Posted on 09/15/2012 7:17:03 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Modernity requires the willingness to be offended. And as anti-American violence across the Middle East and beyond shows, that willingness is something the Arab world, the heartland of Islam, still lacks.
Time and again in recent years, as the outside world has battered the walls of Muslim lands and as Muslims have left their places of birth in search of greater opportunities in the Western world, modernity — with its sometimes distasteful but ultimately benign criticism of Islam — has sparked fatal protests. To understand why violence keeps erupting and to seek to prevent it, we must discern what fuels this sense of grievance.
There is an Arab pain and a volatility in the face of judgment by outsiders that stem from a deep and enduring sense of humiliation. A vast chasm separates the poor standing of Arabs in the world today from their history of greatness. In this context, their injured pride is easy to understand.
In the narrative of history transmitted to schoolchildren throughout the Arab world and reinforced by the media, religious scholars and laymen alike, Arabs were favored by divine providence. They had come out of the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, carrying Islam from Morocco to faraway Indonesia. In the process, they overran the Byzantine and Persian empires, then crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to Iberia, and there they fashioned a brilliant civilization that stood as a rebuke to the intolerance of the European states to the north. Cordoba and Granada were adorned and exalted in the Arab imagination. Andalusia brought together all that the Arabs favored — poetry, glamorous courts, philosophers who debated the great issues of the day.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Simple. Insecurity.
What else are the sand monkeys going to do?
It has nothing to do with what the West does or does no do. Even if the USA never existed, Muslim nations would be backward, poor, corrupt and violent.
Their unhappiness and radical politics is rooted in their own retrograde culture
Truth in religion results in spiritual and psychological maturity. This is why Judaism and Christianity produce holy people. Islam teaches the least truth of the major religions. Islam produces infantile personalities.
Nothing I would like more than to put a wall around the entire muslim world and let them go back to killing each other over damp spots in the sand.
I think Christians, Jews, Mormons and most all are offended when their religion is disrespected and attacked. The Muslims are no different there, they just lack impulse control. Isn’t that the PC way of saying one acts like a jack azz?
What utter PC muslim koolaid bulls#!t.
“In the narrative of history transmitted to schoolchildren throughout the Arab world and reinforced by the media, religious scholars and laymen alike, Arabs were favored by divine providence. They had come out of the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, carrying Islam from Morocco to faraway Indonesia. In the process, they overran the Byzantine and Persian empires, then crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to Iberia, and there they fashioned a brilliant civilization that stood as a rebuke to the intolerance of the European states to the north. Cordoba and Granada were adorned and exalted in the Arab imagination. Andalusia brought together all that the Arabs favored — poetry, glamorous courts, philosophers who debated the great issues of the day.”
Worse, adherents' entire lives are wrapped up in that religion to a greater extent than is the case with any other religion and the extent to which the rest of humanity views the religion as a bunch of BS, particularly in an internet age, has to get to them.
Seek to prevent it? The article is a laundry list of Islamic insanity and offers no solution. They are stuck on resentment and enjoy their pity party.
Why does bums and ghetto trash are that easily offended?
They are deeply unhappy and have a few to lose. Psychologists calls it frustration.
Religion???
Islam is not a religion. It is a political system. The goal is world domination and "kill all the Christians and Jews".
Obama said nothing when a mass of Coptic Christians were killed.
And that's what happens when you have a Muslim president.
So contrary to the propaganda of the public schools and the (m)ass media, the Crusaders and “intolerant” Christians did not engineer the decline of islime: the Turks and Mongols did.
-——They had come out of the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, carrying Islam from Morocco to faraway Indonesia. In the process, they overran the Byzantine and Persian empires, then crossed the Strait of Gibraltar to Iberia, and there they fashioned a brilliant civilization that stood as a rebuke to the intolerance of the European states to the north. Cordoba and Granada were adorned and exalted in the Arab imagination. Andalusia brought together all that the Arabs favored — poetry, glamorous courts, philosophers who debated the great issues of the day.-——
Mostly Arab historical fantasy....
Me thinks he forgot a few things like the conquered people’s being dhimmis, or forced conversion upon pain of death, rape and pillage of christian women and culture, destruction of everything not found in the Koran...
I could go on.... But their was only so much bandwidth...
because they are a primitive culture despite the canards we get from academia about their rich traditions which mostly happened prior to Islam
primitive peoples are easily agitated into pandemonium on the streets
having a lot of experience in the third world I am convinced that primitive cultures lacking much education (or hope...real hope)
are more superstitious and believe any rumour
and that the men in particular reach a stunted level of reasoning maturity
I used to stand on the deck of my cargo ship in Miragoane Haiti and watch basically illiterate and I’m sure hungry men unload rice and cement and beans by hand 1000s of tonnes and be amazed at how childlike their animations and expressions and temperament were...the slightest provocation and they had tantrums
I witnesses similar behavior in Sierra Leone
I know no one likes hearing this but some cultures are better RULED than RULING
it’s a hard world out there folks and most Americans are so ignorant with their daft notions of cultural relativity or nay...Western European cultural inferiority
——I think Christians, Jews, Mormons and most all are offended when their religion is disrespected and attacked. The Muslims are no different there, they just lack impulse control. Isn’t that the PC way of saying one acts like a jack azz?-——
Not to be rude.... But you need to do a bit more research on the Islamic mind..their issues for lack of a better word has very little to do with lack of impulse control...
They have a serious superiority complex based on book which pretty much gives them license to wreck haven on the world to prove how superior they are....among other things ...
Because they think it’s ALL(ah) about them.
Plain and simple -
Islam is a Political. Main objective is to conquer others.
Followers of Islam trust Imam /Clergy for everything. Imam/ Clergy use average muslims as a tool.
Caliphate is their dream forever.
Mark Levin was just talking about this last night while on the way home from our football game. He simply stated that the reason that they are so violent is that they live in an uncivil society. He was rhetorically asking why Jews and Christian don’t rebel like that to hate videos. It is because we live in a civil society.
Nail, Head, Hammer.
Ancient curse/sins of the father?
Ephesians 6:10-18 ~
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Hmmmm...shortly after some yahoo jumps up and claims to be God's mouthpiece, God's blessing disappears....and they still haven't figured it out.
The offending work, a 14-minute film trailer posted on YouTube in July, is offensive indeed. Billed as a trailer for “The Innocence of Muslims,” a longer movie to come, it is at once vulgar and laughable. Its primitiveness should have consigned it to oblivion.
Hmmmm again....I would agree that the video is amateurish, low budget. The reactions from the muslim and western worlds tell me this:
1) Anyone with moderate image/video editing skills can now set the world on fire. The US and Arab governments have declared this week that any 9 year old with basic computer cartooning skills has the power to bring the world to the brink of WWIII.
2) The Western progressives have no standing from this point on in their criticism and outright hostility towards Christianity. Artistic gems such as "Piss Christ" or "Black Madonna" (the painting of the virgin Mary covered in elephant poo) should enjoy the same governmental backlash that this anti-muslim video received. NEA funding of anti-Christian art should either cease or extend to anti-muslim art as well. In effect, the government in general and the left specifically has this week given Christians a great tool to use in the culture wars--why do you publicly criticize and persecute those that defame islam while turning a blind eye to Christian persecution?
They’re wired to kill, period.
Acting like spoiled brats.
As directed by their god the devil.
islam means “submission” - to a strict cold collectivist medieval moral code
modern western culture has become a synonym for “free-willed individualistic hedonism” ... that's why the 9-11 hijackers partied in Vegas before going to collect their holy reward of 72 virgins
Conflict much?
Why are they offended? Because many of them are cretins with the emotional level of an infant. Only exceptionally stupid and emotionally immature people react in such ways.
What brought them into the 20-21 centuries is what is called the “black gold”, oil.
Well the Islam east has been at war with the Judeo/Christian west since Islam began.
They cannot take a joke.
Schooled with hate and victimization for years, they have allowed themselves,to be manipulated into a group mentality,thinking not as an individual but as a collective to whoever holds the most power at any given time.
islam also at war as well with the Hindu and Buddhist east, if you are paying attention to Kashmir, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand etc
islam is the big bully kid what doesnt want to
place nice with anyone, even the ones who give him their lunch money and try to suck up
That’s like describing death as “metabolically challenged”.
Sure, any believer will be offended when offense is given with intent. There is a huge gap between “poor soul, let me show him the true way” and “die vile scum”. Yes, both views exist in all religions, but most hold the former as a core value, while Islam seems to build on the latter.
Ignorance - they are easily whupped up by the jihadis for their own purposes.
Exactly, they are weak and insecure. Their actions are not those of someone who is strong and self confident, confident in their God. For another example, just look at the obama white house. They similarly over react and lash out at every little perceived slight...
There is passive aggressive power in being aggrieved. Manipulators do it all the time, this is a whole culture seeking to be offended in order to justify hostility and complaint and murder.
Anyone who has been around violent career criminals has seen a similar chip on their shoulders. It is to justify hostility and violence.
Worrying about this is a waste of time.
We don’t need to avoid offending them. We don’t need them to like us.
What we need to do instill absolute terror of the West in them.
I think a few radioactive craters, formerly Benghazi, Tripoli, Cairo and Tehran would the trick.
After that, whenever they get “offended” we can say “Do you know who are? Do you want us to do that again?”
Doesn’t necessarily have to be nukes, but the body count needs to be in the tens of thousands. Just enough remind that we don’t like them, and that they mean no more to us alive than they do dead.
All of you must be wrong. They are the religion of peace...
I think I read the same column written by the same guy about 11 years ago.
Instead of insights this guy, Fouad Ajami, offers excuses.
Insecurity. They know there “prophet” was a killer and a pedophile and they don’t want the first bit of scrutiny.
I’m thinking a movement to post Youtube videos of various things done with the Koran, like wiping the ass, wrapping garbage, using as notepads, etc. After the first few hundred, the towel heads should all disappear after spontaneous combustion.
Islam is a narcissist religion.
Narcissists will dish out all kinds of abuse and then blame the victim.
It is the perfect religion for psychopaths because it excuses any atrocity. All its followers have to say is that it was done in the name of Islam.
From “Understanding Muhammad;A Psychobiography”
“Muhammad was an orphan. Spurned by his mother in his infancy and left in the care of a Bedouin couple, he had a loveless childhood. He then passed to the care of his grandfather and uncle who took pity on him and spoiled him. Not receiving love at a time he needed unconditional love and not receiving discipline when he needed to learn about boundaries, he developed narcissistic personality disorder, a trait that made him a megalomaniac bereft of conscience. He fantasized about unlimited power, expected praise and admiration, believed he was special, and expected others to believe him and go along with his ideas and plans. He took advantage of others, was jealous, yet believed others were jealous of him, and was extremely hurt when rejected, even killing those who deserted him. He lied and deceived, feeling entitled and justified in doing so. All these are traits of narcissistic personality disorder.”
More at the following link:
http://www.faithfreedom.org/book.htm
They are easily “offended” because it gives them an excuse.
re: “they fashioned a brilliant civilization that stood as a rebuke to the intolerance of the European states to the north”
Yes, they “fashioned” a brilliant civilization by killing all who stood in their way. I’m not saying it was a picnic in Europe, but Northern Africa was primarily Christian prior to the 7th century A.D. - and not by force, but by genuine conversion. When Mohammed came along with his hordes of soldiers it was convert or die. Spreading Islam by the sword was not only acceptable, it was an imperitive in their belief system.
The Crusades were initially about restoring Northern Africa and parts of the Middle East to Christianity - as a liberation. Islam nearly made it to Europe if not for its defeat in Spain (El Cid, etc.). Had Islam spread to Europe we would still be in the Dark Age.
The idea that Islam is “bad” because they believe they are the true religion and everyone else has it wrong is an incorrect idea.
Christianity also teaches that Jesus is the One and only true God and all other gods and belief systems are false. But, the difference is that Jesus did not advocate conversion by force - although unfortunately that did happen, at times, in the past by “Christians” who either were ignorant or who had their own agendas rather than Christ’s.
Also, who doesn’t think their views are “correct” and others “wrong”. Atheists believe they are correct and everyone who disagrees with them “wrong”. Those who believe all religions are equally valid, but wrong to tell others that their religion is “correct” are also guilty of believing that THEY are correct in their relativist beliefs while those who disagree with them are “wrong”.
The real questions are - is there really such a thing as Truth? Is there such a thing as Right and Wrong that applies to everyone regardless of where you live? Is there such a thing as God, and, if so, who is He? If there is no God, then is there meaning to anything? Does morality mean anything?
This is where one must evaluate and judge what is true - but, how does one do that - especially since no one can agree on what “truth” is?
I am a Christian and I believe that there are moral absolutes set by God. I also believe that God exists and is knowable by man. I believe that one of the differences between Christianity and other religions is that while in other religions it is man seeking after God, in Christianity, it is God who seeks after man.
I know that there are others who vehemently disagree with these ideas and I accept that and that it is incombent on me, as a Christian, to answer those questions.
Salvation, from the Christian view, is a gift offered to man by God. It is up to the individual to receive it or reject it. It is not up to Christians to force that belief on anyone, but, it is our mission, given us by Jesus Himself, to offer it to everyone - to offer it as a gift.
It is also our calling to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
My point is, it is not “intolerance” to believe that one belief is right and all others wrong. What is intolerant is NOT to ALLOW others to make their own choices. Islam does not allow that.
If they’ve got a cultural inferiority complex, reacting hysterically and violently doesn’t really help their cultural image or earn respect. I’m certainly willing to honor the achievements of numerous different cultures, but I can’t honor this primitive violence.
Islam is satanic. Simple answer.
In terms of current and past events, the centrality of Jihad to Islam and its relation to the vast interconnection between the OIC at the UN, the Muslim Brotherhood and it’s spinoff, Al Qaeda, Maj. S. Coughlin, an Islam analyst at a high level has produced 5 videos detailing the current world wide Jihad, its techniques, infrastructure and its halfway point in a scheduled 10 year agenda ending in 2015.
The entire West has wilfully ignored Islamic public realities, preferring instead wishful thinking at its peril. The detail and the unraveling of Islamic scriptural code is explained, and the operation and linkage and intent of Islamic organizations is carefully outlined to disclose their integrated purpose. They are the most informative videos in regard to the immediate current events going on now, and have been predicted by Maj. Coughlin. His analytical and advisory services were terminated early in the current Administration.
The link: http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p19087.xml?cat_id=210
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