No Clash of Civilizations but a Clash between... Middle Ages and 21st Century

MEMRI TV (Middle East Media Research Institute ^ | 2/21/06 | Wafa Sultan

[Albion Wilde]

Wafa Sultan:The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations.... It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between civilization and backwardness, between the civilized and the primitive, between barbarity and rationality. It is a clash between freedom and oppression, between democracy and dictatorship. It is a clash between human rights, on the one hand, and the violation of these rights, on other hand. It is a clash between those who treat women like beasts, and those who treat them like human beings. What we see today is not a clash of civilizations. Civilizations do not clash, but compete... [snip]

Host: I understand from your words that what is happening today is a clash between the culture of the West, and the backwardness and ignorance of the Muslims?

Wafa Sultan: Yes, that is what I mean.

[Albion Wilde]

Click above to read the full transcript of this extraordiary defense of Western civilization by an Arab-American psychiatrist who, although a secularist herself, defends the freedom of religion and clearly illustrates how radical Islamism, in advocating war and conquest of non-believers, contrasts to Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism. To view the brief, stunning video, click here. An Islamist commentator during her broadcast calls her a heretic.

[kellynch]

Ping -- I'll watch the video at home.

[SF Republican]

As I have mentioned here before: the Christians and the Jews have gone through their reformation, when the Muslims do it, it will not be pretty.

[Albion Wilde]

Ping!

[Albion Wilde]

As I have mentioned here before: the Christians and the Jews have gone through their reformation, when the Muslims do it, it will not be pretty.

Yes, and the question is, should we, and our troops, stay in the middle of it? Can we not?

[Red Badger]

It is a clash of civilization with non-civilization.........

[Young Werther]

The study of history is a study of the civilizing factors that mold our existence. A convenient convention arose after the Second World War where the whole world was divided into three parts. BTW I believe that Caesar did this 2000 years ago but if you never studied Latin then you were not exposed to the phrase from Caesar's Gallic Commentaries. "alles Gallae in tres partum divisa est"! (All Gaul is divided into three parts!)

Today we speak of First World, Second World and Third World Countries. These designations describe Economical, Social and Cultural differences. I believe that there is a time component to al these elements. You can visit the headwaters of the Amazon and observe Stone Age era tribes. Nigeria, with all its oil wealth is still a third world entity when you look beyond the ruling class. ..and let's not even try to describe Gaul today!!!

Yes the Arab Welt Ansaung is mid 7th Century which is okay with me as long as I can look to the sky for our next great adventure as the World's First's. Moon Base anuone?

[Publius6961]

No Clash of Civilizations but a Clash between... Middle Ages and 21st Century

Not even.
"Ages" can't clash. It's not like colors...

And the other impossibility: in order to clash physically the civilizations must both be contemporaneous (look it up).

One having died an imperfect death 1000 years ago, does not alter reality.

If current islam is any part of a civilization I fail to see any evidence of it. It has been said that the most numerous living things on the planet are termites, but I would never ever suggest that they are a "civilization"...

[Young Werther]

The study of history is a study of the civilizing factors that mold our existence. A convenient convention arose after the Second World War where the whole world was divided into three parts. BTW I believe that Caesar did this 2000 years ago but if you never studied Latin then you were not exposed to the phrase from Caesar's Gallic Commentaries. "alles Gallae in tres partum divisa est"! (All Gaul is divided into three parts!)

Today we speak of First World, Second World and Third World Countries. These designations describe Economical, Social and Cultural differences. I believe that there is a time component to al these elements. You can visit the headwaters of the Amazon and observe Stone Age era tribes. Nigeria, with all its oil wealth is still a third world entity when you look beyond the ruling class. ..and let's not even try to describe Gaul today!!!

Yes the Arab Welt Ansaung is mid 7th Century which is okay with me as long as I can look to the sky for our next great adventure as the World's First's. Moon Base anuone?

[Albion Wilde]

It is a clash of civilization with non-civilization.........

Yes, one of her opening points, and a great one -- that by definition, civilized behavior does not attempt to destroy others, but rather to compete. I was astonished at the bravery of this outspoken condemnation of Islamism.

[Antoninus]

The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations.... It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century.

It's a small-minded mistake to condemn 21st century radical Islam as a throwback to the "Middle Ages". It's nothing of the kind. It's an extremist zeitgeist running counter to the equally radical secularist void generated by a materialist Western world. Indeed, one could argue that radical Islam has sprung forth specifically to fill that void. Nature abhors a vacuum.

If the battle is between secularism and Islam, I opt out. Both sides represent an evil philosophy and I want neither to win.

[Albion Wilde]

Sounds like you haven't read the article. She is clearly saying that the Islamist societies aren't playing with the same cards as the civilized ones.

[stand watie]

PONG!

fwiw, PLEASE do NOT lump all Muslims together. my adopted daughter, "Tuna", is a Turkish national, a devout follower of the Prophet AND a wonderful LADY!

it's the ISLAMIST RADICAL fringe that is the problem! they are GARBAGE in semi-human form!

free dixie,sw

[PzLdr]

I think it's "Omnia Gallia in partem tres divisa est"

[Albion Wilde]

It's a small-minded mistake to condemn 21st century radical Islam as a throwback to the "Middle Ages". It's nothing of the kind. It's an extremist zeitgeist running counter to the equally radical secularist void generated by a materialist Western world. I

Interesting theory, if you believe that the West can or should impose a theocracy here. Clearly, mankind is not yet converted as a whole to God or to Christ, and only by choosing can the conversion be genuine.

She is defending the individual freedom to worship -- or not to worship -- as a hallmark of civilization, one which the Islamists are determined to stifle. Only freedom gives people the chance to choose salvation. Without that choice, we are not truly equipped to "endure to the end."

[Albion Wilde]

fwiw, PLEASE do NOT lump all Muslims together. my adopted daughter, "Tuna", is a Turkish national, a devout follower of the Prophet AND a wonderful LADY! it's the ISLAMIST RADICAL fringe that is the problem! they are GARBAGE in semi-human form!

Totally agree in practice. However, the texts are what they are. The radical forms of government in the Middle East are the problem, in that they use Islam to defend their theocratic desire to subjugate or destroy infidels.

[Publius6961]

the phrase from Caesar's Gallic Commentaries. "alles Gallae in tres partum divisa est"! (All Gaul is divided into three parts!)

Hmmmm.
My memory says Omnia Gallia in tres partes... Now you've made me go look it up...

[steve-b]

It's a small-minded mistake to condemn 21st century radical Islam as a throwback to the "Middle Ages".

Nope. It's the truth.

I opt out.

Better men than you will defend your sorry butt.

[sandbar]

I was watching a movie about Queen Elizabeth I the other day and the actions of the Pope and Catholics at the time, as well as the Protestants in other instances remind me of the Muslims today. I commented on how the Muslims are about 400 years behind in evolution.

[EDINVA]

let's hope the next video she's in isn't a beheading