It's Really An Attack On Our Civility

NY Daily News ^ | 7/11/05 | Stanley Crouch

[areafiftyone]

The recent terror attack in London should help Americans see much more clearly and understand much better what we are up against. This clarity is not impossible: The 19th and 20th centuries provided us with enough religious and political wars to perceive what happens when the idea of individual rights has no sanctity within a system.

We have seen the crude methods put forth by terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan, the Irish Republican Army and by those loons who flew passenger planes into the World Trade Center and now claim to have set off the explosions that killed at least 49 innocent commuters in London.

One thing we can be sure of is that the sort of hysteria we find very common in Muslim countries will not take place in America or in England. We have both exhibited as much violent hysteria as possible in our separate pasts, but seem to have evolved beyond the primitive levels of violent outbursts at those whose only crime is being a symbol of a hidden threat. There will be no Muslim businesses burned, no Muslims burned alive before cheering crowds, no retaliatory murders of noncombatants.

That is our strength and our burden. Our belief in a person being innocent until proven guilty extends itself out to entire groups. The result is that some terrible crime committed by a cell of Muslim nuts is no condemnation of Muslims at large. That belief will always cost us in the short run; loons will hide among us and they will spill blood whenever they can and as much as they can.

Still, we cannot expect to truly assess what is going on in the minds of people who blow themselves up or blow up others far from the field of battle, or the organized savagery that we call war. The barbarians are either mad or have embraced the idea that there are no innocents and that those who are not combatants have no rights at all and should expect no mercy. Such thinking, if that is what we want to call it, usually makes a perfect fit in systems deeply influenced by religious loons. The slaveholding South and Adolf Hitler's Third Reich made it clear how comfortably refinement and barbarism could work together.

In that land of sweet magnolias and in the country that had produced Bach, Goethe and so many other giants of art, thought and science, torture and murder were assumed to be the only ways in which things could be kept in order. The crudest vision of a nation held sway.

Someday the Muslim communities in Western countries may begin to see these rabid swine for what they are and, when sufficiently suspicious, will report them to the authorities. Whether they do or not, we can be sure that some Muslims will begin to understand the sheer social greatness and grace of democratic societies in which individual rights are considered essential and mob rule, even when air-brushed with religious rhetoric, is recognized as the enemy.

This is a war all right, but it is most deeply a war of ideas in much the same way that World War II was. However twisted up it might be by oil, a Palestinian homeland and other considerations, this is a conflict between civilization and barbarism, and those who do not understand that are truly fools.

[Podkayne]

Infinite ink and goodwill are expended on decrying the evils of terrorism, Islam (yes, all Islam) and liberal double talk.

We are in a war of religions. Our current conflict is between those who know this fact and those who fight to prove otherwise.

The will of Islam evaporates when the facts are known about its beginings. But this can't happen since the MSM, the Supreme court, the US Senate (Trent Lott- 33rd degree mason) and most Europeans "know" that Christianiy is no better a religion that islam or hinduism and is most likely a fairy tale for simple minded, uneducated, low income trouble makers.

The things we know for certain are the most dangerous ideas of all.

[Grampa Dave]

"This is a war all right, but it is most deeply a war of ideas in much the same way that World War II was. However twisted up it might be by oil, a Palestinian homeland and other considerations, this is a conflict between civilization and barbarism, and those who do not understand that are truly fools. "

Below is my tagline that I worked on over the weekend and posted a few times earlier on FR.

The civilized world must win WW IV/the Final Crusade and destroy Jihadism!

[lemura]

This is a war all right

Which is why these attacks should stop being referred to as acts of 'terror'. They're not - they are legitimate actions on the part of our enemy, no different from the Blitz or the fire-bombing of Tokyo/Dresden. However, we should take comfort that their most effective weapon is nothing more than C4 in a back-pack.

The sooner people wake up and realize that this is a 'real' war, perhaps it will be prosecuted as it should be. The other thing libs seem to be missing is that we're not going to 'lose' this war - even if it takes 100 years+, there's only two possible outcomes for Islam: either reform and become a secular religion, or, in light of unceasing violence (and perhaps a WMD strike), face nuclear annihilation.

It may not even a unified USA that delivers these final blows - it could be a rump state comprised of the current Red states, but it will be delivered as a means to achieve final victory.

[areafiftyone]

Crusade is the right word for this. There is NO OTHER word to describe it. BUSH WAS RIGHT! He said Crusade a while back and was immediately told that it was not PC to say that by the various Muslim groups. Bush spoke the truth! I am sick and tired of these so-called Groups (who are just ranting mouthpieces) who have absolutely NO Power in this country twisiting the truth so it looks good.

[Travis McGee]

Radical Islam is an insane murder cult; moderate Islam is its Trojan Horse in the West.

[brownsfan]

"The civilized world must win WW IV/the Final Crusade and destroy Jihadism! "

I think I missed WWIII?

[republican2005]

many people consider the cold war to have been WW3

so this would be WW4.

[Arthur McGowan]

Such thinking, if that is what we want to call it, usually makes a perfect fit in systems deeply influenced by religious loons. The slaveholding South and Adolf Hitler's Third Reich made it clear how comfortably refinement and barbarism could work together.

So the problem was that Germany was TOO religious? The slaveholders were religious fanatics?

[Cicero]

Someday the Muslim communities in Western countries may begin to see these rabid swine for what they are and, when sufficiently suspicious, will report them to the authorities.

When pigs fly. If these "Muslim communities" are not expelled, they will be the means by which these countries are taken over.

[Grampa Dave]

World War III, the not so cold war started before WWII was over when Stalin took over most of eastern Europe and got a lot of Asia divided into N and S.

The first hot out break was the Korean War, followed by the Viet Nam War and Desert Storm I when the Russian ally Iraq was defeated.

About 40 million of us served in those conflicts and those from the Berlin airlift to the Cuban Crisis to dozens of other hot spots.

World War III ended after President Reagan drove the USSR into bankruptcy.

World War IV began when the Jihadists took over our embassy and Jimmy Carter allowed them to get away with that and expelling the Shah. The World War IV and the current Crusade started then.

[Grampa Dave]

I think that if Freepers and other conservatives started calling this the Final Crusade between Civilization and the Jihadist, it would be a great step.

[Uncle Miltie]

"Someday the Muslim communities in Western countries may begin to see these rabid swine for what they are and, when sufficiently suspicious, will report them to the authorities."

Why not now!?

[areafiftyone]

I think we should too. Sounds fine to me!

[Grampa Dave]

The president can't say it. If he did, the US would be sued for rest of the century by lawyers and the surviving Islamos.

However, we can say it and add it is time to end the Final Crusade with total victory.

[norraad]

Final Crusade!

Why not now?

Let's Roll!

[Grampa Dave]

"Lets Roll!"

Great War Cry for the Final Crusade to crush and destroy Jihadism.

[Former Dodger]

PROPer perspective PING!

I don't always agree with Mr. Crouch, but I always enjoy his writing, too bad the Daily Snooze doesn't publish him more often.

This time I agree with him, and the rest of the "civilized world" needs to get with the program.

(Stanley Crouch is a columnist, novelist, essayist, critic and television commentator. He has served since 1987 as an artistic consultant at Lincoln Center and is a co-founder of the department known as Jazz at Lincoln Center. In 1993, he received both the Jean Stein Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a MacArthur Foundation grant. He is now working on a biography of Charlie Parker.)

[Dark Skies]

FD...good to hear your voice.

But, in all due respect, let me offer another slant on this recent event in London.

Crouch, for all his intellegence and incisiveness, missed it, I think. For all the right reasons to be sure...but he still missed it. He (Crouch) said...

Someday the Muslim communities in Western countries may begin to see these rabid swine for what they are and, when sufficiently suspicious, will report them to the authorities.

That is an optimistic thought that is grounded in the idea that somehow humans can work this thing out. That is only true if there is no God and there is no Satan.

Following on with that thought, let me say that in the Muslim mind the terrorists are not rabid swine but simply true believers. Can we expect a Muslim, no matter how thoroughly modern or how he might have drifted from the faith of his father not to heed its call when challenged to choose between modernity and history and faith?

I think the answer is obvious. We all reconcile the "now" with the "past" all the time...and when we refuse to do so, we suffer the usual neuroses and, sometimes, the psychoses that result from the ignoring of the conscience and inner voice that begs for that reconciliation.

It is Islam that has issued the ultimatum. It is Islam that has said that all Christians and Jews must be expunged from the world. It is their demand that must be met. It is either Allah or Jehovah. These two cannot coexist according to the Muslims.

So, the question is posed. Who will it be?

There is only one solution for Muslims. If a Muslim loses his faith in Allah, he still supports his ancestors. Even an atheist is not going to turn in his family...his forebearers.

Unless, of course, that Muslim or that atheist somehow meets Yeshua.

It is at once bleak and overwhelmingly wonderful.

But blood (innocent blood) will be shed. Doesn't seem to be any way around that.

[Fred Nerks]

If, during the Islamic rule all across the globe, we gave up our religions (or lack of religion) and embraced Islam, the scenario would be like this:

1) Our role-models would be cruel war-mongers who would keep having bloody fights with each other even after the entire world population is converted to Islam.

This is based on the observed fact today that a majority of the Muslims (who take to the streets) across many countries, lionize and idolize extremists and war-mongers like Bin Laden but not progressive and constructive reformers like Ataturk, Nasser, Sadat, Hosni Mubarak, former King Amanullah of Afghanistan, etc.

2)We would be living in theocratic dictatorship all across the world. There would be no democracy, no elections and no public accountability for any act. The only arbiter would be the Quranic prescriptions for all times in the future.

This is so since today most of the Muslim majority countries cannot sustain democracies. Except Turkey, and Egypt, no Muslim majority country has a sustained democratic tradition. But most Muslim populations look up upon Islamic dictatorships or monarchies.

The list of such theocratic dictatorships would include Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Jordan (despotic monarchies), Syria, Iraq, Chad, (dictatorships) Iran (nominal democracy under strain from clerics), Kuwait (nominal democracy under emirate), UAE, North Yemen (and occupied South Yemen which had a sort of democratic set up earlier), Libya, Sudan, Tunisia, Algeria (Military rule of secularized military), Malaysia (civilian dictatorship of Mahathir Mohammed), Indonesia (fledgling democracy), Pakistan, Bangladesh (spells of democratic rule and military dictatorships), Central African Republic (kingdom of former "Emperor"; Bokassa), Uganda (a Christian majority country that had a taste of Islamic dictatorship under Idi Amin), Afghanistan (theocratic dictatorship of the Taliban), etc.

3) There would be ill-treatment of women, Women would not be allowed to have an education, pursue any career. Men would be forced to wear turbans and grow beards.

This possibility is based on the observation today that a majority of the Muslim countries do not give equal rights to women like education, free-movement, driving, apparel, and even participation in mass-prayers in the mosques alongside their menfolk, (no doubt the scripture will be quoted to explain this, but this is the reality). The hijab, Chador or burqua (veil and full length gown) for women is still a common feature in Islamic societies.

In the ideal Islamic society of Talibanized Afghnaistan adult men are forced to grow a beard and wear the prescribed Islamic dress, they cannot sport normal (Western) hairstyles and even students above the age of three are forced to wear turbans.

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4) We would have to send our kids to get the highly jaundiced and narrow scrap of education in religious schools that would teach only the Quran.

This is based on the observation today that a majority of the devout Muslims in the Islamic world prefer talim (religious education) in Madrasas (Muslim theological schools) as against professional education.

5) There would be no respect for human rights and no freedom of thought and expression. Anyone speaking out against Islam or the Quran or the Prophet would be punished with death. Flogging and stoning to death, cutting off of the limbs would be the prescribed punishments for common crimes like stealing.

This is based on the observation today that some leading and vocal Muslim organisations and some governments in power, practice the politics of fatwah (Muslim religious decree) of death towards those who express themselves against Islam. A Muslim who publicly declares that he is no longer a Muslim is considered a Murtad and he is punishable by death (although there are various interpretations of the Koran on this)

6) There would be no public media like the TV, Cable or Internet. Since these would be looked upon as the Satan's tools in corrupting humankind with information and entertainment.

This is based on the observation today when many Muslim sects frown upon mass communication media like the Television. In some instances, TV sets are dumped as an act of piety.

7) The Dictatorial Rulers all over the world would be Muslim Clergymen

This is based on the observation that most Muslims oppose the separation of the State and Clergy. Temporal power is vested in the clergy in most countries in Dar-Ool-Islam or the Islamic world.

8) All aspects of life would be regimented with what is stated in the Quran. There would be no evolution of new laws and in fact no new thoughts

This is based on the observation today where a majority of the Muslim countries prefer some variant of the Sharia i.e. Muslim laws based on the Quran, as against modern civil laws. The Sharia laws include stoning to death, cutting of limbs, castration, etc.

9) Even if you were a Muslim and belonged to a minority sect like the Shias or Ahmediyas, you would be considered to be an infidel or heretic and be subject to harassment.

This is based on the observation today where a majority of the Sunnis (a majority sect among the Muslims) look upon the Shias as heretics. So also are the other smaller Islamic sects.

10)There would be no scope at all for having any opinion, idea, innovation outside the Quran-al-sharif or anything that is considered non-islamic. This would in fact freeze all progress.

This is based on the observation today where most Muslims look upon anything non-islamic as Kufr and Jahiliyat (infidel, ignorance) and also the entire non-islamic world as Dar-ul-Harb (literally 'Hostile zone') or the Infidel world. And anything that even a Muslim chooses to do, which is frowned upon by the clergy, is considered as Haram (illegitimate).

11) There would be a complete ban on dance, music and entertainment.

This is based on the observation today where most devout Muslims spend all their spare time in reading the verses of the Quran and in Namaaz (mass invocation of Allah). Their minds are closed to anything outside the Quran. They live an insular life and shun socializing with non-Muslims. The Taliban rule in Afghanistan epitomizes what an "ideal" Islamic society the World over would look like.

12) Aggressive, quarrelsome attitudes would be a common feature of human behavior and social relations would be perpetually violent whether at the family level, local area level, province level, national level or global level. The crime rate would be high. The all Muslim world society would be perpetually at war with itself.

This is based on the observation today where most of the criminals (in non-Muslim countries) are Muslims. Muslims are also dominant in global terrorism. Even at the national level they (Iraq, Libya, etc) specialize in the making of chemical weapons of mass destruction. Soon the nuclear capability that is today limited to Pakistan will proliferate to the Arab and rest of the Muslim world and we shall soon see a mushrooming of small rogue states armed with nuclear capable missiles that would bedevil the rest of the non-Islamic world.

Even as organisations Islamic gangs would terrorize the world. Examples of such gangs are the Al Qaida, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Muslim Brotherhood , Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen, Hizb-ul-Mujahedeen, Jaish-e-Mohammedi, Abu Sayyaf, etc


Thus a victory for the Muslims over the rest would spell doomsday for humankind, it would mean the end of all technological progress. In fact, for the thinking species of Human beings, an Islamic victory would mean the end of meaningful human existence. A scenario, where we would still have our capability to think, to innovate and to progress; but we would not be allowed to use any of our human faculties. This would be even worse than the scenario had the Nazis won the 2nd World War.

This is the logical scenario in case of a victory for the Islamic Jehad over all non-Islamic people across the globe. In this scenario, the ultimate saviour of humanity would have to come forth from within Islam itself. A saviour who would repudiate Islam and re-establish a civilized human way of life.

But till then it would be a frightful existence under the twilight of Islam, with no hope for the future. It is for these reasons among others, why the rest of the world (including some modernized Muslims) look askance at the growing clout of the Muslim clergy over the Ummah i.e. the general Muslim populace. And the resultant growing disturbances that Muslims cause in areas where they live alongside non-Muslims - like Chechnya, Macedonia, Egypt (Coptic Christians), Southern Sudan, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Southern Philippines (Mindanao), Indonesia (Malaku), Kashmir (India), Israel, etc.


In fact even many modernized (non-Islamized) Muslims are scared to death to speak their mind about Islamic orthodoxy, even after having lived in the West for more than one generation.

But some time or the other one has to address these issues in the context of freedom of thought and action for a future liberal democratic society the world over; and in the larger context of saving human civilization from the mortal danger it faces today from the growing strength of Islamic Terrorism of JIHAD.

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