Mark Steyn: Preaching to the reverted

Western Standard ^ | 2006-07-31 | Mark Steyn

[Clive]

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[metesky]

Steyn stomps 'em again.

[fanfan]

Canada ping.

Please send me a FReepmail to get on or off this Canada ping list.

[Steel Wolf]

It's like the old saying, "If you don't believe in something you'll fall for anything".

Human beings are a flexible lot, and can be convinced of anything in the world, except nothing. Liberalism, ultimately, is a path to nothing. It's a tool to fight perceived injustice, in a long, lonely, never ending battle.

Militant Islam IS justice. Victory, security, and one's place in the world are all there for the taking.

Why would any sane person choose militant Islam over peaceful liberalism? Easy. It's not how they appear, it's what they really are. Liberalism is a philosophy that holds a very dark world view, but couches it in bright language and pleasant euphemisms. Militant Islam is menacing and dire, but it promises a life (and afterlife) of order, justice, and calm. It's a world view self confident enough to slit throats in order to survive.

They're both self deceptions, really, but one is ultimately far more in tune with human nature. In their hearts, most humans fear the uncertainties of freedom, and long for an iron fist to guide their lives.

[Hardastarboard]

"I'm Gonna Shoot That Cop Right After I F-- His Ho"

Hey, Mr. Steyn! Quit making fun! I wrote the lyrics for that song based on a personal experience I had. It moved me deeply, to the point that I felt compelled to share it with others.

[Tax-chick]

A couple of weeks back, a poll in the United Kingdom found that only 17 per cent of British Muslims are prepared to believe there was any Arab involvement in 9/11--just as, in the fall of 2001, the Ottawa Citizen's coast-to-coast survey of Canadian imams found all but two insistent that there was no Muslim involvement in 9/11. To put it at its most charitable, these are not fellows one can reliably expect to identify extremists in their own midst.

A Steyn column short of snappy one-liners (unless I missed them :-), but long on serious content.

[MSSC6644]

most humans fear the uncertainties of freedom, and long for an iron fist to guide their lives.

I agree with the concept, but I think "iron fist" may be too strong. I think humans need guidelines, discipline and then punishment if they can't live a correct life. They also need forgiveness once they acknowledge the error of their ways. Perhaps we are all teenagers all the time -- until we grow up, of course.

[sunshine state]

bump!

[lawgirl]

and the Earl of Yarborough, who now goes by the name Abdul Mateen, though whether Burke's Peerage will list him as such remains to be seen. This makes Islam sound like the Brit equivalent of Richard Gere Buddhism.

ROFLMAO!

[Paleo Conservative]

There's no amount of taxpayer money you could throw at the Canadian Islamic Congress that would satisfactorily explain just what it is in contemporary Canada Steven Chand is supposed to identify with.

I thought it was free nationalized healt care.

[Blind Eye Jones]

"for young men in search of an identity, transnational jihad beats multicultural nullity."

The "YO SLAP UP MY BITCH" attitude and the Z Man's rock star head cutting stellar personality appeal to young men seeking to be powerful. The Christian church offers no comparable image with Jesus, in fact just the opposite, invoking us to be mild lambs of God. A lot of Christian churches seem to lack powerful resonating images that appeal to youth. They seem to be scattered to the multicultural winds. For example, our Presbyterian Minister is a Communist and Buddhist, and is currently studying Tae Kwon Do. How you resolve Christianity, Communism and Buddhism into some coherent sh*t kicking whole, I'll never know.

"Steven Chand may be a schmucko no-hoper on welfare"

Welfare or not, a lot of these wannabe terrorists come from rich families – Osama Bin Laden is probably the biggest case in point. The one young guy recently let out on bail in Canada has a father who is a well to do doctor. These guys drive expensive cars and it's not that they have been mistreated by the rich capitalists in Canada. There is every opportunity to succeed but through their arrogance and ingratitude, they prefer to bring the system down -- the "I'm Gonna Shoot That Cop Right After I F-- His Ho" attitude with an Islamic twist.

[Deo volente]

Christianity's imperative to evangelize is spiritual.

Islam's urge to evangelize is political.
This is a conquering army posing as a religion. Nothing more, nothing less.

The Islamists desire to behead the unbeliever, not baptize him.

[Blind Eye Jones]

"In their hearts, most humans fear the uncertainties of freedom, and long for an iron fist to guide their lives."

Sounds very Nietzschean. The soft bourgeois capitalism of "the last man" has met his match with Islam?

[heartwood]

I know an evangelical minister who got his black belt in Tae Kwon Do (martial art, no Buddhist flavor to it)

There's a Christian who can kick a** if he has to.

The best priests I have known have been very masculine.

Christianity can offer a model of manhood, but often it doesn't. You have strong men and the women will follow.

[Richard Kimball]

I've never been remotely interested in any form of totalitarianism, but, I understand some of the reasons for conversion. Western culture detests men, at least heterosexual men. The high number of female converts is both surprising and intriguing to me. I know that many of the technological advances of the west are incredible, but the self-absorbed epicureanism of the west is ultimately unfulfilling. I still think of Andy Warhol as the ultimate 20th Century man. He was rich, and indulged in every sensual vice, bedding both male and female celebrities, followed by an adoring throng, and ultimately, he was totally bored. Life, to him, seemed to be a mildly amusing television program. There was probably nothing he found worth fighting for, or living for.

[justanotherfreeper]

They're both self deceptions, really, but one is ultimately far more in tune with human nature.
Christianity can offer a model of manhood, but often it doesn't.

The real contrast between Islam and post-modern Christianity is how appealing Islam is to male nature. Liberal Christians have feminized religion to the point where men don't want anything to do with it. Islam is a lie, but it's a lie that is far more appealing to men and in tune with male aggression. A return to muscular, robust Christianity requires affirmation of male leadership and masculine virtue -- and a reacknowledgement of the old masculine virtue of chivarly: the strong protecting the weak, a uniquely Christian concept. We've done nothing in this society except denigrate and mock men for the last 40 years, then we're really surprised how men, especially men in prison who have been raised by single women without fathers, flock to Islam. Evangelical churches, with their emphasis on male leadership, are growing by leaps and bounds, not surprising to me, they are an antidote to our society.

[MSSC6644]

There was probably nothing he found worth fighting for, or living for.

Perhaps that's because he couldn't "get over himself."

I believe that as long as an individual lives and believes that he is the center of universe, his universe will become as small as he really is.

In connection with my previous comment, once an individual has achieved failure and salvation, he will find meaning only outside of himself. Only then will life be worth living and dying for.

[Steel Wolf]

The real contrast between Islam and post-modern Christianity is how appealing Islam is to male nature.

That shouldn't be surprising. Islam is a rich man's religion. Take some time to read through the Koran, and you'll realize that Muhammed set up Islam as a way to organize society under the control of wealthy males, and supported by warrior males and subservient females.

Men have pride in Islamic society, and women have value. We may consider their male pride barberic, and female value as akin to property. I know I do. But nevertheless, men want to feel good about themselves, and women want to feel prized. Islam merely entices men to feel greedy without guilt and violent without remorse. It allows women to be passive and powerless cattle, but without shame.

[Steel Wolf]

I think humans need guidelines, discipline and then punishment if they can't live a correct life.

I agree, and I definitely don't mean 'anarchy' when I say 'freedom'.

My point was that while most Americans are, theoretically, glad that they're in a country that is free, many would rather have a benevolent guiding force organize their lives and the lives of everyone else. Real freedom is scary, messy, and unpleasant, and I think that, push comes to shove, a large segment of humanity feels they aren't up to it. Others feel that they know better, and that their views should be mandatory and undebatable.

I suppose my point is that individuals anywhere may be ready for freedom, but societies need to be raised for it. A society lacking a firm belief in the inherent supeiority of liberty tends to gravitate towards strong leaders or visionary religions.