Posted on 05/23/2004 8:29:20 PM PDT by quidnunc
Islam cannot embrace western liberalism because our notions of equality are antithetical to its the basis.
In recent weeks there has been much soul-searching, in the Islamic world and among the wider Muslim diaspora about whether Islam is compatible with democracy. This sparked a debate hosted by Intelligence2, a forum I took part in last week. As an Iranian now living in a liberal democracy, I would like to explain why Islam and democracy are essentially incompatible.
To understand a civilisation it is important to comprehend the language that shapes it. There was no word in any of the Muslim languages for democracy until the 1890s. Even then the Greek word entered Muslim vocabulary with little change: democrasi in Persian, dimokraytiyah in Arabic, demokratio in Turkish.
Democracy is based on one fundamental principle: equality.
The Greek word isos is used in more than 200 compound nouns, including isoteos (equality), isologia (equal or free speech) and isonomia (equal treatment).
Again we find no equivalent in any of the Muslim languages. The words we have such as barabari in Persian and sawiyah in Arabic mean juxtaposition or separation.
Nor do we have a word for politics. The word siassah, now used as a synonym for politics, initially meant whipping stray camels into line. (Sa'es al-kheil is a person who brings back lost camels to the caravan.) The closest translation may be: regimentation.
Nor is there mention of such words as government and the state in the Koran. Early Muslims translated numerous ancient Greek texts, but never those related to political matters.
The idea of equality is unacceptable to Islam. For the non-believer cannot be the equal of the believer. Even among the believers only those who subscribe to the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam, known as the "people of the book" (Ahl el-Kitab), are regarded as fully human. Here, too, there is a hierarchy, with Muslims at the top.
-snip-
On the one hand we have Islamophobia, a particular affliction of those who blame Islam for all the ills of our world. Some Muslims regard any criticism of Islam as Islamophobia.
On the other hand we have Islamoflattery, which claims that everything good under the sun came from Islam. (According to a recent BBC documentary on Islam, even cinema was invented in the 9th century by a Muslim lens maker in Baghdad, named Abu-Hufus!)
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at benadorassociates.com ...
Then you need to secularize the country and shove Islam into the background, like theyve done in Turkey. Say goodbye to the 10th century, for starters.
The idea of equality is unacceptable to Islam. For the non-believer cannot be the equal of the believer
if islam is incompatible with democracy is practicing islam not treason? At the very least is islam not an enemy ideology? And if so, why do we allow immigration of people who are our enemy?
No, per the article, the situation is far worse. Equality is not merely unacceptable, it is inconceivable. The words to discuss, to consider, to imagine equality do not even exist.
Can one think of a concept without the words to do so? No. Changing such cultural blindness is a multi-generational task.
Or, one could accomplish the same ends more quickly by compelling the abandonment of the limited belief system which is-slime represents.
Even then the Greek word entered Muslim vocabulary with little change: democrasi in Persian, dimokraytiyah in Arabic, demokratio in Turkish.
is a rather weak argument, given that the Greek word entered the Anglo vocabulary equally unchanged.
Turkey.
Any Islamist nutcase who tries to promote the return of the Sharia gets stepped on, hard, and toot damned sweet, too.
2 hundred years ago, America lived in a democracy based on equality for all men, except blacks and women. We changed, we've altered ourselves to extend democracy to any man who desires it.
I don't think it's IMPOSSIBLE for Islam. I think once it is introduced and they like it, they'll rethink their preconceived notions contained in their religion and change for the better. Or maybe I'm just an idealist republican... :0
Turkey is a democracy and it is Islamic dominated...it is a fairly stable country at this point.
The irony is that the Turks secularized their state at the expense of democracy and when the Turkish military allowed a free vote the Islamists won.
Islam is very compatible with mob rule (democracy). Islam is not compatible with individual freedom.
You missed the point - the words entered Islam but not the ideas - unlike the west.
Are the Turks Arab?
That's because Islam is a bunch of undeveloped neanderthals. The development of language signifies the development of human concepts and ideas. In fact, thinking, inventing and creating forces the development of new words. It's the bowing and scraping to a 'religion' of violence and oppression that keeps Islam stagnant. They simply cannot develop intellectually, emotionally and spriitually while paying reverence to the devil.
"Any Islamist nutcase who tries to promote the return of the Sharia gets stepped on, hard, and toot damned sweet, too."
Yes, and the military is sworn to uphold Ataturk's constitution, and they take that all very seriously. Of course, I think they still have some cultural problems relating to Islam, but they are miles ahead of other Islamic countries.
But I think it is a sad statement about this religion that in order for your Islamic society to succeed, you have to pratically shove your Islamic religion into a very large walk-in closet.
I respectfully disagree.
I understand that the idea has not been incorporated within 99.88% of the Islamic world, but trying to prove the point by through etymology is just silly.
On the one hand we have Islamophobia
They had to have reached into liberal U.S. to come up with this word. Now if they will just keep reading maybe they will also find the word "democracy".
Amir Taheri is, himself, a Shia Muslim.
Think about the Journalist and the message before raging into your kill all Muslim fanatical fantasy, aye?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.