Victor Davis Hanson: It's Not Just About Land

realclearpolitics.com ^ | August 3, 2006 | Victor Davis Hanson

[kellynla]

"It's even worse than that!"

I totally agree.

The Muslims haven't gotten over the Crusades.
And if they want a Jihad then we should oblige.
As ridiculous as many thought Ann Coulter's words regarding the Muslims were ;
every day that goes by, I am find myself agreeing with her more and more.

[contemplator]

Thanks. It was a great read. I am always impressed by VDH's ability to produce a concise analysis.

[Steve_Seattle]

"And rather than make the necessary structural changes that might end cultural impediments to progress and modernity -- such as tribalism, patriarchy, gender apartheid, polygamy, autocracy, statism and fundamentalism -- too many Middle Easterners have preferred to embrace the reactionary past and the cult of victimization."

That sums it up very well. All of this violence is basically the wounded Arab/Muslim ego finding scapegoats for its own failures.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Are you aware that Muslims call Muhammad the perfect man? Whose example they must emulate. This is the linchpin of Islam. To emulate the life of Muhammad."

I think this is basically true. And this is the basic difference between Islam and Christianity. Christianity worships a man who died in the service of others, whereas Islam worships (they deny it, but for all practical purposes, they do) a man who took the sword to anyone who refused his message. So young Muslim men, poor or bored or both, who want to be somebody, try to emulate Mohammed the tough guy, Mohammed the slayer of infidels, Mohammed the conqueror.

[contemplator]

The Muslims haven't gotten over the Crusades.

In this case I would view it as an Arab issue as opposed to a religious one. Muslims in other parts of the world aren't nearly as hung up on the Crusades as Arabs.

VDH hit the nail on the head when he described the perpetual victim mentality going on here. As long as these societies continue to perpetuate a victim mentality they never will get over anything. They have to stop pitying themselves before they can move on. This will never happen as long as others continue to buy into their nonsense and thus feed their sense of ego and entitlement.

This mentality is most evident in children who egos are bruised. If they start crying and are coddled, the behavior is reinforced and they will ratchet up the behavior even further. If however they are ignored and are forced to realize that self-pity doesn't get them anywhere they then develop different and healthier strategies. Societies, being made up of human beings, operate in the same fashion. As long as the majority in a society feel that their self-pity is being commiserated, the society will never change its' behavior.

[Blind Eye Jones]

"...ironically, emigrate to the much pilloried West by the millions."

They will immigrate for a better life but they have no respect for the west and continue to see it as the great Satan.

[SJackson]

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[JFaron]

To many big words. I prefer the Teddy Roosevelt approach. Forget the first part about walking softly. Time to use a BIG STICK!

[schu]

Interesting perspective, likely true. There is a post you have surely seen about the psychology of suicide bombers:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1677195/posts

If all this is true, and I have no doubt, then the ultimate solution to this problem is either:

- complete isolation of Islamic countries

- their total destruction/genocide

- a Marshall plan of reprogramming/undoing the brainwashing after total military defeat.

Optionally we could submit or just learn to live with terrorism. Not a pretty picture.

schu

[Old Student]

"This mentality is most evident in children who egos are bruised. If they start crying and are coddled, the behavior is reinforced and they will ratchet up the behavior even further. If however they are ignored and are forced to realize that self-pity doesn't get them anywhere they then develop different and healthier strategies. "

As I understand it, this first sentence is normal child-rearing practice for Arab boys. The second sentence in this part of your post, however, is closer to how Arab girls are raised.