Posted on 09/21/2006 10:38:20 AM PDT by gopwinsin04
Submit or die: An offer infidels can't refuse? Commentary
By CLIFFORD D. MAY Many commentators have noted the apparent irony: The pope suggests Islam encourages violence _ and Muslims riot in protest.
Many commentators have pointed out the apparent hypocrisy: Muslims are outraged by cartoons satirizing Islamic extremism while in Muslim countries Christianity and Judaism are attacked viciously and routinely.
Many commentators are missing the point: These protestors _ and those who incite them _ are not asking for mutual respect and equality. They are not saying: "It's wrong to speak ill of a religion." They are saying: "It's wrong to speak ill of our religion." They are not standing up for a principle. They are laying down the law. They are making it as clear as they can that they will not tolerate "infidels" criticizing Muslims. They also are making it clear that infidels should expect criticism _ and much worse _ from Muslims.
They are attempting nothing less than the establishment of a new world order in which the supremacy of what they call the Nation of Islam is acknowledged, and "unbelievers" submit _ or die. Call it an offer you can't refuse.
If you don't understand this, listen harder. In London, Anjem Choudary told Muslim demonstrators that Pope Benedict XVI deserves to be killed for daring to quote a Byzantine emperor's description of Islam as a religion "spread by the sword."
"The Muslims take their religion very seriously," Choudary explained as if to a disobedient child, "and non-Muslims must appreciate that and must also understand that there may be serious consequences if you insult Islam and the prophet. Whoever insults the message of Mohammed is going to be subject to capital punishment."
Iraqi insurgents _ some Europeans admiringly call them "the resistance" _ posted on the Internet a video of a scimitar, a symbol of Islam, slicing a cross in half. It would be a stretch to interpret this as a plea for interfaith understanding.
In Iran, the powerful imam Ahmad Khatami said the pope "should fall on his knees in front of a senior Muslim cleric." In no culture of which I am aware is that a posture from which brother addresses brother.
Dr. Imad Hamto, a Palestinian religious leader, said: "We want to use the words of the Prophet Muhammad and tell the pope: 'Aslim Taslam' "
The Israeli Arab journalist Khaled Abu Toameh explained: "Aslim Taslam is a phrase that was taken from the letters sent by the Prophet Muhammad to the chiefs of tribes in his times in which he reportedly urged them to convert to Islam to spare their lives."
It is not only those readily identified as extremists who voice such views. The prime minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, seemed to strike a conciliatory note, saying that the pope's expression of regret for his remarks was "acceptable." But he added: "(W)e hope there are no more statements that can anger the Muslims."
Similarly, on National Public Radio, a George Washington University professor, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, argued that statements such as those quoted by the pope _ expressing sentiments some Muslims may find offensive _ must be viewed as a form of violence.
Is the Western ideal of freedom of speech and of the press threatened? Of course. But that's only part of what is at work here. More significantly, Americans and Europeans are being relegated to the status of a dhimmi _ the Arabic word applied to those conquered by Muslim armies between the 7th and 17th centuries. Based on shari'a law, dhimmis are meant to "feel themselves subdued," to acknowledge their inferiority compared to Muslims.
In some ways, we already have done so. For example, Muslims are welcome in the Vatican, even as Christians are banned from setting foot in Mecca. We do not object to Saudis building mosques in America and Europe even as they prohibit churches and synagogues on Arabian soil.
We pledge to abide by the Geneva Conventions when waging wars against Muslim combatants. We expect those combatants to follow the same rules. They are engaged in a jihad and they will show no mercy to infidel soldiers or even to infidel journalists. The "international community" does not seriously protest. With our silence, we consent to inequality.
Most of the world's Muslims are neither rioting nor calling for the death of the pontiff. But quite a few may reason that if Christians and Jews haven't the confidence to reject dhimmitude and defend freedom, they would be foolish to stick their necks out. After all, a Muslim who challenges the Islamic extremeists brands himself as an apostate _ as deserving of death as any uppity pope.
If that was from 100 meters, what do you do for a living?
My theory/fantasy has been that violent jihadists need to fear us much more than we fear them. Our utter predictability and reasonable behavior has been our undoing. Using this notion, once a terrorist attack can be traced to a specific group, we need to deploy thermobaric (fuel-air explosives) and possibly even neutron/low-yield nuclear weapons to make them understand there will be immediate and truly catastrophic penalties for their actions. Once enough cities have been eradicated and turned to dust, the terrorists will be swinging off of trees at the hands of their own decent and honorable countrymen.
Many generations of Muslim children need to hear lore of the incredible fear caused by the "Great Pale Fighters" and how they are very kind and peaceful when at rest, and fearsome beyond words in battle.
[/fantasy diplomacy]
~ Blue Jays ~
And yeah, all of my rifle shooting is at 100yrds. Anything closer is too easy. One of the ranges I frequent is putting in a couple of 300yrds firing points. I'll be trying to dope that one out for my rig the next time I head up that way.
Future plans include something a bit bigger that I can step out to 1000yrds with. .308, .338 Lapua Magnum, .416 Barrett, or a .50BMG. There is a 1000yrds range up east of Waco at Tiger Valley for me to go with it.
I'd prefer it was "them" in the dust bin of history.
bttt
"The prime minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, seemed to strike a conciliatory note, saying that the pope's expression of regret for his remarks was "acceptable." But he added: "(W)e hope there are no more statements that can anger the Muslims."
Too many Muslims are psychotic homicidal maniacs who worship a camel-riding paedophlic desert bandit and follow a philosophy right out of the dark ages.
I hope that didn't make him mad.
I think DPMS are a great value. My .308 also shoots excellent groups.
Wowsers.
Religion of Peace Rabid Dog Alert
But how do we get him (Akmadenijad) to wear the white frizbee?...lock-and-load!
I'm able to get all mine on a std. NRA 100 yd. slow fire target at 300 yards.
"In some ways, we already have done so. For example, Muslims are welcome in the Vatican, even as Christians are banned from setting foot in Mecca. We do not object to Saudis building mosques in America and Europe even as they prohibit churches and synagogues on Arabian soil."
Well, in all fairness, by doing those things, we are essentially demonstrating that we have higher moral character than Muslims. We are making ourselves the bigger man in the situation, so THEY'LL be the ones made to look like bigots and fascists (Which, of course, they ARE), rather than us.
Actually, it was a paper plate. He wouldn't need to be wearing it, he'd just have to hold still for about 2 seconds.
Eh... I'm too cheap. I print all my own targets. 8 1/2x11 standard paper. ;-)
Sure, it's something I fabricated in my head pretending like I was an elderly villager in a dusty and hardscrabble corner of the world speaking with little kids gathered around my feet and sharing life's lessons.
The funny thing is that I wouldn't even necessarily feel that wild-eyed and maniacal anger that is frequently seen in the faces of the jihadists. Pushing the provebial "red launch button" would literally be very clinical and simply a means by which to solve a problem. Hopefully they will come around before too long.
~ Blue Jays ~
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