have known we were serious.

L. Ross| 11.14.08 @ 4:44PM

David, nice note.

R.Lonnay| 11.14.08 @ 4:59PM

Are we preaching to the choir?, Cause unless americans start educating our populous to this very history there better be enough of us to handle the coming problems!

Eugene Debbs| 11.14.08 @ 6:48PM

David --

Your post vividly illustrates how a little learning can be a dangerous thing.

(You should also keep in mind that under Jefferson our first treaty was with that same Muslim power.)

The Islamic world is vast, diverse, populous, and as susceptible to change as any other part of the world. To generalize about "Muslims" the way you do is foolish and ignorant.

While it is both sad and amusing to watch David flaunt his lack of learning, it is downright dangerous for us to keep sending people to Washington who share his lack of knowledge and understanding of the world.

To a certain extent I sympathize with David and many others who say nit-witted things about Muslims.

Our media hardly covers the Muslim world. Most Americans know very little about the Middle East, let alone the rest of the countries where Muslims live. So they end up thinking in brutally simplistic and shallow stereotypes.

Hatred and fear will only blind you, David. You need to be a man, get a grip, pull yourself together, learn something about the world, and try to learn how to think.

Red Neck| 11.14.08 @ 8:50PM

To h*** with what Muslims think of US morals, but it matters immensely what the God of the Bible (no, that's not Allah) does. Muslims may be the Philistines that have been brought upon us to punish us until we get right with Him (again, that's not Allah). And to quite an extent, moral stupidity punishes itself, because sin if indulged can't just be confined to a corner. It dumbs down all participants.

Eugene Debbs| 11.14.08 @ 9:49PM

Red Neck --

There's no stink worse than religious bigotry like yours.

You don't know the religion you attack or the religion you think you support.

You're a fool.

Daphne Kenward| 11.14.08 @ 9:51PM

America you have been had you have been bamboozled. By a bunch of Ashkenazi Jews do you know where they came from Georgia Russia look it up. They are not real Jews either they pose as Jews they worship MOLEC nothing to do with Judeaism. They took over your FED in 1913 they control all the wealth in the world and the only reason they want all westerners to Hate Muslims is because they can't get their hands on their money. They own the Central Bank in every country in the world, Except the Arab world. They know there is money there and they want their hands on it. They lied about Iraq having WMD, to start a war, wars cost money and one of their biggest investments is in wars right now America is paying 10 Billion Usd per monts to fix Iraq because the winner has to pay for the damage. They have fooled America for years, false flags, Mossad carried out the attacks of Sept 11th to spark a Muslim Back Lash, build on it, Now America has two wars not one to pay for. The government has to borrow the money, so the whole country gets into debt, company closes down people lose their jobs, their homes, companies goes bust, who benefits the Bank gets all the repossesed homes businesses, factories when things get better they sell them and make huge profits. They have been doing this for 200 years world wide. They go to various countries in Europe change their names to fit in to which ever country. These Jew are refered to in Revelations Chapter 2 Verse 9. Look up (Synogogue of Satan.com). They buy up the media that is how they control you and the world. They tell you enough to control what you think.

And sell teenage pregnancies, via TV stations Rape, murder, theft burglery adultry, sex with under age kids, so you can forget your morality. To the point people are living exactly what they have been fed, you are what you eat.

When people start to live the life of crime that has been rammed down their throats, you see how hard life is, as a teenage mother. The bible says get out of her my people. Stop allowing these people to fill your minds with hatred, and all that is evil. Because that is how they control you. The people of Palestine are mostly good people, but some have stopped being good people to fight off Satan who has come in their mids and are killing these poor people. But these Askekenazi Jews wuld have you think otherwise, think what it is like for the people losing their Jobs and their homes in America, who do you think is really responsible, you think it's Wallstreet wrong again its the FED who prints money to lend at high interest, and the interest rate is low so they mess up the worlds economy to gain their assets. Sorry folks you have been had by these people you are not the only ones Spread the word tell all your friends do to them what they do to the Muslims let people know what they are doing by word of mouth. They are tapping you telephone creating a police state because they control the Government of America they have Jewish spies every where. There are the smetic Jews they are fine. the Ashkenazi Jews are the Zionist who want to take over the world. The one in Israel are Ashkenazi Jews 90% they are not religious at all it's a myth. That is why they do what they do in the world. Killing 3'000 people on Sept 11th and blaim the Muslims is easy to them. Like they role the tanks over the bodies of old women and children in Gazza while they steal their land, and steal American homes and businesses sit on it and sell them to the higest Chinese bidder. These people run the Whire House and ever Governmental High office in the land, collect sensitive information and sell it to the Israelis. That's is why they murdered 3'000 Americans on Sept 11th so they get their WAR and claim there are terrorist out to get you when it's these same people who are doing it, and want to selience the entire western world while they rob and steal even your life, because these are the people who have been promoting themselves as the chosen ones they really have been chosen not by who you think these are worshipers of MOLEC there is nothing christian or godly about them. They Are from Satan the Beast of Revelation. Look up the Rothschilds on the internet while we can, because they want to cover up who they are, the media the |News paper all owned by these people the They have stolen the Palestinian land and every day they are expanding they know eventually people are going to find out, they have been doing these things in Europe for over 200 years they have been chased out of Europe over 100 times for exactly this sort of thing. I just feel people should know, its not only what they do to the Palestianians it's what they do to the whole world, it's not Just America it's globally.

Daphne Kenward| 11.14.08 @ 10:09PM

David My sweet you got it all wrong the British invaded America remember the Civil war, the only slave that ever lived in America is Black from Africa. Ask your teacher, or some one who have done History, Muslims have never attacked America. Look for a Book called American History. The Muslims are backward like many yeard ago The British and American and all Europeans wore long dresses and wore hats, they don't dress like that any more, if we are realistic, the Muslim women may not want to show off their bodies so men can lust after them, but all people the respect to change, and accept others even their differences, the Muslims are not you enemy. The Bible says your enemy is in your own house hold, what it means it's the one you least expect.

boomer| 11.15.08 @ 11:29AM

Debbs,
that vast, diverse, populous, and changeable muslim religion somehow seems to stay in the middle ages.

R.Lonnay| 11.15.08 @ 11:35AM

Daphne, Please google -Ted Sampley ,What Thomas Jefferson learned from the Muslim book of jihad. I believe it tells a different story.

Eugene Debbs| 11.15.08 @ 12:57PM

Boomer,

Is Turkey in the Middle Ages? Is Jordan?

Do you think it's likely that more than a billion people living in dozens of countries across the world are a unified terroristic organization that is stuck in the "middle ages"

OR

do you think it's more likely that you are really responding to an easily and cheaply manufactured cultural stereotype you've seen on TV?

Doesn't seem very likely the former could be true. It seems very likely the latter is true.

You people talk about how much you dislike government and how much you like to challenge government power.

Really though you've been this administration's willing pawns. They've NEEDED you scared, ignorant, and filled with hate -- and you gave them what they needed at every turn.

Congratulations. Look at how much our country is as a result!

R.Lonnay| 11.15.08 @ 1:33PM

Eugene, Turkey is not -but- if the muslims we are talking about have their way,Turkey and many others will be back there again, unless people speak up and denounce this minority of muslim terrorists( 10 or 20%) of billions is a bit more then a few!

Marc Jeric| 11.15.08 @ 2:50PM

David above is right - our "rules of engagement" will be the cause of our failure in the war on islamic terrorists. In early 1945 a unit of the American Army approached the town of Ammerschwier in Alsace; their mayor walked out to meet the American troups with a white flag, assuring them that there was no resistance. And so the American lieutenant walked in the town, leading their tank and soldiers. A sharpshooter from a window fired and killed the lieutenant. The troups retreated and called for bombers. The beautifully preserved medieval town was reduced to dust. There were no more hidden sharpshooters in German towns killing Americans after surrender - those were the good "rules of engagement'! Of course, after the war the town was restored by American money to its previous splendor - with original work methods and materials, you know - slate roofs, brickwork, etc.

Eugene Debbs| 11.15.08 @ 3:26PM

Marc Jeric

What do you know about "rules of engagement"?

You watch a movie with Harrison Ford in it and all of a sudden you're an expert on international affairs.

You people are absurd. You don't know what the hell you're talking about.

When you talk about Muslims you might as well be talking about Martians, because you know about as much about both.

R Looney --

If you believe that 10-20% of Muslims are terrorist or even sympathetic with them, then I can say unequivocally, sir, you are WATCHING TOO MUCH TELEVISON.

How about this. How about you totally change the channel:

Buy a ticket and GO to the Middle East and MEET some of these people you'd see bombed into Kingdoms Come. Or read a book about them or meet some of them here.

Ignorance in adults on this topic when so much information is available (if you know how to read and don't get all your information on the Sean Hannity Show) is a shame and sin.

You guys need to grow up, come to grips with reality, and make friends with the concept of doing some research and learning something about topics you want to give your opinions on, because for now you're disgracefully ignorant.

marky| 11.15.08 @ 8:05PM

if some of you remember bush said this is not a war against islam. a muslim, or anyone from the middle east, does not mean the same thing as a terrorist. while we are fighting blood-thirsty life haters who manipulate through fear and intimidation in the name of islam, they are about as equal to the kkk or neo-nazi's who mask themselves with christianity. unfortunately the jihadists raise more money and are more organized than the white-power kooks. i believe democracy in the middle east can eventually relegate the terrorists to the same level as the kkk and neo-nazi types.

Alan Brooks| 11.15.08 @ 9:01PM

What concerns me, worries me more than anything is that peace might come-- and then the pressure builds up and we have a larger war later. History bears this hunch out.
But, perhaps even more to the point, I don't ever discuss mideast politics with anyone except Jews, otherwise the all-pervasive hate for Jews disguised as hate for Israel slowly emerges in conversation. People desperately need scapegoats, and therefore the Jews will *always* (as in many generations on) be hated.
Such is the long & short of it.
Obama can cobble together his mideast peace.
But, unless we lobotomize the arab mind, peace not for long.

Daphne Kenward| 11.15.08 @ 9:26PM

A country like America is an ideal choice by the Askenazi Jew, who by the way are not even real Jews, to use and manipulate for their own ends. The facts on the ground is they hate all of you as you are a people divided by racial hatred and easily lead, and motivated to racial violence.

This is why these people use you to fight their wars because 100 of you is not worth 1 Jewish life.
AIPAC runs America and have control of all of you every President has to pledge to keep suporting Israel and all that goes on by was of Genocide of Palestinians people.

America has no choice because they control your FEDERAL RESERVE BANK and your country is Bankrupt and you Americans are no more than Slaves of Israel void of common sense or even logic. A bunch or Brain Dead GOYIM.. Or at least that is what the Ashkenazi Jews call you all. That is how they managed to Kill 3000 of you all and get the stupid GOYIMS to blame the Muslims when they had nothing to do with it. And denigh the population an enquiry into who really did it.

The FED is printing worthless currency like paper is going out of fashion. You dumb fools will you ever learn.
It's like a JOKE gone wrong, Print me some more of that dam worthless bits of paper to prop up the economy, I want to give it to the car giant, only no one in America is buying cars. Helllo people, lost your brains.
Infact soon no one will have a Job, unless you work for the oil companies. Print me some more of that dam worthless bit of shit, I have to bailout AIG. It will get to the point the idiots won't even remember who they bailed out from who they did'nt. You people have got to be the stupidest people on earth.

Sam from Atlanta| 11.16.08 @ 12:54AM

Dear Mr. Debs and Ms. Kenward,

Don't look now, but Muslim brutes had their asses handed to them by the US military, "untrained" Iraqi Army regulars and coalition forces; Destroyed en masse and their "cause" discredited.

You lose.

Best regards,

Sam Haldi
Atlanta, GA

Daphne Kenward| 11.16.08 @ 11:24AM

You you Americans don't wake up and go and read books, and stop believing every thing you hear on these Jewish controled Media channels and News paper, you lot bill sleep walk into slavery, and I am not talking about Black slavery either I am speaking about world wide slavery.

These Ashkenazi Jews who are not really jews are spoken of in Revelations Chapter 2 Verse 9 if you can read?. They gained control of your Banking system in 1913 and have crippled America. They own the IMF they own the World Bank as well they own every Central Bank in the world.

Except in the Muslim world, that is why this world wide melt down is only in the countries they have control over their monetary systems.

They crippled Africa with debt through the IMF creating world wide poverty is their aim. Every one of these countries have to turn their Taxes over to them, the more these countries borrow, the more taxes each man woman and child will have to pay if countries have to keep refinancing they never pay off the debts, theo other thing they love is war, because they lend money for war too, the winner has to pay to fix the country.

America is paying 10 Billions a month for the Iraq war. I only wish in Gods name that these shape shifting, master of deception, satanic people would just stop, and people world wide would stop and take control of their countries. Thats why they hate the Muslims so much because they don't want them no where in their country. The Saudies said if they catch one on them on their soil, they are not allowed to go there at all, and that's why. They are the satanic forces running this world. The root of all evil is money.

R.Lonnay| 11.16.08 @ 11:35AM

Eugene, is it muslims or another group of people who are blowing up their own kind because they hate americans and western values. I'm sure the west do not hate all muslims, I believe -at least- my opinion is that muslims must clean house first if they want the rest of the world to believe they are not all dangerous.

Eugene Debbs| 11.16.08 @ 11:58AM

R. Lonnay,

There are and have been MANY other groups who engage in terrorism around the world who are not Muslim.

Terrorism did not begin on 9/11. It didn't even begin in the modern world. Ancient stories -- even from the Bible -- record atrocities aimed at non-combatants for the purpose of spreading fear. That's terrorism.

But in our time there have been many, many terrorist organizations that are not Muslim, including ETA and the IRA.

Terrorism seems to be more attractive to populations who are routinely humiliated in one way or another. Terrorism gives a sense of vengeance, but it also permits weak, small entities to fight large powerful ones. (Colonists shooting at soldiers on a bridge sort of thing.)

Terrorism is awful and unacceptable. I'm not defending it. But you if you are capable of learning something, learn this: A) there's nothing inherent to Muslims or the Muslim faith that drives them to terrorism; B) the number of Muslims engaged in terrorism is very, very small; C) many different groups all over the world have and do practice terrorism.

Remember, before 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing was the worst act of terrorism by bombing this country had ever seen.

Remember too that for decades -- decades -- in the south people were subjected to terrorism perpetrated by a variety of paramilitary racist groups, including the KKK. These groups killed far more Americans than Muslim terrorists have.

Daphne Kenward| 11.16.08 @ 12:36PM

People need to do something simple switch of the TV, join groups read find out and discuss things to learn to understand. Stop letting the Government dumb you down. Making you weak minded, and foolish.

Check this Google The threat of slavery in FEMA 2008. And FEMA concentration camp in the USA.
when you find out tell me if you think this is terrorism.
After that look up Woodrow Wilsom 1913 Ruined his country. Then I am the witness.com

R.Lonnay| 11.16.08 @ 1:44PM

I feel sorry for all people who would love to live safe and free from terror, but when there are those who continue to excuse what is going on in our current times by not completely condeming all that is going on and not try to explain it,it will continue.

Alan Brooks| 11.16.08 @ 11:06PM

I wonder what Daphne real name is? Abdul or Mohammed? She is probably a he; you get a gentler reply if you're a woman.
Okay, so let's say, MS. Kenward, all the Jews are hypothetically killed. Then who do you kill? No shortage of people to kill, but who do you start with?

Alan Brooks| 11.16.08 @ 11:21PM

I actually do agree with Eugene Debbs, but so what.. the Mideast is a frightening mess. Even if there were no terrorists (excuse me, freedom fighters) whatsoever the region would still contain many small wars.
Guarantee you, you wont know peace in your lifetimes, none of you, not in the mideast for sure.
And not in Africa, either.
Let a futurist scribble a book about it, and sell it for $29.99, hardcover. with a fancy three color embossed photo of the continents squished together. Preface by Newt Gingrich: "in these days of rapidly interconnecting economies and space exploration, this visionary writer parts the curtain hiding the future from our gaze..."

Daphne Kenward| 11.17.08 @ 8:34AM

Alan:
No one has sugested anyone is killed. What one is sugesting, is that people take responsibility for the economic state of affairs. By lobbing their governments to change the Banking system in America. Thus preventing fraud on the scale that America is a bankrupt country, and has been made bankrupt twice officially in 1929- and 1933.

If the same system is allowed to continue owned and ran by this small group of people who have so much power and control over the global economy we will keep seeing the same thing keep being repeated. The prospect of having Millions of people living in poverty does not frighten you than you are asleep.

For example 47% of Americans have no health coverage, it will get to 60% and keep rising if you get sick and die, or your kids get sick and die and that is repeated in its thousands, they are killing you and you were in deep sleep while the problem got bigger and bigger, so you are dieing America is dieing, the people in the Arab world is dieing the people in Africa is dieing, we are dieing already. They are killing you and you don't even know it, that is smart. Zionism, Racism, markism, communism, Nazism they are all the same they are ideologies to take control of a system and create a new ideology, of gaining control of people and their money while the few at the top take over. Run by and controled by ASHKENAZI JEWS from RUSSIA that is where they origenated from, they adopt the name Jewish but they are not Jews. They are an organisation that wants WORLD DOMINANCE. That is what I am trying to say. If you have a Bible look up REVELATION chapter 2 Verse 9. Their think tank is a forum that they use to come up with new ideas to acheive control of the world and every thing in it and every one in the world. If Satan is the ruler of the world any one who is living under them is living in hell, and that is what they are trying to acheive. Hell on earth open your eyes and look and think.

David| 11.17.08 @ 3:04PM

Well, I am so sorry I missed all of the excitement the past few days. With regard to those who misquoted and slandered me, please allow me to say to:

Eugene, you wrote: "You should also keep in mind that under Jefferson our first treaty was with that same Muslim power [Libya]." You also criticized my knowledge about such matters. Please explain how the "treaty" is involved here.

Eugene, why was there a need for treaty in the first place? To end a war, perhaps? A war started by Muslims seeking to steal from American citizens and convert them to Islam by pirating them and their ships on the high seas, perhaps?

Further Eugene, I spoke mainly of "jihadists", not "Muslims" in general. If the bad ones are such a small minority as you and Daphne claim, and if the vast majority are good people, then why aren't they stating loudly and equivocally that attacking innocent people is wrong - even if they are non-Muslims? You explain it. Their silence is a form of acceptance of the violence, or at the least it indicates the moderates are empathetic to what the jihadists do. In other words, the moderates understand why the jihadists do what they do.

Daphne My Sweet, I did not say the Muslims attacked American soil in the 1700's. They attacked innocent American citizens and their property, and tried to force their conversion to Islam, which is the same as attacking America.

Also Daphne My Sweet, when Britain attacked the colonies, that was not the "Civil War" honey. That was the "Revolutionary War".

I really do appreciate the diatribes from Eugene and Daphne about us not knowing history. They have shown an almost complete lack of knowledge of history, and an inability to correctly interpret what little history they do know.

Daphne Kenward| 11.18.08 @ 10:57AM

For whay little History I do know, is that Religious wars did not start with the Muslims, you can go back to Egypt too, infact you can even go back to Romans when they controlled what the Jews could do and cound'nt do, before they decided that Christ was irrelelant, many say today they did'nt know that he was the saviour, to justify why they choose to have an innocent man put to death. It could be brought back to Sept 11th why they decided to put 3000 Americans to death, and blaim the Muslims, the same way they Blaimed the Romans for the Death of Christ.

For what little I know about History, I find a pattern. Religious hatred that's the pattern, I kill Christians, the Christians will Balme the Muslims, when in actual fact it was the Jews who did it. It goes right back to the begining, the person who is covering their track is the one you need to investigate. Who benefits killing Muslims? America is no where near the Arab world, Isreal is in the middle of the Arab world. America wants Arab Oil, and the Zionist wants the Arabs Money. There is your source of conflict.

Supra Shoes| 11.18.09 @ 4:58AM

Supra Shoes
Supra Skytop Shoes

Leave a Comment

Related Articles

ADVERTISEMENT

In Sum, IPCC Discredited

Paul Chesser

* * * *

That Dangerous Radical . . . Marvin Olasky?

Robert Stacy McCain

* * * *

Forget the Committees

Greg Scandlen

* * * *

Reid Disses David Broder

Philip Klein

* * * *

What to Expect in the Senate Today

Philip Klein

* * * *

Moment of Truth

W. James Antle, III

* * * *

No Sales Days in the Afghan War

George H. Wittman

* * * *

Bureaucrats With Badges

Mark Hyman

* * * *

Obama in Wonderland

Ken Blackwell

* * * *

A Writer Speaks

William Tucker

* * * *

What Has Changed?

Robert P. Kirchhoefer

* * * *

High Stakes

Manon McKinnon

* * * *
ADVERTISEMENT