Posted on 02/08/2006 2:29:51 PM PST by weegee
The Danish newspaper published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad last September, but the backlash from that has sparked renewed anger in the Islamic world — the latest being the burning of the Norwegian and Danish embassies in Syria. The roots of it all actually go back to Sept. 11, 2001, which created a highly charged environment where apparently, no subject is sacred in the West, especially topics related to Muslims and Islam.
The embassy burnings are reminiscent of another controversy that brewed in 1988 and still simmers today. Salman Rushdie — then an obscure novelist of Muslim-Indian origin, wrote The Satanic Verses, in which he attempted to defile Islam. After the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's fatwa (edict) calling for Rushdie's death, Rushdie became, in Western eyes, a champion of freedom of expression. In Muslim countries, he instantly became an embodiment of Satan.
Now world attention is focused on European newspapers — notably in Denmark, Norway and France — that published insulting cartoons of the Prophet of Islam. In the West, freedom of expression is considered sacred. For some, that freedom is absolute, even allowing someone to insult a person's faith. In Muslim countries, there are equally absolute standards regarding Islam, and there, nothing and no one is above Islam, and love and respect for the Prophet are requirements for adherents to the Muslim faith.
On this issue, the long-standing chasm between the West and the world of Islam is getting wider. It may even be heading toward a "civilizational war" like the one Samuel Huntington (wrongly) described as occurring in the early 1990s in his book The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order.
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States clearly widened that chasm. Osama bin Laden emerged as a new hero in the Muslim world and villain in the West. But he caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people, so why should he be admired for that? The answer lies not in the Sept. 11 attacks, but in the context of a larger struggle taking place inside the world of Islam.
Among Muslim regimes, the dominance of the United States and the West has been taken for granted. And in those countries, there is little hope about the prospects of political change and economic progress. Moreover, the rot of authoritarianism, nepotism and corruption has been so entrenched that people cannot realistically aspire to be free, prosperous or see prospects of technological advance.
To most Muslims, the West appears content about the state of backwardness, obscurantism and darkness that currently prevails in Muslim countries in the Middle East and elsewhere. And along comes bin Laden, who voices anger over the state of affairs in the world of Islam.
People do not necessarily buy into his murderous philosophy of transnational terrorism, but they agree with his criticism of what is wrong with the world of Islam and why it remains backward.
Freedom of speech is indeed a noble idea. To state that it should have no limits (or that it should be absolute) may be a useful academic exercise, but we also need to keep in mind that exercising that freedom could also lead to the same kind of terrible consequences as when someone yells "fire" in a packed theater.
To Muslims, the West appears stubbornly against compromising on the freedom of expression, and they see hypocrisy in this because this freedom is not as absolute as it is pretended to be in some quarters. Nothing in human affairs can be "absolute."
And at the same time, Muslims are equally uncompromising and "absolute" in their responses to anyone being disrespectful of their religion and their Prophet.
So how to end the confrontation?
In a world that is more of a global village than ever before, there must be compromises. Muslims make a point of not insulting Christians about their faith.
As a quid pro quo, a similar courtesy is warranted toward their religion. As the recent violence underscores, the global village is like a packed theater. Good judgment is a requirement before yelling "fire," even in the name freedom of expression.
--Ahrari is the CEO of Strategic Paradigms, an Alexandria, Va.-based defense consultancy, who writes frequently about issues in the Middle East and South Asia.
He also believes it's wrong to mock the Muslim faith in any way but doesn't believe it's demeaning to abuse the Christian or Jewish faiths.
An obvious lie.
Why does Texas put up with the Houston Canker?
Most people aren't aware of this, but Philip Anschutz has already pre-bought most of the Top-50 markets viz www. ___________examiner.com; he needs to get the Examiner rolling in Houston post-haste.
Except that if we don't convert to their devil "god" we should be killed.
Does this moron think he can spout this cr*p and we'll nod our heads in agreement?
"Muslims make a point of not insulting Christians about their faith."
Well, except burning the Norweigan flag, which prominantly features the cross.
"In a world that is more of a global village than ever before, there must be compromises. Muslims make a point of not insulting Christians about their faith."
Does that mean they are willing to throw out the passages in the Koran, that insult Jews and Christians?
>>>Muslims make a point of not insulting Christians about their faith.<<<
How many churches are there in Saudi Arabia, again?
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States clearly widened that chasm. Osama bin Laden emerged as a new hero in the Muslim world and villain in the West. But he caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people, so why should he be admired for that? The answer lies not in the Sept. 11 attacks, but in the context of a larger struggle taking place inside the world of Islam.Among Muslim regimes, the dominance of the United States and the West has been taken for granted. And in those countries, there is little hope about the prospects of political change and economic progress. Moreover, the rot of authoritarianism, nepotism and corruption has been so entrenched that people cannot realistically aspire to be free, prosperous or see prospects of technological advance.
Earth to useful idiot:
Osama Bin Laden is the REAL Rebel Billionaire. "Economic progress" is denied the working poor of middle eastern countries because they are still ruled by dictators and kings. Why not overthrow your own despotic governments instead of attack the West. And just what was it that the West did to provoke the early 2001 destruction of thousand year old Buddhist statues by the Taliban?
This is a holy war waged by muslims against people of ALL other faiths. This isn't about dollars. This isn't about oil. This isn't about Israel. This is about dominating the world with the "one true faith".
What a load.
What a preposterous statement and blatant lie
This guy is an obscurantist and liar posing as an expert.
So, what else is new?
If I am not mistaken, it is a crime to have a New Testament in Saudi Arabia.
Is the author a moron?
Exactly. To put it in simple terms. Our house, our rules. He is our guest here, he lives by our values. If they find those values offensive, MOVE to where HIS chosen rules are applied. This is where the Islamics basic arguement breaks down. They are demanding we appease THEIR intolerable behavior.
Muslims were hijacking planes and smashing them into buildings long before anybody published cartoons about their icons. This guy's analysis is "two dimensional".
That's because Pat Buchanab is an idiot.
Yes. Love you tag line.
Actually, freedom of expression is considered a right. There is nothing "sacred" about it.
This writer seems to have a really hard time with Western concepts and the English language.
Buchanan becomes more irrational (and irrelevant) by the day.
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