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War has its roots in the Crusades: U.S. has been drawn into a conflict that began 1,000 years ago
Knight Ridder Newspapers (via Buffalo News) ^ | 10/14/01 | BOB DAVIS

Posted on 10/16/2001 8:12:34 AM PDT by SocialMeltdown

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1 posted on 10/16/2001 8:12:34 AM PDT by SocialMeltdown
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To: SocialMeltdown
on the streets of Cairo or Amman, the common term for American is "cowboy" or "crusader."

I take both of those as a compliment!

2 posted on 10/16/2001 8:18:42 AM PDT by B Knotts
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To: SocialMeltdown
Interesting article, except it denies the truth for bin Laden's obsession, which he has stated clearly.

Bin Laden became angered at the United Stated when we continued our presence on Saudi soil after the Gulf War. He has rhetorically stated that the problem is our occupation of the land with 2 of the most holy sights in Islam.

In actuality, he has declared that the House of Saud should be replaced with an Islamic Theocracy. The presence of US troops on Saudi soil makes his mission much harder.

This isn't about westernism. It isn't about the Crusades. It's about power. Bin Laden wants it, and he sees our presence as a hurdle. The rhetoric he has used regarding the west and Israel is simply to make his cause more noble to his fellow muslims.

3 posted on 10/16/2001 8:21:13 AM PDT by sharktrager
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To: SocialMeltdown
This fight didn't just start 1,000 years ago.

It started in Genesis, when the two wives of Abraham, one the mother of the Arab nation, the other the mother of the Jewish nation, got in a fight, and the mother of the Jewish nation, Sarah, threw the mother of the Arab nation, Hagar, out in the wilderness to die. Every year, during the Hajj, the Muslims reenact Hagar's wanderings in the wilderness until an angel rescued her from death. The Arabs believe the Jews stole their rightful birthright.

In many ways, the Islamic religion attempts to reclaim the blessing God promisedi to Abraham, which Christians and Jews believe were manifested through the Israelites.

4 posted on 10/16/2001 8:27:52 AM PDT by lady lawyer
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To: SocialMeltdown
If it wasn't for the crusades, we'd all be speaking Arabic now.
5 posted on 10/16/2001 8:29:13 AM PDT by aimhigh
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To: SocialMeltdown
Bin Laden, then, represents a radical segment of the Muslim world, and scholars take pains to stress that the religion is not inherently warlike.

This from an Islamic Scholar? That only emphasizes the profound differences between academics and people with common sense.
At no time in it's history has Islam been peaceful. the last 100 years has been an aberration only because the west rendered Islam powerless and irrelevant the last time they attempted their "expansion by the sword".

And the propaganda continues...

Islam had a continuous Jihad for 500 years before the crusades and for 500 years afterwards.
That they still focus on the crusades only emphasizes their primitive, animal-like illogical behavior; it's as if resentment and hate is a cultural heritage for them.

Strange, for the Crusades lasted only 200 years, and ended 700 years ago.

6 posted on 10/16/2001 8:43:21 AM PDT by Publius6961
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To: SocialMeltdown
In a bit of irony, this shift was due in part to the European occupation of a Muslim world that was far more advanced in culture, medicine and technology.

This canard is endlessly repeated without substantiation.

More advanced in culture? Does that mean in political organization? I doubt it, since Europe had a much more advanced legal system (Roman law and the beginnings of British common law) and more complex and representative political structures (republics, constitutional monarchies, merchant city alliances, elective monarchies, cantons) than the primitive shariat and caliphate.

Does it mean music? I doubt it, since strict Islam outlawed all music beside muezzin chant - while Europeans were developing complex polyphonic music and theoretically advanced counterpoint for instruments.

Does it mean the plastic arts? Don't make me laugh. While Islam outlawed representative forms Europeans were perfecting perspectival painting, the incredible frescoes which adorn the churches of Europe, remarkably innovative and diverse architectural forms.

Does it mean literature or philosophical speculation? Preposterous. While Islam limited literary invention to devotional poems and philosophical research to parroting Aristotle or hippyesque Sufi mysticism Europe outgrew in one generation the recycled and mistranslated Aristotle that had obsessed Muslims for four centuries. Europe revived the ancient forms of epic, drama and lyric to add to their already superior devotional verse and created a variety of new literary forms to boot.

Islam was medically advanced? How so? Their medical knowledge never progressed beyong Galen - a Greek who died centuries before Muhammad's birth. While Italians and Englishmen were inventing modern physiology, pharmacology and biology Muslims were specializing in two forms of surgery: chopping off thieves' hands and adulterers' heads.

Technology? What technological breakthroughs did Islam create? No architectural ones. No medical ones. Nothing in terms of mechanics. Nothing in terms of physics. Nothing in terms of engineering. Everything they had was borrowed piecemeal from either the Copts they murdered, the Persians they murdered or the Greeks they murdered.

Islam is not a culture - it is a devourer of cultures.

7 posted on 10/16/2001 8:44:03 AM PDT by wideawake
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To: lady lawyer
In many ways, the Islamic religion attempts to reclaim the blessing God promisedi to Abraham, which Christians and Jews believe were manifested through the Israelites.

So both Christianity and Judaism are in error and only Islam is the one infallible faith.

Mohammad, as Gods prophet, supercedes Jesus?

Is that your argument?

8 posted on 10/16/2001 8:48:15 AM PDT by SocialMeltdown
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To: SocialMeltdown
Historically inaccurate. The Crusades were a delayed military response to Moslem invasion of Christian areas, not the start of the conflict.

Islam spread rapidly across the Middle East and North Africa, including countries that had been devoutly Christian. Its spread began to crowd the boundaries of the West, which was becoming solidly Christian.

Typical twaddle. Islam just "spread," huh? No mention that the method of spread was by warfare. He implies here that the spread was peaceful and that the Western response was over-reaction.

There is also no mention of the impact of the Mongols who invaded during this same period. The Crusades were a stubbed toe as compared to the decapitation of the Mongol invasions.

9 posted on 10/16/2001 8:53:33 AM PDT by Restorer
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To: wideawake
Thank-you for the clearification of facts.
10 posted on 10/16/2001 8:54:06 AM PDT by SocialMeltdown
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To: lady lawyer
Lady Lawyer,

I just wanted to let you know that your assessment of the root cause of the war was right on target. Satan hates Israel (through whom the messiah has come) and the descendents of Ishmael want to destroy Israel and place themselves in the place of blessing instead.

Fortunately, Israel is, and will remain "the apple of God's eye" and their position is secure.

My prayer and concern is that the United States will remain strong in it's commitment to Israel and NOT bend to pressure to force a "Palestinian State" upon them.

Dr. S

11 posted on 10/16/2001 8:59:42 AM PDT by Jmouse007
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To: SocialMeltdown
Great find ... following comments copiously.
12 posted on 10/16/2001 9:05:17 AM PDT by MHGinTN
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To: SocialMeltdown
That isn't MY argument. It is the argument of Islam, as explained to me by some Muslim friends. I am a Christian, who believes that the establishment of Israel was the fulfillment of prophecy. I did the post simply as a point of interest. I have found it fascinating to learn some things about the Muslim religion in the last few years.

Muslims do not believe Jesus is the Son of God. In fact, they believe it is blasphemous to suggest that Allah -- which is simply the Arabic word for God, meaning the God of Abraham -- could have a son. They believe that Jesus did not die on the cross, hence, no resurrection. They believe, however, that Jesus was a great prophet.

They do believe that Muhammed was the greatest and last prophet. However, they believe in the Second Coming, and that Christ will rule over the earth during the Millenium, interestingly enough.

I have wondered many times about the role of Muhammed. When he lived, the surrounding Arabs were worshiping various idols. He converted them to a belief in the God of Abraham, which was certainly a step in the right direction. I therefore think he did them great good. I often wonder how much of Muhammed's teaching has been distorted and changed in the last 1,300 years.

13 posted on 10/16/2001 12:06:19 PM PDT by lady lawyer
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To: wideawake
I don't have a huge understanding of this topic. But I believe the high point of the Muslim culture was in the 11th century, when Europe was in the Dark Ages. The Muslim culture preserved a lot of the Greek learning. They probably added things, too. Else, why do we use Arabic numerals?
14 posted on 10/16/2001 12:08:44 PM PDT by lady lawyer
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To: sharktrager
There is a rumor flying around that bin Laden's hatred for us stems from an American woman mocking his sexual performance. Anybody else hear this?
15 posted on 10/16/2001 12:19:02 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: SocialMeltdown
This article is a good historical review. However, its central premise is incorrect. The cause for the current uprising is not a crusade in the classical sense.

The Islamic fanatics are interested in bringing their version of conservative Islam to the forfront and to create enough dissention from the ignorant but pious in the streets that the major governments are overthrown. That is, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the others in North Africa.

As with the Popes of Rome who killed European populations to obtain uniform purity of the church, money and treasure is also involved. With the captured territory comes nort only souls to cleanse in the correct interpretation of the word of god, but much treasure as well.

The writer basicly misunderstands what is happening and attempts to bend events he does understand to fit his desire to view of the present.

The Holy Land of the Jews is is a secondary attribute to the current turmoil.

16 posted on 10/16/2001 12:23:13 PM PDT by bert
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To: lady lawyer
Arabic numerals appear to come from India.
17 posted on 10/16/2001 12:28:07 PM PDT by Tribune7
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: lady lawyer
Here is a link you will find very revealing regarding Mohammed's imagination in dictating the koran.

In essence, the Koran has some very interesting characters in it.

Legends say that IDRIS IS OSIRIS THE HERO OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN LEGEND.
Egyptian god Osiris and Islamic prophet Idris/ the same!?The Quran claims that Osiris the Egyptian god is a prophet.

Wesir, also known as Ausar and the Greek Osiris, is the Kemetic Name of the Lord of the Dead. He is not to be confused with historical predecessors such as Wepwawet, Yinepu (Greek Anubis), Sokar or Sobek.

Wesir is the son of Geb and Nut. He is married to his sister Aset (Greek Isis) and they have a son Heru (Greek Horus). Much of what is commonly known about Wesir, Aset and Heru comes from the Greek myths of Isis and Osiris. In Kemetic text, Wesir's death is attributed to drowning, not the dismemberment myth created later by Plutarch. The dismemberment myth does not appear until a thousand years later and may not even be Kemetic in origin. Wesir, in fact, was never resurrected as many believe. Wesir is Lord of the Dead and dwells in the Blessed Fields of the Dead.

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/anubis9/page3/Wesir.htm

Here is more on Osirus:

The ancient Egyptian god of the underworld. In Egyptian mythology the god who was ruler and judge in the underworld and the brother and consort of Isis. He is identified with the Nile, and his annual death and resurrection symbolized the self-renewing vitality and fertility of nature. (The Reader's Digest Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary, pg. 1203)

These two sources show that Idris, who is Arabic for Osiris is god of the underworld from Egypt! They might differ on whether Osiris was resurrected but they both agree on the origin of Osiris.

The Koran declares that Idris, or Osiris, who was the ancient Egyptian god of the underworld, is:

... a man of truth [and sincerity], and a prophet. And We [Allah] raised him to lofty station. 19:56-57.

Is Osiris the god of the underworld, or a prophet? According to the Quran he is! Remember there is no evidence at all in Islamic history or the Quran to prove that Idris was Enoch. This idea came along later with Muslims who tried to equate Idris to Enoch. This is most embarrassing because it shows that the Quran has fictional characters (to make it even worse, pagan gods) as prophets!

19 posted on 10/16/2001 12:51:08 PM PDT by MHGinTN
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To: Restorer
Good Response! It would be nice if the rest of the world was held to the same standards as the West with it's Christian Heritage.
20 posted on 10/16/2001 12:58:24 PM PDT by Sci Fi Guy
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