Berlusconi Comments Cause Stir -- (A MUST READ)

AP ^ | September 26, 2001, 5:06 PM EDT | By CANDICE HUGHES

[TheOtherOne]

Berlusconi Comments Cause Stir

By CANDICE HUGHES
Associated Press Writer

September 26, 2001, 5:06 PM EDT

ROME -- Breaking ranks with allies reaching out to the Muslim world, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday said Western civilization is superior to Islam. He also said he hopes the West conquers Islamic civilization.

The conservative billionaire's remarks were instantly disavowed by more moderate politicians in Italy, who called them both ill-timed and offensive.

Berlusconi made the remarks, which were broadcast on Italian television, after talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the crisis sparked by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

He told a news conference, "We must be aware of the superiority of our civilization, a system that has guaranteed well-being, respect for human rights and -- in contrast with Islamic countries _ respect for religious and political rights, a system that has as its values understandings of diversity and tolerance."

He also claimed Western civilization is superior because it "has at its core, as its greatest value, freedom, which is not the heritage of Islamic culture."

Berlusconi went on to say that he trusts "the West will continue to conquer peoples, like it conquered Communism," even if it means a confrontation with "another civilization, the Islamic one, stuck where it was 1,400 years ago."

His comments came as many Western leaders were taking pains to avoid antagonizing the Muslim world and forge a worldwide coalition against terrorism. President Bush, for example, met Wednesday with American Sikhs and Muslims at the White House and issued yet another appeal for religious tolerance.

The reaction in Italy to Berlusconi's comments was swift and sharp. They were denounced by a number of Italian politicians as irresponsible and inflammatory.

Piero Fassino, a prominent member of the center-left opposition, called the comment "mistaken and, above all, inopportune."

"We're in a very delicate phase in the life of the planet. We need to unite the world against terrorism. And one of the conditions is to unite religions, to have civilizations and cultures cooperate," said Fassino.

An outspoken businessman, Berlusconi has only limited foreign policy experience, despite a brief, previous turn as prime minister in 1994. The allies in his conservative coalition include the often xenophobic Northern League and the once neo-fascist National Alliance.

Italy is home to at least 500,000 Muslims, many of them immigrants from North Africa.

The prime minister plans to visit Washington soon for talks with Bush on the terrorism crisis. A member of NATO, Italy has pledged its full cooperation.

Copyright © 2001, The Associated Press

[1Old Pro]

Who said the Italians aren't supportive because they are afraid of the Islamic Fundamentalists?

[a history buff]

It's like I always say:

"You can never find a good Mongol horde when you need one."

Actually the Bible has some telling lines.

It says that only a fool rejoices in the sufferings others endure. I see no reason to argue with the Bible. By adopting stereotypes of other children of God, and wishing all of them ill, you have become no better than the savages who destroyed themselves and much more on 9-11. You might do well to (re)read Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.

And since you couch your bigotry in a twisted but strident perversion of Catholicism, I'd implore you to read Dostoevksy's Tale of the Grand Inquisitor.

The horror, the horror.

[goldstategop]

Western civilization is superior in every measure. Let it be the conservative catechism for the 21st century.

[cicero's_son]

Come on, it was a joke. We are still permitted humor, aren't we?

I've read Heart of Darkness several times; it's one of my favorites.

Haven't read the Dostoevsky, but I would like to. I'll pick it up as soon as I'm finished with "Clash of Civilizations." ;)

[angry beaver norbert]

-Western civilization tolerates killing babies ... That would be the left side of the west.

[independentmind]

Western civilization is superior in every measure. Let it be the conservative catechism for the 21st century.

If Western civilization is superior in every measure, why is it dying out demographically? At least Muslims have the sense to appreciate life, and the value of children.

[cicero's_son]

BTW, I challenge you to find a single instance a bigotry or a desire to see "the other children of God" suffer. I am a patient and forgiving man, but I don't appreciate being accused of such things.

Since you couch your sanctimonious pedantry in false piousness, I implore you to get out of the house more. cicero's_son ps: What makes you so confident that I am a Catholic?

[a history buff]

My apologies. I sent you freepmail.

[iranger]

C'mon dude, don't be such a stiff. Cicero was obviously joking. Quite funny too.

[iranger]

Western culture dying out demographically? Are you kidding? Western culture (i.e. the concepts of individual freedom and self determination) are sweeping the globe. The internet and mass communications will only serve to quicken the pace.

Oh wait...you must be talking about white european demographics. Silly you, western culture is not defined by race, but by the ideals of our forefathers.

[Godfollow]

Oh yes... I agree completely.

Actually, the comment about children reflects to the issue of, its either them or us. My sister was lamenting about if we go to war, what about all the innocent children over there than will be killed. My response to her was... "look, if they are teaching their kids to hate and kill all Americans and others of civized nations, and we are teaching our kids to be tolerant of others... Whoes kids would you want to inherit the furture?"

[denydenydeny]

Indexing this old article.

[Askel5]

"the West will continue to conquer peoples, like it conquered Communism,"

Imitation's being the sincerest form of annihilation?

[CommiesOut]

Uhoh, you missed couple of interesting threads :(

[CommiesOut]

BTW, lookie here:

1. Aquinas (100%)
2. Spinoza (82%)
3. Mill (81%)
4. Bentham (78%)
5. Aristotle (72%)
6. Kant (68%)
7. Epicureans (65%)
8. Augustine (64%)
9. Ockham (62%)
10. Cynics (60%)
11. Stoics (60%)
12. Prescriptivism (52%)
13. Plato (45%)
14. Rand (44%)
15. Noddings (43%)
16. Sartre (35%)
17. Nietzsche (35%)
18. Hobbes (26%)
19. Hume (15%)

I knew I'm a good and humble but slightly abused by mama human being :|

[Tailgunner Joe]

bttt

[Tailgunner Joe]

bttt

[pointsal]

like that Italian-boy.... put him in the book of quotes.

[LisaFab]

Gotta love Silvio, an unrepentant capitalist.