Posted on 02/10/2006 7:29:45 AM PST by FlowJo
[Parvez Ahmed is board chairman of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. Contact him at pahmed@cair-net.org. ]
THE WORLDWIDE FLAP over a series of cartoons published in a Danish newspaper was avoidable had all sides approached the issue with wisdom and restraint.
Denmark's Jyllands-Posten published the cartoons depicting Islam's most revered personality, the Prophet Muhammad, in a way that was inaccurate, derogatory and intentionally provocative. Other than demonstrating visceral hatred toward Islam, the cartoons achieved little else.
Muslim outrage over the cartoons has lead to boycotts of Danish products across much of the Middle East, resulting in hundreds of Danish employees losing their jobs. Protests across the Islamic world have been mostly peaceful, but some have unfortunately turned very violent.
Characterizations of the controversy as a clash of cultural values or upholding freedom of press miss the point of the debate.
At the core of the reactions in the Muslim world are fears about Western motives, bolstered by lack of redress of ongoing grievances.
On the other hand, lack of understanding about Islamic culture explains why many in the West seem perplexed at how a mere cartoon could draw such an emotional response.
Yawn.
And Islam understands nothing about Western freedoms. Maybe, if it took a somewhat more tolerant attitude, it could learn something. That's a big maybe.
Understand this...
Qur’an 8:12 “I shall terrorize the infidels. So wound their bodies and incapacitate them because they oppose Allah and His Apostle.”
Qur’an 8:57 “If you gain mastery over them in battle, inflict such a defeat as would terrorize them, so that they would learn a lesson and be warned.”
Ishaq:326 “If you come upon them, deal so forcibly as to terrify those who would follow, that they may be warned. Make a severe example of them by terrorizing Allah’s enemies.”
Qur’an 8:67 “It is not fitting for any prophet to have prisoners until he has made a great slaughter in the land.”
MIDEAST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND CHRISTIANITY OR JUDAISM
I understand all I need to about Islam. They want to force us to convert or kill us. Neither is an acceptable alternative.
The west doesn't understand Islam? Sure we do....those of us that have had children recognize a two year old throwing a tantrum when we see it.
I had a socialist/leftest/democrat (I know I repeat myself) inform me that Islamic world has every right to attack us as we are the root of all of their problems. To boot, this guy was a union rep where I worked. You can't makeup the stuff he does to justify why everyone in the world should hate us.
Ah, no, I think we understand Islam very well. Just because we don't submit to Islam doesn't mean we don't understand it.
The problem is that after 9/11 many of us started to study Islam. My first reaction was "you have got to be kidding me!". The I found out that these nutcases are not kidding at all. It's not that we lack understanding of islam it's that we completely understand islam now.
Islam doesn't understand us.......
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
I'm willing to hear this guy out but he needs to cite some specific grievances before there is anything to discuss.
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