The Real Lesson of Newsweekgate

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | May 18, 2005 | Robert Spencer

[Beckwith]

Lots of stuff on Newsweek blunder

[kabar]

First, conservative commentators in general have not been avoiding the issue of the culture, beliefs, and actions of Islamic radicals in relation to the Newsweek article or a host of other issues. For example, just go to National Review on-line and see the articles posted there on this very topic.

I am not talking about Conservative commentators such as Spencer or publications like National Review. Non-conservatives such as Bernard Lewis have also raised the issue.

Prominent, elected GOP officials, including the President, have been conspicuous in their absence in the discussion on the threat of Islam. It has become the third rail of American politics. We cannot even discuss the issue in the context of public policy and the relationship to the WOT.

This may be due to a PC attitude in some cases, it could also be due to the tactical requirements of isolating our principle enemy--which, BTW, is not all Koran-believing Muslims.

Nobody ever said that "all Koran-believing Muslims" are the enemy. I do believe, as stated previously, "that radical Islam is the enemy and that the Muslim silent majority sympathizes with the extremists." By our remaining silent, we are emboldening the terrorists and reinforcing their influence with the Muslim silent majority. BTW, I have lived a total of nine years in three Islamic countries, Indonesia (two years), Saudi Arabia (five years), and Iran (two years)and visited many more.

Second, you and I appear to disagree where the greater danger to our nation lies. I feel the greater threat resides in the the socialist forces within our country. They control several vitally important social institutions, including the MSM. If we can solidify a patriotic majority around the founding principles of our Republic, we can deal with any exterior threat.

I agree, we disagree. I believe radical Islam poses the same threat to our country and other modern democracies, as Fascism and Communism. Creeping socialism does not pose the same kind of threat. Unless we can deal with this external threat now, we will not have the luxury of dealing with our social institutions.

[cricket]

"It is somewhat embarrassing that you have managed to condense my lengthy dissertation into a few sentences. . .But you nailed it. Cheers"

LOL. . .the best laugh today. I did not think I did that; but funny. . .because it happens to me, frequently. . .and I think. . .'why didn't I just say 'that' (?)

[Elvina]

Interesting that the person with direct experience living in Islamic countries sees radical Islam as the greatest threat to the U.S. I agree with you. I too have had direct experience with the radical Islamists living quietly in the U.S. This was in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where all the liberals praise their religion of peace and fund terrorism by patronizing their restaurants and gas stations. Meanwhile the U.S.-hating Islamists laugh all the way to the Bank (the West Bank, that is).

Radical Islam is a direct threat to our way of life. I only hope my daughter isn't forced to wear a burkha in twenty or thirty years.

[Lesforlife]

Thank you for so clearly stating the obvious!!!!!

[From many - one.]

Thanks for posting this bit of common sense.

Finally.

[victim soul]

"The gorilla in the living room that no one wants to notice, is that flushing a Qur’an down the toilet should not be grounds to commit murder."

I am sick and tired of having our military investigated for abuses by our native United States media without the White House, Congress or native media drilling the facts of what these so-called "insurgents" do every day --- target and ruthlessly murder innocent civilians and freely elected government officials.

[DoctorMichael]

Excellent argument and explanation for the 'Ignorance' displayed by the devotees of the death cult known as Islam.

[Americanexpat]

You have a point. Most Americans are afraid to say anything against organizations like CAIR or the invasion of our country by illegal aliens, because they may be tagged as racist by the left.

I believe one of the reasons we haven't seen a lot of terrorists activity in America since 9/11 is the fact that almost every home in America has firearms in it. The left is trying to rectify that as we speak.

The activist judges attack our Christian values and over turn laws everyday that make it easier for the left to rule this country.

Our universities and public schools attack our constitution. religeous morals and patriotic values and are turning our youth into anarchist and homosexuals and emasculating our young men.

All this will make it easier to over throw our government either by communists, Islamic extremists or illegal immigrants from south of the border.

[nosofar]

The real lesson is hate blinds.

One that we are continuously relearning.

[nosofar]

Spencer's article is not a diversion, it gets to the heart of the problem. If we have to walk on eggshells re Islam for fear of inciting death and mayhem, it says more about us than our enemy.

The reason for walking on eggshells is to avoid having *all* Muslims at war with us instead of just a minority (however many that might be). Maybe this is not possible. I hope it is. I have to admit I have a sinking feeling that in the long run it won't be. I'll probably be dead by then, but my son would still be alive and his children if he has any, so I fervently hope that if it comes to it, we would not shy away from doing what needs to be done.

[RightOnline]

"The gorilla in the living room that no one wants to notice, is that flushing a Qur’an down the toilet should not be grounds to commit murder."

I put it more bluntly here in my household (jointly with The Lovely Wife):

The morons of Islam just LOOK for any excuse to rampage and kill. Have you ever seen a more overly-emotional, childlike, stupid, bloodthirsty, amoral bunch of droolers in your life????????

I've said it before, I'll say it a thousand times: Islam is a blight on this earth, and NO one can now doubt that mankind would be FAR better off if Islam was eliminated.

[kabar]

The reason for walking on eggshells is to avoid having *all* Muslims at war with us instead of just a minority (however many that might be).

In my humble opinion, this is the wrong reason. As I stated, the radical minority has gained the support of the silent majority because they have be so effective in their intimidation tactics of both the West and fellow Muslims. By "walking on eggshells" we feed those tactics. The Mafia does something similar. There is a price to pay if you don't go along to get along.

We must stop making paternalistic excuses for the unacceptable behavior of Muslims who commit violence and murder in the name of Allah under the pretext of some perceived insult by a non-Muslim. It goes back to the inane comments of the US leftists in reaction to 9/11, i.e., "Why do they hate us?" There is no justification for such actions. We need to stop blaming ourseleves and place the blame where it belongs, i.e., on the perpetrators.

[nosofar]

By "walking on eggshells" we feed those tactics.

This is what they are trying now. I just hope they don't go all PC and refuse to give up this strategy if they determine it's not working.

[starfish923]

Good bumper sticker:
FLUSH NEWSWEAK

Great bumpersticker.

[Travis McGee]

I only copied it from somewhere else, but yes, it's great.

Or how about "FLUSH NEWSWEAK AND THE REST OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA"

[6ppc]

That is, we must be compassionate because they are only animals and cannot help their behavior.

Pook...you nailed it with that one! Fits right in with the liberal nanny state concept. They can't be held responsible because they are disadvantaged.