As the life of the Pope is threatened by fundamental Muslim extremists, cries urging retaliatory beheadings and charges of blasphemy from Westerners are nonexistent. Ramadan observances begin with violent eruptions over supposed insults to Mohammed. Imagine such an ignoble start for the holidays of Christmas, Easter or Yom Kippur.
Here we go again.
The often-outraged Muslim mob is once again garbed in full and bloody rage. This time the offense involves comments made by Pope Benedict XVI during a lecture. Quoting a 14th century Byzantine emperor who described the prophet Mohammed's view of forced conversion by the sword, as "evil and inhuman." The words caused mayhem within the Islamic world, escalating to firebombed churches and culminating with the murder of an Italian nun working in a Somali hospital.
In London, extremists have declared that those offending Islam must die. "Whoever insults the message of Mohammed is going to be subject to capital punishment," declared Anjem Choudary, a lawyer who organized the brutal violence that occurred after the publication of Danish cartoons deemed offensive earlier this year.
So now, the Pope must die.
"We swear to send you people who adore death as much as you adore life," was the not-so-veiled threat, evoking images of zealot suicide bombers. In response, the Vatican sent emissaries to Muslim countries attempting to quell the chaos.
Though Pope Benedict issued a rare papal apology, American Muslims joined the fray, deeming the apology inadequate. Ahmed Rehab, Chicago director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, was quoted as saying, "Pope Benedict's apology is incomplete because it expresses remorse for Muslim anger to his questionable selection of quotations, rather than his own poor judgment in choosing them." The Los Angeles Times editorially chastised the Pope, but was curiously hushed regarding the threats against him.
The past is prologue. Turkish Muslim, Mehmet Ali Ağca, critically wounded Pope John Paul II in 1981. Frail and ailing, he was also targeted by Al Qaeda-funded militants during a visit to the Philippines in 1995.
Pope Benedict's efforts at deflecting further unrest have met with disfavor. His apologies, it seems, are not quite good enough. An Iranian newspaper wrote his words were, "code words for a new crusade." Turkish clerics decreed his contrition wasn't properly articulated, suggesting the Pope fall on his knees before leading Muslim clerics in issuing his regrets.
Radical Muslims illogically promote the idea that the war against terrorism is a war against Islam. Many mosques seethe as hotbeds of anti-American hatred, yet we hear little opposition from the faithful—even the "home-grown." The same is true in European counties where Islamic communities spawn violence. Certainly, not all Muslims follow this mantra, but where is the outcry in opposition to the militant fanatics in their midst?
Islam cannot be discussed by non-Muslims without insult being inferred. Their standards regarding freedom of speech differ greatly from Westerners. Islamic law stipulates Muslims can peacefully co-exist with Christians and Jews only if the non-Muslims acknowledge their second-class status; agreeing to such harsh restrictions in numerous areas of society, as the inability to hold authority over Muslims, being subject to imposition of extra taxes, and not insulting Muhammad. A perceived slur, even unintentional, results in the revocation of the non-Muslim's conditional co-existence.
We are in the midst of a clash of civilizations, in which one side desires supreme dominance. As Muslim populations swell throughout Europe and the United States, this crisis will exacerbate. As long as parents find pride in their children's martyrdom as human missiles, with no sane voices calling for a halt to the madness, implications for the future are terrifying. It is inconceivable that Christians or Jews would behead those with whom they disagree, or celebrate their holiest of days with a call for the execution of the religious leader of another faith; though such actions are commonplace for practitioners of the "religion of peace."
If we care about our progeny, we must address this malevolence with swift certainty. Otherwise, how do we answer the generations we leave exposed to irrational fundamentalist zealots posing as credible religious agents?
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Read more articles by Carol Turoff
Ramadan calls Muslims back to the essentials of their belief…it is a time for faith renewal and interior conversion of heart…one can only hope it does.
Comment by peter wilson | September 26, 2006
Perhaps the most revealing line in your well-written piece is the quote "We swear to send you people who adore death as much as you adore life." Destruction and death seem to be key components within a segment of Islam that resonates throughout the warp and woof of the Muslim community the way a tuning fork creates vibrations in other forks — a mechanical symbiotic reaction/relationship as opposed to a pondered intellectual one. Apparently there is no turning of the other cheek in Islam — no sacrificial John 3:16 attitude that helps cultivate humility and service. One wonders if a fanatic extremist Catholic had attacked Ayatollah Khomeini in Iran; what un-Holy War might that attack have unleashed? We have, however, seen the polar opposite after Ali Ağca wounded Pope John Paul II: The pope forgave his attacker. How many innocents must Muslims kill before we are baptized in blood with a sustained realization that our future (and that of our children) are at stake? I fear it will be more than the 3,000 who died on 9-11. Perhaps it will take the destruction of an entire city before we finally accept that we are in a life-and-death struggle — and act accordingly.
Comment by Yo Jimbo | September 26, 2006
While in many religions, cultures, and political groups there are extremists it appears
only in Islam are the extremists the mainstream. This is because anyone who follows the
Koran will read of the hajib and other taxes that Jews and Christians must pay just for the right to exist.
Even then we are second class citizens. Muslims are fighting wars wherever they exist next to any other ethnic or religious group. Pakistan vs. India, the Armenian Holocaust, the fight with Azerbaijan for oil in the Caspian Sea, the civil war in Somalia, Sudan, and the war between Muslim Eitria and Christian/native Ethiopia.
Comment by michael | September 26, 2006
I'm kind of curious as to why people bend over backwards to say that we aren't in a war against Islam, just the extremists.
We have a percentage of muslims (let's say 10%) that are violent. We have the rest (or some of the rest) saying that the 10% is interpreting their religion wrong. Shouldn't that 90% or so be angry that their religion is being highjacked and given a black eye by that minority? Yet, there's no outrage. All we really see is ordinary muslims saying "It's not me!". Mostly, however, is a deafening silence from the "muslim majority".
Maybe I'm paranoid, but that seems an awful lot like tacit approval, but they just don't want to say so.
Some say that they just don't want to make themselves into targets for their over-zealous brethren. I don't buy that. It's cowardly for one thing. Pious for your god, but not enough to rebuke your brothers? No, it doesn't make sense to me.
I just don't see any muslim outrage against people who, we keep being told, are perverting their faith. If the silence isn't approval, then what is it? What of U.S. muslims? Why are they so quiet? If the terrorists really are perverting Islam, they why aren't there demonstrations in the streets?
We are fighting against muslim fanatics, but it appears that there's a whole host of muslims who are quietly hoping that they succeed.
This is what it looks like to me. Does anyone see this differently?
Comment by Ron S. | September 26, 2006
I truly believe that when those in the west do nothing when these militant-type Muslims make their threats, it makes them even bolder to make new ones. If one of these lowlifes' head were to explode upon the breathing of the threat, there would be a lot less of them.
I remember when the Ayatollah Khomeini took over Iran and started the militancy kick, he mouthed threats against the west and we did nothing. TV shows about Islam or has Islamic society as it's backdrop received hostile reviews and some personal threats, but nothing from it's leaders. A person (Salman Rushdie) writes a novel; 'The Satanic Verses' is officially threatened by the radical Muslim Cleric, the Ayatollah Khomeini, and we did nothing. Other people who simply expressed themselves in reference to Islam were murdered because of our inaction. No one should get away with sweeping the free speech rights away from Americans and making them fear for their lives! Khomeini is not here, but his minions are still with us. It is time we officially Declare War as a legal move so that America's military and other security apparatus can be freed to directly attack our enemies like what should happen in war. War is not pleasant but we must defend ourselves and our freedoms! We cannot afford to do otherwise!
Comment by Don | September 26, 2006
The fundamental flaw in logic with brainless, spineless America is that Islam is a peaceful religion, and that it's only "extremists" who commit violence on behalf of their faith. That's true about the Christian faith, since the Christian Bible nowhere rationalizes or gives instruction for exacting "Holy War" (that didn't come until later through Catholic Church doctrines not associated with the Christian faith directly), but Islam is very clear in saying that it is the duty of every practicing Muslim (not just "extremists") to spread Islam to the entire world, by force if necessary. Islam's prophet was responsible for war and the subjugation of nations to the Islamic faith. If one believes in Islam, if one is a "Muslim", it is his religous duty to forcibly impose Islam on anyone who hasn't been enlightened by it's beliefs. No exceptions, no excuses. If you are a "Muslim" who doesn't believe in using violence to spread your faith, you are not a true Muslim, you are not really following the Koran. However, to hear the mainstream media report it, Christianity teaches as one of it's fundamental doctrines that every good Christian should bomb abortion clinics (after all, that did happen 3 times in the last 20 years, and pseudo-Christian cultists were the one's responsible), while Islam teaches peace, love and harmony - a veritible hippy manifesto. Until Americans pull their proverbial head out of their proverbial — well you know, and actually inform themselves as to what exactly it is that Islam teaches, we will continue to sacrifice our freedom for political correctness until we eventually cease to be a nation - or at the very least, a free nation.
Comment by Patrick Mulligan | September 27, 2006
"I truly believe that when those in the west do nothing when these militant-type Muslims make their threats, it makes them even bolder to make new ones. If one of these lowlifes’ head were to explode upon the breathing of the threat, there would be a lot less of them.
"
At the beginning of the 80's, President Assad of Syria had a problem with the Muslim Brotherhood. There was active conflict in Syria which centered around the city of Hama. President Assad surrounded the city with the army. The army then bombarded the city with artillery leaving almost nothing standing. Twenty five thousand people died. Syria never had a problem with Islamists again. At the time it was largely overlooked because Israel had just entered Lebanon - which as usual took all Arab attention.
Comment by Lee | September 27, 2006
What is amazing is the fact that muslims are allowed to all but enslave women, openly discriminate against non muslims and the weak yet our President along with our popular media call it 'one of the world's great religions,' and treat it as such. What a joke we have become in the west, a bunch of wussified sheep to the slaughter. The joke is on us.
Comment by Dean | September 27, 2006
Sorry.
Difficult to generalize.
There are too many different aspects to Islam.
Islam is now wide spread. Apart the Muslim countries, many Muslims leave in the Christian, Jewish, Hindu countries, and find it difficult to fit in.
Each area with its own problem.
As Steven Centanni said about his Gaza kidnappers: "incredible naive"
This is the unifying characterization of the religion, or all religions.
SamHarris.org is a good analysis.
The Muslim immigrants in Europe are not homogenous.
Since Bosnia and 9/11, there are more radical elements in Europe in the Muslim communities.
The best remedy is to tell to all people to stay calm, and get as much Enlightenment as possible in place of unbelievable mysthical doctrines.
True for Muslims, Jews, Christians and all spiritually challenged nice and nasty people.
Comment by BP | September 30, 2006