Oriana Fallaci: Rage and doubt of a threatened civilisation

The Sunday Times ^ | March 16, 2003 | Oriana Fallaci

[Truthsearcher]

"In the case of Japan, it took utter devastation, unconditional surrender, and a square one rebuilding and redesigning of their culture under occupation. Islam will require at least that.

Are we prepared to exact the price?"

We better be, that's the only way to kill the enemy (militant Islam), if we don't kill it, it will just keep coming back and cost us more in the long run.

[Sabertooth]

Great link, thanks for posting that, Victoria... well worth the listen.

[Sabertooth]

We better be, that's the only way to kill the enemy (militant Islam), if we don't kill it, it will just keep coming back and cost us more in the long run.

I think to use the term, "militant Islam" is to risk falling into a snare of false distinction.

True Islam is militant, because Mohammed was militant. So long as Islam persists in any form, so long as Mohammed is revered, there will arise revivalists who will seek to follow his path.

The choice is simple: our civilization or theirs.

[Victoria Delsoul]

You're quite welcome. The peaceniks keep repeating their mantra over and over again, but are unable to reply to one single question:

How does living Saddam in power promote peace and justice in Iraq?

[Victoria Delsoul]

FYI # 60

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Victoria, excellent clip it shows just how naive and brain dead these "Peace" activists are.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Right on target, Sam.

LOL, I love your tagline.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks. Kodi strikes again.

[185JHP]

Yes. She's learned what works.

[Truthsearcher]

"True Islam is militant, because Mohammed was militant. So long as Islam persists in any form, so long as Mohammed is revered, there will arise revivalists who will seek to follow his path.

The choice is simple: our civilization or theirs."

Agreed, but Islam is not the only militant philosophy. Shintoism and Bushido code of Japan is just as militant, and we were able to establish a democratic republic in Japan.

We can do it in the Middle East, and we must do it, that's the only way to win the final victory.

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL! Oh, post #64 should read:

How does "leaving" Saddam in power promote peace and justice in Iraq?

Getting tired. Good night everyone.

Cya tomorrow.

[katnip]

Besides, Europe does not care for the 221,484 Americans who died for her in the second world war, sir.

This is the most heartbreaking.

That so many Americans died for their freedom and they will so smugly give it away is nauseating.

To think so many Americans are descendants of these people is astounding.

Something magic must happen to people after they come to America.

[katnip]

With all due respect to Britain & Spain course :)

[Rasputin_TheMadMonk]

Voluptuous, Italian for "Get the flagmen, she's trying to turn around!"
I guess old WJC likes a bit of meat with his potatos.

Excellent if convoluted read BTW. Thanks Ivan.

[Movemout]

"Her article is full of a kind of European chauvinism, that some how Europeans have the capacity to appreciate liberty but that the people in the middle east aren't. "

Whatever would you expect from a born and raised Italian? I am always captivated by Oriana's style of prose. Her ideas and notions catch you unawares and carom in another direction. She knows of that which she writes although she rambles and contradicts herself from time to time. But at the core, the essence of Oriana is her profound love of freedom. I do not care if she believes that the japanese or islam cannot appreciate it in the manner which she does. What matters is that someone as profound as her can deliver the message that freedom is dear and can be delivered to us all only at great sacrifice.

[Truthsearcher]

"Whatever would you expect from a born and raised Italian? I am always captivated by Oriana's style of prose. Her ideas and notions catch you unawares and carom in another direction. She knows of that which she writes although she rambles and contradicts herself from time to time. But at the core, the essence of Oriana is her profound love of freedom. I do not care if she believes that the japanese or islam cannot appreciate it in the manner which she does. What matters is that someone as profound as her can deliver the message that freedom is dear and can be delivered to us all only at great sacrifice."

She may love freedom, but I think her love for it is based on all the wrong reasons and therefore I don't really trust her policy positions because her logical process is ultimately flawed.

Sure she loves freedom, but ultimately she only loves it as an extension of her self love. She loves to be free. That's the extent of her love of freedom. She doesn't see freedom as some ultimate good, it's just something she (and other europeans apparantly) happen to prefer, like classical music or greek tragedies. Those arabs, why they are too uncouth to ever understand something as refined a freedom, so just keep them where they are, and beat them down if they try to encroach on our territory.

It's the result of her atheist beliefs, there can be no self-evident truths or unalienable rights when there is no god to be ultimate standard of truth and morality.

I happen to agreed with President Bush, Liberty is God's gift to humanity, and that's why we are going to Iraq, and that's the reason we will succeed in liberating them.

[Movemout]

I can see that you are fixed in your belief that Oriana is not worthy of respect for her style of expression of support for freedom. She does recognize this state of affairs as a clash between civilizations. I wonder if you have read her excellent piece written just after 9/11. She was in NYC during the event.

It doesn't matter. I have no quarrel with your point of view in the end.

[cpforlife.org]

Thanks for the Ping and Post.

Very sobering. God bless all our brave troops.

Ivan, I checked out your sites-they're great. I'm new at site design, please tell me what you think about www.CpForLife.org

[tallhappy]

Thanks.

[Truthsearcher]

I read "The Rage and the Fury", the shorter version that is available on the web, not the longer printed version. Is that what you're refering to?

Like I said, I agree with her on many things, but I ultimately I don't see her as a fellow traveler. I think she and I just happen to be on the same bus at the same time, so for the time being she is an "ally" of sorts, but in the long run she isn't getting off at the same stop.

I'll give you an exmaple, let's say there is this person who's only interest in tax cuts is a selfish want to pay lower taxes, but doesn't have anything against high taxes in principle. That person may work with you for a while to reduce taxation, but that person can be bought, by some politician who offers to lower taxes for that bracket and "sock it to the rich" at the same time. You take the help those people give you when you can get it, but always keep in mind that in the end you can't count on such people.