I detect a slight contradiction there Tooth.
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Posted on 10/25/2003 5:21:58 AM PDT by sarcasm
The White House has issued President Bush's annual greeting to Muslims around the world who will observe the holy month of Ramadan.
In his message, President Bush says Islam is a peaceful religion that has helped shape the character of the United States, and has made great contributions to the world.
Mr. Bush said Americans cherish the freedom to worship and, he said, "we remain committed to welcoming individuals of all religions."
During Ramadan, President Bush said Muslims fast, pray, contemplate and renew their commitment to lead lives of honesty, integrity and compassion.
Well, you're closer to the point than usual.
We're talking about the President of the United states poking his nose into faiths of the citizenry.
But militant Islam nor does moderate Islam share those same "western values". We do not share common ground. The truth is that militant Islam shares more common ground with the so called moderate Islam than it does with Western society.
America and the West might desperately want Islam to change but it is not for us to decide. It is up to them. If we keep telling them what a peaceful and tolerant religion they have, then they will never change.
The conflict is upon us and I would say that, in some manner, the world war has already begun. It is sad that people simply cant realize this. I do not think that trying to avoid the conflict should be the issue. I think winning it should be the only issue. You cant ignore it forever. It is only getting worse.
I think the first step in winning the war is understanding what our enemy is really saying and thinking and doing. With all of our high tech communications, spy satellites and our ability to converse around the globe at virtually the speed of thought, many in the West have absolutely no clue as to what is going on in the Islamic world.
In another thread I ranted on about how little America and the West actually know about what is going on. I myself do know, I have lived and worked in one of those "moderate" Muslim countries for many many years. I speak not only their language but their dialect as well, I understand their culture and customs, They confide in me and I hear what they have to say on a daily basis and not one of them supports the West or America in this war on terror.
Many Westerners read what the papers say, but seriously who writes that stuff and how much do they honestly know? Many listen to the debates about what the Quran really says, but have not read it themselves. And even if they have, what does it mean and does it even matter? The real kicker is, it is not only the words of the Quran that matter, it is the words of the mullahs, imams and leaders of Muslim countries, who interpret for the masses. And we don't hear them at all denoucing the extremists. What you hear are fire and brimstone speeches and even so called leaders of the moderates calling for the Muslims to rise up against their oppressors (ie. Prime Minister Mahathir's recent speech).
Is this really one of our allies in the war on terror? If he is an ally then why is he inflaming the Muslim world against us?
And so, is the situation hopeless. It is not, there is hope and there are real solutions that will work, and work fast.
America needs to tap into it's resources and enlist a PR crew of patriotic expatriate Americans who live and work in Muslim countries throughout the globe to help spread the good news about America and to help counter the lies and propaganda that the people hear.
This is something positive that America can be doing NOW!
A few months ago the American government paid MILLIONS for a series of advertisments on television in a few of these countries and it failed. It failed for several reasons. It was not totally suited to the local viewer, the message was not clear it was not personal and it was viewed as being nothing but Western propaganda.
Propaganda does not work if people realize that it is propaganda.
How do you think that message would be received if it was personal and came from someone who lives in their country, who speaks their language and who understands their culture? Perhaps someone that they have been friends with for years and someone they trust.
America's multi-million dollar ad campaign came across like a bull in a china shop and did more damage than help.
Perhaps it is time to think outside of the box and to realize that there are other solutions that have not yet been tried.
When dealing with other cultures, it pays to understand that a little finesse and a lot of understanding goes a long long way. Thomas Edward Lawrence knew that but the British and Americans seem to have forgot.
"Do not try to do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably than that you do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not to win it for them. Actually, also, under the very odd conditions of Arabia, your practical work will not be as good as, perhaps, you think it is."
'Twenty-Seven Articles', Arab Bulletin, 20 August 1917
Yes, I'm sure you were all outraged at his Easter message, or his Christmas message. Funny, I don't recall your outrage when he poked his nose into the faith of those citizens.
I detect a slight contradiction there Tooth.
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My comment on this is that the President has a right to say this, however, if he did it in a right way he would say that this is a time for the Muslims in the US to come up against terrorism, not just Al Queda terror, but terrorism against Jews, which they have not done so. And as long as they continue to remain quiet, we have a right to question their actions.
I also hope that the US would finally name its enemy - Militant Islam.
And does that include your support for their Commander in Chief to send them and their families his best wishes during their holy season?
I assume your answer is no. Now we see the value of your support.
Would your holy days be incomplete without an acknowledgment from a secular leader?
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