A WAR OF VALUES, NOT RELIGION

The Boston Globe ^ | Nov. 6, 2005 | Jeff Jacoby

[lentulusgracchus]

We do Muslims no favors by excusing attitudes or practices that ought always to be deemed inexcusable. In Australia's Victoria state, the Herald Sun reported recently, police have been issued a "religious diversity handbook" that advises them "to treat Muslim domestic violence cases differently out of respect for Islamic traditions and habits."

Sikhs, for example, "should not be disturbed" when reading their holy scriptures, a practice that normally takes 50 hours. Photographing Aborigines is discouraged, since it might raise fears of "sorcery and spiritual mischief." And Muslim wife-beaters should be treated with kid gloves, in deference to Islamic norms. "In incidents such as domestic violence," the handbook instructs, "police need to have an understanding of the traditions, ways of life, and habits of Muslims."

Could anything more perfectly capture the moral bankruptcy of multicultural relativism? The Koran may tolerate wife-beating (Sura 4:34: "As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and send them to bed apart and beat them"), but why on earth should Australia?

"All Muslim husbands are not wife-beaters," remarks Robert Spencer, a scholar of Islam, "and it is condescending and irresponsible . . . to give those who are a free pass, instead of denouncing the practice unequivocally and calling upon Muslim men to heed the better angels of their nature." ....[H]e says, the West's unwillingness to "confront the elements of Islam that jihad terrorists use to justify violence, for fear of offending moderate Muslims," ends up undercutting the ability of those very moderates to demand reform from within.

The war against radical Islam is above all a war of values -- the values of liberty, equality, and human dignity against the values of jihad. The jihadis don't hesitate to proclaim their values. We must not be shy about defending ours.

[lentulusgracchus]

Winning support in the Islamic community remains a high-value goal of the War on Terror. Jacoby discusses this initiative and its current state of affairs.

[vimto]

Large segments of the West seem to have lost the ability to tell right from wrong.They have lost confidence in Judeo-Christian morality.

[Lucky Dog]

Large segments of the West seem to have lost the ability to tell right from wrong.They have lost confidence in Judeo-Christian morality.

They cannot have confidence in something of which they know very little, if anything.

The failure of our education system is directly responsible for this ignorance. By our educational system, I mean, not only the formal state-run school system, but also, the failure of parents to to teach values and the failure of the entertainment media to reinforce those values in morality based entertainment. In fact, the exact opposite is the case.

Consequently, is it any wonder that the current situation exists?

[isrul]

Defending values of western civilization is not inclusive. Western civilization must realize that diversity is the only answer. That is the greatest strength, the greatest value. We must believe this as we willingly allow ourselves to be herded to the slag heap of history.

[ThirstyMan]

We do Muslims no favors by excusing attitudes or practices that ought always to be deemed inexcusable.

Yet too many Western elites are unwilling to speak plainly about the problems within Islam itself, or to hold Muslim culture to what should be universal standards of decency and justice.

Jeff always hits the mark.

[borisbob69]

Judeo-Christian morality only applies to those of us who subscribe to the value of embracing such morality...to everyone else in the United States our Constitution requires Equal Justice Under the Law.

If for example: I beat my wife because she pisses me off and I don't listen to the better angels of my nature (what a sorry saying)...then I need to know for a certainty that Achmed down the street who beats his wife (in or out of her burka) will face the same punishment as me, a white Christian male. If I can't count on that, then I guess maybe diversity doesn't serve the common good very well.

[GBA]

The real question is whether or not certain religions are compatible with modern society. Islam needs a New Testament style conversion from death cult to a true religion of peace. Unfortunately, its followers are reluctant to openly denounce violence and death committed in the name of allah.

By their fruits ye shall know them. Their "fruits" are homicide bombings, beheadings, rioting, burning, much of it targeting innocent women and children, subjugation of women and freedom of thought all acts of terror and all for the glory of allah. Satan smiles.

[vimto]

"Yet too many Western elites are unwilling to speak plainly about the problems within Islam itself, or to hold Muslim culture to what should be universal standards of decency and justice."

mmmm... no universal standards of decency and justice - but we will promote universal human rights! Are not privilege and responsibility two sides of the same coin?

[RobbyS]

The same people who say that Biblical scripture cannot be enforced by the law are now saying that Koranic Scripture is to be honored?

[RoadTest]

It sounds like Australia is positioning itself for Paris-style insurgency.

[borisbob69]

I hear that. Kinda naive on our part isn't it?

[Buffettfan]

Good article.

[RobbyS]

They just don't understand how radically different Islam is from Christianity. They burned David Koresh's place down in Waco, but every Mosque teaches
a faith that is much less compatible with our civil law.

[RoadTest]

So - - like the beaten wife, we are responsible for our being beaten, because we enable it by making excuses for it and sheltering the beater.

[borisbob69]

So true! Muslims attain heaven by killing infidels, while Christians attain heaven by accepting the death of God's Servant Jesus.

[wolfcreek]

So - - like the beaten wife, we are responsible for our being beaten, because we enable it by making excuses for it and sheltering the beater.

That pretty much says it. Unwillingness to leave is a big mistake.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

..........................................

[i.l.e.]

I feel like putting a giant creche in my front yard - complete with spot lights, christmas carols and fake snow.