Posted on 11/13/2006 2:56:40 PM PST by mathprof
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan rejects the notion differences between Islam and the West amount to a clash of civilizations.
After accepting the High-Level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations' report in Istanbul Turkey, the secretary-general Monday called for better education and opportunities for youth, along with resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to stem mounting mistrust and violence between Islam and the West.
The report put forward a range of proposals in education, media and migration to build bridges and promote a culture of respect. It also called for a U.N. high representative to assist the secretary-general to defuse crises that arise at the intersection of culture and politics, as well as measures aimed at restarting the Middle East peace process and encouraging political pluralism in Muslim countries.
Religious differences are not at the core of the problem, Annan said. "We must start by reaffirming -- and demonstrating -- that the problem is not the Koran, nor the Torah or the Bible," he said. Legal measures to ensure freedom of religion, to end discrimination and enforce rights of minorities were also not the total answer, he added.
"Any strategy to build bridges must depend heavily on education -- not just about Islam or Christianity, but about all religions, traditions and cultures, so that myths and distortions can be seen for what they are," the secretary-general said.
[snip]
Said Annan, "We must give them a real chance to join in improving the world order, so that they no longer feel the urge to smash it."
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
Clash? More like radical Islamic terrorists suicidally crashing their bomb-rigged jalopies into the brick wall of western civilization and either blowing themselves up or getting themselves shot. It takes two ramming heads together suicidally to make a real clash.
Kofi Annan represents everything I hate about the anti-American, anti-God debating society that is the UN.
Having said that, what would it accomplish for him to invoke the "clash of civilizations" rhetoric at this point? Bush gets bashed on here all the time for the restraint he shows in continually separating mainstream Islam from Islamo-facism, but I think his terminology is constructive. Why say something sure to inflame a billion-plus people, a significant portion of whom may yet prove friendly to the west (or at least not militantly anti-West)? There are plenty of moderate Muslims and Muslim governments on the planet who don't want a world war. As long as that assertion is not demonstrably and conclusively untrue (and I maintain we are not at that point, at least yet), it makes sense to respect that fact. Presidents, and, yes, even UN Secretary Generals, have a huge responsibility to choose their words carefully...
There's a difference between stupid and willfully ignorant.
Who let this nutjob out of his straight jacket? Kofi is irrelevent- I just wish her'd geti it through his thick skull-
Kofi Annan = unctuous stoat.
Damn i hate that moron!
So you admit that the Islamists want to smash the world!?! I guess if you talk long enough you pretty much have to stumble on the truth.
Give 'em enough rope ... bump
"Religious differences are not at the core of the problem"
he's got his head so far up he can see the roof of his mouth..
Here it comes. Automatic Democrat voters.
potlatch to the rescue !
Bolton to the rescue - if he can hang on to his post.
Yeah Kofi -
Lets give them another 1200+ years to evolve into quasi-sub-humans
What a stupid, corrupt son of a bitch.
I've wanted the UN. to be moved out of New York City, well before the Iranian President visited this summer. Tear the building down. We can use the extra parking space. Paris can have the United Nations.
I agree wholeheartedly!
Well that just makes me feel a whole lot better now. /s
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