French philosphy teacher in hiding after criticizing Islam

New York Times ^ | September 30, 2006 | ELAINE SCIOLINO

[saberman]

Hi hardworking,

This is the only thread I’ve ever started here. I’m mainly a person who listens and reads more than I speak or write, but that story really disturbed me and I didn’t see anyone else picking it up. Now that about 40 replies have accumulated I want to give a little more of my opinion that will be a little broader then just a reply to your comment.

What you say about Paris is sort like a person coming back to his old neighborhood and finding it has gone downhill and has become a slum. It seems like the world is coming to an end, but it doesn’t have to. I do believe that even many of the much despised (particularly on this board) liberals have started to wise up and realize that there is not a moral equivalence between every conceivable viewpoint that anybody can state. We want everyone to have religious freedom, but if your religious rites include killing people or forcing everyone else to join your religion, then those aspects of your religion cannot be included among the freedoms.

Western civilization (by which I include many other countries including Japan and to a less complete extent India) has a lot of strengths in addition to weakness. Remember that the most immediately and obviously ferocious person is not always the one who wins the fight in the long run. It’s important to study your opponent and gather information about his strengths and weakness.

I knew almost nothing about Islam before 9-11. Let me be honest about this, when the US government started assisting the Afghan “freedom fighters” against the “Godless Communists” I was all for it. I just thought of those Afghan Muslims (who evolved into the Taliban) as really extremely religious people who just had their own slant on religion. And I still maintain that there is a core a “moderate Islam” that will fit well into the overall picture of modern civilization when this war on terrorism gets sorted out. But both the United States and the rest of the “free world” has to develop better strategies based on what we have learned and what we are learning.

Immigration policies need to tighten up, but I do not think they need to be totally exclusive. We have to choose our battles well and win them. Personally, I wouldn’t have gone into Iraq, but now that we are there it will be a horrible statement if we pull out without winning. We’ve got to win it. We ARE going to win in the long run. Our side is the right side and I think we can figure out have to defeat Islamism even though we are having some difficulties at the moment.

[SunkenCiv]

France: Writer of 'anti-Islam' article gets death threats
AFP via Expatica | 09/28/2006
Posted on 09/28/2006 3:10:43 PM EDT by Republicain
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1710138/posts

[saberman]

That post, which was two days before mine, contains a really good link to something called "Expatica" which I had never heard of but which had the story 2 days before the NY Times.

A follow up story on Expatica has a statement from some French official which I think is worse in some ways than the original Islam reaction:

"On Thursday Education Minister Gilles de Robien expressed "solidarity" with the teacher, but also warned that "a state employee must show prudence and moderation in all circumstances.""

In other words, it sounds like after the furor dies down the French Bureaucracy is getting ready to fire Redeker for not showing "prudence and moderation." But Redeker does not sound like a patsy. He has replied:

"if Robien is correct, then we would never have had any intellectual life in France. The function of politics is not tell us what we are allowed to think, but to defend our freedom to think and speak out."

Assuming the Islamists don't actually kill him, the whole thing could be a career opportunity for Redeker. After the bureaucrats run him out of the academy, I hope he gets a newspaper column and a radio or television show.

The link to the new Expatica article is as follows:

http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?channel_id=3&story_id=33407

[backtothestreets]

I guess I had a premonition of sorts.  From today's news:  Voice of America Begins Pashto Broadcast to Afghan-Pakistan Border Region.  It's not Christian based, but maybe one day a Christian ministry will follow with their own radio transmissions.

[Twinkie]

Those women, unless the men send them out to beg, are probably broke and desperately oppressed by their men, reduced to begging while tripping around over rocks in long, hot clothing. Surely they must realize there is a better way, but they dare not reach out for it. The men in that cult have it made in the shade. - When my husband was stationed in Turkey many years ago, he observed that the women did all the work while the men sat around on the ground fingering prayer beads and shooting off their mouths for the most part.

[cricket]

Well I hope this meets with more than measure of success. I hope we can do more here at home albeit different 'needs' i.e. declare Islam 'more than' a religion inasmuch as it fits a politicaly ideological profile. . .make it 'non-profit' for starters. . .and remove the rest of the Constitutional allowances it enjoys under our laws. Personally think the detainees and those in our jails, should be given a Bible or 'forget about it'. . .

[backtothestreets]

Two things I wish both Democrats and Republicans would take a serious look at:

1) The Koran is now supplemented by Hitler's book "Mein Kampf", which is published in many Islamic states, distributed in all Islamic states, and is the road-map being followed by the OIC in their Islamic War. The OIC is successfully using the techniques of Hitler, including the use of the courts, civil law, and organized thug activity in western society to make their in roads. The combination of the Koran with Mein Kampf is worse than either alone.

2) The influence of Hitler cannot be mistaken considering comments made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the selected naming of the soon to be constructed OIC headquarters, the "Cultural Axes".

[cricket]

The Dems will not go there. . .they prefer their habit of projecting a Repub face in any nazi scenario; when of course; should they look honestly; they would see their own. But for sure, this needs to be addressed. . .

It is frustrating as well, that about twice a year. . .the problems of Muslim activity and conversion and it's corresponding vicious and vendetta-like 'philosophy' going on in our prisons comes up - just did on O'Reilly the other night. . .nothing different from last analysis. . .

No doubt, by now, these prisoners/students. . . are probably reaping the intellectual - be it level appropriate - harvest of Mein Kampf as well; along with their Koran studies.

Of course, no matter who or where they are. . .It is all to chilling a contemplation. . .the popularizing of the evil and the perverted. . .

[cricket]

p.s. . . .the roots of nazism and Islam entertwined years ago; people overlook/forget/ignore this. . .it is not surprising that MeinKampf is becoming the 'second reader' here.

But you are right. . .and we need a huge reality check here. . .

[cricket]

Newt just brought up the situation re Redeker; and with a warning. . .alas. . .too short a time; but Redeker story does needs more public attention and perhaps, will get it.

[backtothestreets]

Yes, Mein Kampf is fast becoming the supplemental reader to the Koran. It's an intellectual mix that can only be thought of as hell itself. It doesn't bode well for anyone in our country, be they Democrat, Republican, conservative or liberal.

I've never read Mein Kampf, have read enough of the Koran with an intent of discovering the acts of plagiarism of, and distortion of what the Torah and Bible encompassed long before the Koran was written, and have studied at some length the tactics used by the Nazis to gain power in Germany. Could it help to have people start compiling lists of Nazi type tactics currently being used by Muslims in our courts, on our streets, and with accompanying militant activities to awaken everyone? I guess what I am asking is how we can go about asking people to look for themselves?

[x_plus_one]

Whereas Judaism and Christianity are religions whose rites forsake violence

The word "religion" needs to be disabused. Historical events preciptate cultural changes. Philosophical cults, copy-cat denominatons and ancient heathan beliefs are all lumped in with the historical christianity and judaism.

Man's relationship with Yahweh shouldn't be lumped in with nature "religions" like Shinto, Bhuddism, or warrior -suicide cults like Islam.

Yahweh and Allah are two separate entities. Go ask Franklin Graham.

[Earthdweller]

A few of many guards at the Eiffel Tower Spring 2006

The Middle of Paris 2006

[cricket]

Could it help to have people start compiling lists of Nazi type tactics currently being used by Muslims in our courts, on our streets, and with accompanying militant activities to awaken everyone?

Well, we could just start by looking at our own communist/Leftist ACLU - serving the best of the Left and now; their fastest growing clientele. . .saved by 'political correctness' today. . .saved by 'sharia' tomorrow.

. . .and so goes Western sensibilities and all those attached to such.

As to how to wake-up those asleep or just the 'sleepy-eyed'. . .can only think that the bloggers will have to lead. . .and the pajamahadeen

. . .perhaps other/better ideas here. . .

There are pictures of Islamist with Hitler etc. . .we could all start leaving some copies at Starbucks. . .and work from there. . .

[TexasRepublic]

France has lost another tourist! A friend of mine was in Paris just a week ago and said he will never go back, due to what happened to him there. He was walking around the Arch de Triumph during the afternoon, when a bearded Middle-Eastern muslim tried to yank the camera bag off his shoulder. A few people nearby saw the struggle and scolded the muslim. The muslim gave up that victim, but a short distance away still in view of my friend tried to steal the purse from a woman. Again, the attempt failed, but my friend was unnerved by the brazen attacks during broad daylight in a tourist location. Here in Texas, my friend, who is very big, would have beat the guy's face in, but he was afraid of legal entanglements in a foreign country if he beat up the thief.

[Republicain]

Here in Texas, my friend, who is very big, would have beat the guy's face in, but he was afraid of legal entanglements in a foreign country if he beat up the thief.

He should have beat up this "racaille". Self-protection is not forbiden in France, of course.

[TexasRepublic]

Self-protection is not forbiden in France, of course.

I am glad to hear that. You can imagine anyone's fear of being thrown into a foreign jail! We get the impression from what we read that some places such as England don't allow self-defense anymore. That is really hard to understand. I visited Paris for 3 days as a student in 1974 and loved it. I sincerely hope the muslims don't ruin France and Europe.

[SunkenCiv]

The function of politics is not tell us what we are allowed to think, but to defend our freedom to think and speak out.

Thanks! If it weren't for those extra 19 characters, it would make an excellent FR tagline.