Posted on 08/16/2014 1:40:05 PM PDT by NYer
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Centuries are not exactly 100 years long. The late British historian Eric Hobsbawm proposed a more persuasive division of history with his "long 19th century," which began with the French Revolution in 1789 and lasted until the Great War laid waste to the empires and their balances of power. That was followed by the "short 20th century," inaugurated by the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and concluded by the dissolution of the Soviet empire in 1989, and the erasure of the Soviet Union itself from the map in 1991.
What followed in the 1990s was a short "holiday from history," as George F. Will put it on Sept. 12, 2001. A new century had begun that day, and whether it will be long or short remains to be seen. Last week, I wrote about how the settlement of the Great War eliminated Islam's geopolitical expression on the global stage and divided up historic Muslim lands — including, in the Islamic view, the ancient capital of the world's religious identity, Jerusalem — among European powers. While the Cold War occupied Western energies during the short 20th century, the Islamic world roiled with the question of what would replace the Ottoman empire as Islam's geopolitical expression.
One answer was given in 1979, from Shia Iran, where an Islamic Republic was established — state power at the service of Islam in a theocracy. Another answer was incubating in the Sunni world, which sought influence outside of the state system, even as it enjoyed the financial support of the Sunni powers. This latter option took the path of guerrilla war and terror, making itself manifest with Al-Qaeda's assault on the twin towers in New York.
So the 21st century opened with two options facing the Islamic world. On one hand, an Islamic jihad pursued through both state theocracy and non-state actors employing terrorism. These options overlapped both the Sunni and Shia worlds, as Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Nusra and now ISIS demonstrate. On the other hand, we see the continuation of monarchies and military rulers, which are supportive of Islam but not wholly animated by it. The Arab Spring marked the rebellion of the former against the latter. The turn of Turkey away from its aggressive secularism toward a more explicitly Islamic posture is another indication of the rise of the jihadist view over the idea of a secular state.
It is not a war between religions, and not a war between Islam and Christianity. It is a theological war in Islam that has lethal consequences for all those it touches, including non-Muslims. The West was reluctant to concede that our century would be defined by a theological war within Islam. And so President George W. Bush spoke of a "war on terror", which is a technique, not an idea or a movement. President Obama thought it was principally about America, and so his sweet words spoken in Cairo could make it all go away.
 The task of the West is to protect its populations from the spillover effects when the jihadi cauldron overflows. |
One of the few to see these developments clearly — more clearly than either his predecessor or his successor it should be noted — was Pope Benedict XVI, who called the world's attention to this Islamic theological-political crisis at Regensburg, Germany, in 2006. Many sought to evade the pointed questions he posed, but they did resonate in the Islamic world, where Muslims are the first to live with the consequences of jihadism.
All those evasions are no longer tenable. The unspeakable brutality taking place in ISIS-controlled Iraq — beheadings, crucifixions, killing of children, selling of women, mass graves, expulsions of entire populations — offers a clear picture of one option currently on offer. It is powerful and growing, manifesting itself in both Sunni and Shia forms in parts of the Islamic world. Its defeat will require from within Islam a century-long struggle involving theology, politics, social and cultural reform and sheer military power.
The task of the West is to protect its populations from the spillover effects when the jihadi cauldron overflows. Israel, as the most proximate Western nation, has learned this first, which is why it is reluctant to seek allies amid warring Islamic factions, and resigns itself instead to repeated small wars on its borders.
When the 21st century began with the carnage of September 11, it was tempting to ignore that a bloody new century had begun. Thirteen years into the jihadist century, it can no longer be ignored.
-St. John Damascene (d. 749), Syrian Arab Catholic monk and scholar. Quoted from his book On Heresies under the section On the Heresy of the Ishmaelites (in The Fathers of the Church. Vol. 37. Translated by the Catholic University of America. CUA Press. 1958. Pages 153-160.)
In interpreting God's laws, there is a principle in Islamic jurisprudence which states, "Reason is not a legislator." In other words, the only laws that apply to you are the ones God gave you. Reason has no authority or status in creating laws, or even in interpreting them.The political consequences of such a view are easy to see: If reason is not a legislator, then why have legislatures at all? They have no standing, because reason has no standing.
ISLAM AND REASON = OXYMORON
Do these worthies not understand that Christians are being crucified ... as in crucified ...in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, tortured, slaughtered ...as in beheaded ... in Pakistan, Syria, etc? Of course, they seem to find the strength to back up The Administration-Engineered invasion of illegal alien minors.
9/11, avenging anniversary of the Islamic defeat at the Gates of Vienna ... next month. The date is not coincidental in the continuing war to re-establish the Western Caliphate.
Winston Churchill: How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.
The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.
A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.
No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.
'Moderate' Muslims are working every bit as hard for the Universal Caliphate as their "Radical' brothers. Who does Fr. de Souza think pays for the activities of the 'Radicals?" CAIR bankrolls HAMAS.
"Moderate" Muslims believe that I and Fr de Souza will be their slaves in Firdous for all eternity, but as long as we are alive right now, why not get us to pay the Dhimmi Taxes?" Why not use us to keep the Western Societies that they enjoy so much functioning while it pays them to live among us?
During WWII, we faced Hitler, Mussolini, Tojo and their allies. Newsflash! I am willing to bet that a vast majority of their subject populations by and large considered themselves "Moderates." There are 1.75 BILLION Muslims. If 'only' 10% of them are "Radical" that means we are facing an implacable enemy numbering far more than the all Japs, Germans, Italians, et al. combined, than we faced in WWII. Think of the effort it required to subdue them.
That's at least what it will take to subdue Islam.
~~George W. Bush
Islam is a religion built upon the ravings of a lost mind. While this is a worthwhile article, I disagree with the author. As long as Islam exists, the world will be in danger.
+1.
“Waiting for an American Bishop, Archbishop, Pastor, Curate, Deacon, Acolyte, ...anybody ... to come out and say what has to be said about Islam.”
Deacon Robert Spencer: http://www.amazon.com/Politically-Incorrect-Guide-Islam-Crusades/dp/0895260131
i did that same math years ago. I calculate that we need to kill at least 1M muslims. maybe more
Winston Churchill must be turning over in his grave as his beloved country slips into the arms of Islam, without one shot fired.
Mohammed retakes top spot in English baby names
And it doesn't stop there ....
Muhammad takes Milan by storm - Variants of Islamic prophet's name discovered to be most popular among baby names in Milan
And it continues across the European continent ...
Mohammed is most popular boy's name in four biggest Dutch cities
No doubt this name prevails in Germany, Scandinavia and other European nations.
When I was growing up, there were no mosques in Queens, NY. No mention of Islam was ever made in our Catholic School religious education classes. 22 years ago, I relocated upstate to the Capital District of NY. About 5 years ago, a mosque was built directly behind a Knights of Columbus Hall. Two days ago, I learned that a Shia mosque has also been erected. Where did they choose to build it? Sandwiched between a Russian Orthodox Church and a Catholic High School.
Here we are, voicing our concerns and frustration. Voicing an opinion is no more meaningful than a hashtag - it goes nowhere. What will it take to WAKE UP the citizens of this country who have forgotten the events of 9-11? How do we regroup and organize resistance to the impending force of evil that is knocking at our doors? Talk is cheap ... action is needed.
Europeans and a lot of Americans don't care what happens after they're dead and gone, they only care about having the most comfortable and hedonistic life possible until they die.
Ping.
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