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An Archbishop Tells the Truth About Islam
Front Page Magazine ^ | April 6, 2K4 | Val MacQueen

Posted on 04/06/2004 2:00:17 AM PDT by rdb3

An Archbishop Tells the Truth About Islam
By Val MacQueen
FrontPageMagazine.com | April 6, 2004


Less than two weeks ago, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey, whose statements on faith over the last 20 years or caused the word "anodyne" to look too exciting - The Telegraph styled him ‘benignly soporific’ - suddenly let rip about Islam in a speech in Rome. Startled British newspaper readers put their knives and forks down on their breakfast plates and reread the excerpts carefully, in disbelief.

Lord Carey, formerly a preacher of multiculturalist boilerplate and now morphed into a tell-it-like-it-is kind of guy, had said in a speech in Rome that Islam is "authoritarian, inflexible and under-achieving." Taking no prisoners, he drew attention to the "glaring absence" of democracy in most Muslim countries and suggested that they had "contributed little of major significance to world culture for centuries."

Further down the page, while readers were still trying to catch their breath, the former Archbishop denounced moderate Muslims for failing to unequivocally condemn the evil of suicide bombers.  “Sadly, apart from a few courageous examples, very few Muslim leaders condemn clearly and unconditionally the evil of suicide bombers who kill innocent people.”

Surely Lord Carey was too old to be having a mid-life crisis?

"Throughout the Middle East and North Africa we find authoritarian regimes with deeply entrenched leadership, some of which rose to power at the point of a gun and are retained in power by massive investment in security forces. Whether they are military dictatorships or traditional sovereignties, each ruler seems committed to retaining power and privilege."

He also called on Europeans and Americans to resist claims that Islamic states were morally, spiritually and culturally superior. Dear me! Just what the rest of us have been saying for 10 years and been roundly condemned by the tranzis for even thinking!

Anything else? Well, yes. He added that, while Christianity and Judaism had a long history of often-painful critical scholarship, Islamic theology was only now being challenged to become more open to examination.

And then he lobbed his own little incendiary device into the debate. "In the case of Islam, Mohammed, acknowledged by all in spite of his religious greatness to be an illiterate man, is said to have received God's word direct, word by word from angels, and scribes recorded them later. Thus believers are told, because they have come direct from Allah, they are not to be questioned or revised."

Mohammed illiterate?

Needless to say, for perhaps the first time in his public life, the former Archbishop’s words did not fall on deaf ears. Not only was his speech in Rome, which most of the British public and worldwide Anglican communion would normally have dozed through gently, covered with fierce interest by the British media, but its flammable content sent British Muslim spokesmen, real and self-appointed, into a frenzy of inflamed multicultural sensitivity. 

Dr. Iqbal Sacranie, the secretary-general of something called the Muslim Council of Britain, prefaced his comments with, "Frankly, one is dismayed by Lord Carey's comments." He then hurried on to issue a dark warning to Lord Carey for mentioning the Prophet, Allah and the Koran in the same breath. He didn’t quite say what the consequences of this offense  would be, but it didn’t sound good for Lord Carey.

One Mazoor Manzoor Moghal, chairman of the Federation of Muslim Organisations in the city of Leicester, said Dr Carey's statement was "disastrous" for relations between Christians and Muslims.  "He has fallen prey to the campaign tactics of racists in this country," he said. That’s the spirit, Mazoor! If a internationally renowned cleric calmly makes some intelligent and well-observed statements about your religion, based on his own studies, try to shut down the debate by saying he’s naively fallen victim to ignorant racist tactics. Mr Pot, say hi to Mr Kettle.

In jumped a woeful Dr Zaki Badawi, a self-styled moderate, who was reported in The Telegraph as saying he was "quite upset" by the comments. "I think Dr Carey made a rather unfortunate statement at a time when there is about to be dialogue between Muslims and Christians in America," said Dr Badawi, principal of the Muslim College in Ealing, west London. He added that none of what Lord Carey had said was correct, and even if it was, it was all the fault of the West.

A multicultural groupie by the name of Chris Doyle, affiliated with the Arab-British Understanding Council weighed in with a high-pitched scolding in a letter to The Telegraph, saying, "Denigrating a religion for the extremist actions of a minority is appalling. It is the equivalent of holding Christianity responsible for the nuclear bomb." 

He went on, "Perhaps Lord Carey should pay attention to the 70 million Christian fundamentalists in the United States who are looking forward to Armageddon - and bringing it closer through their support of Israel." Oh, but of course! 

"Instead of widening the gap between Christians and Muslims, Lord Carey might think about how he can narrow it." Well, there’s an original thought. Except, the thrust of this organization is that the onus of Arab-British Understanding is on the British, which has an incontrovertible duty to "understand" the immigrant Arabs, and presumably make allowances for little cultural foibles like blowing people up.

The question exercising most British minds at the moment is, where on earth did all these Muslim outfits spring from?

Yet the former Archbishop’s words are having the effect he intended. Less than a week after Carey gave his speech, the formerly "dismayed" Iqbal Sacranie said, "It is important that we exercise vigilance. If there is anything we become aware of, it is our duty to ensure that this is reported immediately to the police. We will not tolerate terrorism." At last, an unequivocal statement condemning terrorism from a British Muslim spokesperson! – albeit that he equivocated slightly by saying that violence wasn’t a part of Islam. Nevertheless, it took some courage to make the statement, and he has been condemned by some radical Muslims for making it.

However, the Muslim News said that many mainstream Muslims in Britain felt "under siege," adding, "It is important that those… involved in terrorism should be apprehended. But what is also important is that this does not mean that people's civil liberties are affected." Heaven – if those well known champions of civil liberties, the Muslims, will excuse the loose usage – forefend that anyone’s civil liberties be affected, like being blown to bits by a bomb on the train home from work.

Meanwhile, at dawn on March 31, in a quiet London suburb, British police arrested eight Islamic men (a ninth was arrested the following day) in one of Britain’s largest ever domestic anti-terrorist operations. The combined resources of five police forces and involving 700 officers, had uncovered more than half a ton of ammonium nitrate fertilizer, a basic ingredient of homemade explosives, hidden in a self-storage facility. According to The Telegraph, they were all born in Britain of Pakistani heritage. Ammonium nitrate has been used by Islamic terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda, and similar fertilizer was a key ingredient in the Islamic bombs that exploded in Bali in 2002. And was used in the attacks on British targets in Istanbul last year.

According to The Telegraph, the father of one of those arrested, and the uncle of two others, ages ranging from 17 to 22, expressed his outrage. "The police behaved like terrorists," he said with that good taste and quiet understatement the British have learned to expect from these people. Apparently Kahn had taken umbrage because, during the terrorist raid, the police hadn’t allowed him to answer his phone. 

Yet on the day after the raid, and just a few days after Dr. Sacranie had been spurred by Lord Carey’s remarks to make statements that British-born Muslim youths must accept the responsibilities of citizenship and report suspected terrorist activity or preaching to the police, a well-known Loony Tune by the name of Sheikh Omar Bakri Muahmmad stated that Muslims cannot co-operate with local authorities against other members of the faith. In an interview on Britain’s major morning radio news show, "The Today Programme," Sheikh Muahmmad said, "Muslims have a unique way of life. Co-operating with the authorities against any other Muslims, that is an act of apostasy in Islam." To Sheikh Omar, one of Britain’s most infamous hate-preachers, I think we can reasonably pose the question: So?



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: islam
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1 posted on 04/06/2004 2:00:18 AM PDT by rdb3
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To: rdb3
Co-operating with the authorities against any other Muslims, that is an act of apostasy in Islam." To Sheikh Omar, one of Britain’s most infamous hate-preachers, I think we can reasonably pose the question: So?

Get the picture?

2 posted on 04/06/2004 2:28:13 AM PDT by Huber (A conservative is someone who accepts reality! (paraphrased from R. Kirk))
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To: All
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Armed Forces - Pacific




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Thanks for donating to Free Republic!

Move your locale up the leaderboard!

3 posted on 04/06/2004 2:28:27 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Freepers post from sun to sun, but a fundraiser bot's work is never done.)
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To: rdb3
The challenge to the famous "Peace loving Muslims" will be to explain EXACTLY the conditions necessary to achieve peace.

I am becoming convinced - peace will come only after death or conversion of all non-Muslims..

It appears this religious cult is unsuitable and incompatible with coexistence in the civilized world.

I no longer accept the premise that only 10% of Muslims are militant Islamists.... If that were the case - how could they silence the 90% majority of "moderate, peace loving Muslims"....

Semper Fi
4 posted on 04/06/2004 2:31:04 AM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek -- but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: rdb3
Religion of Peace bump
5 posted on 04/06/2004 2:39:25 AM PDT by Dajjal
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To: river rat
Well said.
6 posted on 04/06/2004 2:52:23 AM PDT by PROUDAMREP (UNITE FOR BUSH IN '04)
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To: rdb3
The powder keg we are sitting on appears to be getting bigger and bigger.


BUMP

7 posted on 04/06/2004 2:58:20 AM PDT by tm22721 (May the UN rest in peace)
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To: tm22721
Right. And it's all George Bush's fault for going after the vanguard of the caliphate for their attempts to spread the faith by peacefully blowing up buildings in New York and cultural landmarks over a thousand years old in Afghanistan. If only Bush had kept us sleeping, everything would be fine.... < /end sarcasm>
8 posted on 04/06/2004 3:17:38 AM PDT by CatoRenasci (Ceterum Censeo [Gallia][Germania][Arabia] Esse Delendam --- Select One or More as needed)
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To: rdb3
I think the Archbishop is still pulling his punches.
9 posted on 04/06/2004 3:32:35 AM PDT by leadhead
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To: rdb3; river rat
Good post, comment. Thanks.
10 posted on 04/06/2004 3:44:04 AM PDT by PGalt
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To: rdb3
Denigrating a religion for the extremist actions of a minority is appalling

This 'minority' is killing people all over the planet. The entire world is just about had it with Islam. You have admitted that you are incapable of policing your own because it is against your 'religion'. Since you are incapable of policing your own, the entire world is about to do it for you.

11 posted on 04/06/2004 3:59:22 AM PDT by justa-hairyape
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To: river rat
Having read interpretations of the Koran, I believe there is no such animal as a peaceful Islamist. There Koran states that all other non believers will be converted or killed. I don't see any wiggle room in the readings.
12 posted on 04/06/2004 3:59:59 AM PDT by gakrak
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To: river rat
Very astute observation. In fact, this latest incident in Fulujah(sp), where are all the religious leaders condeming this act. They comdem the multilation - wink, wink - but not the ambush or murders. My wife wanted to know where is CAIR, where is that fat guy that always appears whenever there is the slightest act of suppossed acts against Muslims. Maybe one of the good things that comes out of these continued attrocities is that more and more Americans will see that we are dealing with mad dogs that need to be put down.
13 posted on 04/06/2004 4:11:56 AM PDT by 7thson (BT AR - means end of message - no reply necessary or wanted!)
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To: river rat
I concur with your conclusions. However it is imperative that the Bush administration stop their candy coated rhetoric calling Islam the "religion of peace". While our military forces are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the average citizen in the States seems blissfully unaware of the imminent danger here at home. Thanks to the loose immigration policies of the Clinton administration "they are among us" and their intent is NOT to bring love and peace. We must remain ever vigilant because they want to kill us. The sooner we acknowledge that, as a Nation, the better off we will be!
14 posted on 04/06/2004 4:23:47 AM PDT by Shane
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To: rdb3
Oi! A pint of Guinness for me pal Lord Carey!
15 posted on 04/06/2004 4:24:14 AM PDT by Sender (Support Free Republic...become a monthly donor!)
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To: rdb3
Except, the thrust of this organization is that the onus of Arab-British Understanding is on the British, which has an incontrovertible duty to "understand" the immigrant Arabs, and presumably make allowances for little cultural foibles like blowing people up.

Now you're getting it!

16 posted on 04/06/2004 4:32:26 AM PDT by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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...sent British Muslim spokesmen, real and self-appointed, into a frenzy of inflamed multicultural sensitivity.

That's the line of the year.

One Mazoor Manzoor Moghal, chairman of the Federation of Muslim Organisations in the city of Leicester, said Dr Carey's statement was "disastrous" for relations between Christians and Muslims.

But plotting to blow up half of London isn't disastrous for relations between Christians and Muslims.
17 posted on 04/06/2004 4:45:57 AM PDT by jaykay (He who laughs last thinks slowest.)
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To: Shane
I agree with your concerns...
The situation in Iraq, is rising to a major level..
Real stuff is going to hit the fan.... SOON.

If that doesn't get America's attention, and expose our true enemy - MILITANT ISLAM - then nothing will and all is lost..

Semper Fi
18 posted on 04/06/2004 5:18:28 AM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek -- but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: river rat
Can I use your tagline?
19 posted on 04/06/2004 5:42:51 AM PDT by Central_Floridian
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To: river rat
peace will come only after death or conversion of all non-Muslims. or the death or conversion of all Moslems.
20 posted on 04/06/2004 6:16:45 AM PDT by arthurus
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