Muslims Bali-Hoo Their Idea of Peace

www.chronwatch.com ^ | October 15, 2002 | Marc Rauch

[TCSparkman]

Muslims Bali-hoo Their Idea of Peace

By Marc J. Rauch Tuesday, October 15, 2002

At first, the news reports this past Saturday said that just a handful of people were victims of terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia. By Sunday night, the death toll was up to 188, with another 300 people injured.

The explosions took place in a night life area that is typically frequented by tourists and vacationers. Indonesia is a Muslim country, the most populous Muslim country. It’s not near Israel or the United States. It’s not run by Jews or Americans. There are no 'illegal' Jewish settlements, and I don’t believe that the Indonesians are in a dispute over water rights with any western country. I don’t even think that Ariel Sharon has ever been to Bali.

The bombings still happened, hundreds of human beings were ripped apart.

Reports indicate that a large percentage of the victims are Australian. Recently, Australians have voiced a lot of concern about going to war against terrorism and Saddam Hussein. Apparently they can’t quite understand why the world should be concerned. I guess they feel very protected on their island paradise with their incredibly strict immigration laws. Basically they keep out everyone that is not of white European ancestry.

I like Australia, not because of its exclusionary policies, but because of what it offers. I’ve never been to there, but I dream about going, perhaps even emigrating. They have great surfing, fabulous beaches, and beautiful women. I’m already taken, so I’d just go for the surfing and the beaches. I hope they have tequila in Australia. I really love margaritas, too.

I wonder how many street demonstrations there were in Australia today to protest America’s 'preoccupation' with defeating Islamic terrorism and Saddam Hussein. Probably not that many, although I could be wrong since a lot of Australians are out of work and have nothing else to do (other than surfing, sun-tanning, and making love to their beautiful women). They just collect government assistance. They call it being on the dole. Joining an anti-war protest is a good way to meet sheilas: they call their women sheilas. You’ve probably heard Paul Hogan use that term. They like to be on the dole, go surfing, and chat up sheilas.

But you know this commentary isn’t about Australia or fab beaches or enjoying life with a beautiful sheila. It’s about the taking of life: the wanton, premeditated, unjustified killing, mutilating, and destruction of life. And it took place far, far from the madding war-torn locations that we all normally think of.

I’m not surprised by what happened. I like to think that I’m not surprised by any heinous act that gets committed in the name of Allah. I’m just disappointed, again.

When do the good Muslims in the world step forward? When do thousands and thousands of peace-loving Muslims take to the street to protest the violence? When do they shout out to their murderous brethren, NOT IN OUR NAME!

America’s peace-pukes were so happy to protest our government’s decision to take action against Hussein. They so cleverly wrote petitions and took out newspaper ads and had their sixties-style anti-war protests that all focused around their brand-new NOT IN OUR NAME slogan.

I want to know how much more has to happen before Muslims have had enough atrocities committed in their name, and rise up in protest. I want to know if they’ll ever rise up to protest the senseless slaughter of hundreds and thousands of innocent people. They’re real quick to protest an American or Israeli defensive act. It takes them no time to get out in streets to celebrate the bombing of a college campus, or to dance openly in support of the destruction of the World Trade Centers. Muslims are obviously a demonstrative people. When do they demonstrate against violence that their people commit?

It’s important for me to know this. I may want to take a side trip over to Indonesia one day and I’d hate to get Bali-hooed while there.

About the author:

Marc J. Rauch was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1952, and lived in the metropolitan area until 'emigrating' to the West Coast in the early 80s. He is a multi-award winning TV/film writer, producer, and director, and has been a broadcasting and marketing executive since the 1975. Marc lectures on various subjects concerning broadcasting, new media, and the Middle East at conferences and seminars throughout the U.S. and Europe. In 1994, he authored a book on advertising and has had several business and industry articles published in a variety of related magazines. His political commentaries are regularly published in several print and online publications.

[Hugin]

They so cleverly wrote petitions and took out newspaper ads and had their sixties-style anti-war protests that all focused around their brand-new NOT IN OUR NAME slogan.

It's not new. The same crowd was using the same slogan in the 80's to protest aid to the Contras.

[Restorer]

I guess they feel very protected on their island paradise with their incredibly strict immigration laws. Basically they keep out everyone that is not of white European ancestry.

Not any more. These laws were changed some time ago and presently aren't all that different from thos of the US.

Australia is a continent, not an island.

[isthisnickcool]

Damn straight! Worth repeating!

Silence = tacit approval

It's like the wife that knows her new husband is molesting his step-daughter. And does nothing to help her own child. Evil turns a blind eye to evil.

[alaskanfan]

Hell they are proud of what they do.

TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Police Tuesday detained a top Muslim cleric for some three hours on suspicion of incitement to violence and terror and expressing support for suicide bombings.

Police said it questioned and "warned" Sheikh Ekrima Sabri and then released him without conditions. It will transfer the material to the attorney general, who has ordered the investigation, and who is to decide whether the prosecution should take any further action.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has appointed Sabri to the top religious post, mufti of Palestine, which entails delivering the main Friday sermon at the al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest site.

Sabri has made no secret of his support for the intifada and has called suicide-bombing attacks "martyrdom operations."

The Justice Ministry's spokesman, Yaakov Galanti, told United Press International that Attorney General Eliakim Rubinstein ordered the investigation following an interview that Sabri gave the Emirates newspaper al-Bayan al-Imratiya last June.

In that interview Sabri said, "Legally and religiously we do not see any reason for stopping it (the suicide attacks) and it is a successful kind of resistance."

The mufti claimed the Palestinians have forced settlers to escape their homes and blamed the Arab regimes for failing to support the Palestinian cause.

According to police told his investigators he has called for "a verbal struggle, not terror."

Sabri did not talk to reporters when he left the police station and could not be reached by phone later on.

Several months ago police questioned a Greek-Orthodox cleric Hanna Nasr who has also supported the intifada and a spokeswoman for the Jerusalem police said they are still "examining what he said."

[mushroom]

The only real answer is to start carpet bombing at Jakarta and keep going west until you hit the Atlantic. Then go back and clean up. Islam has always been spread by violence. If we want to survive against it, we're going to have to beat it on the battle field.

[cake_crumb]

GREAT commentary, thanks.

Morals of this story:

1. Appeasement never works.
2. Silence = tacit approval.
3. Socialist/Fascist/Marxists of a feather stick together. Lefty-anti war protestors are in bed with the Muslims because Muslim countries (with the exception of Turkey) are overwhelmingly SOCIALIST. Saddam is a Nazi. Yasser is a Nazi. Quaddafi is a Socialist. I have no idea how to categorize Iran's schizoid regime(s), but the Iranian people are not as free as we or they are led to believe.

[expatguy]

Daniel Pipes the so-called "Middle East and Muslim expert" would disagree with you.

[null and void]

When do the good Muslims in the world step forward? When do thousands and thousands of peace-loving Muslims take to the street to protest the violence? When do they shout out to their murderous brethren, NOT IN OUR NAME!

When indeed?

[sheik yerbouty]

They support them. They are "The Trojan Horse".

[Goetz_von_Berlichingen]

"I want to know how much more has to happen before Muslims have had enough atrocities committed in their name . . ."

I, on the other hand, want to know how much more has to happen before mosques are burnt to the ground, mullahs are hanged from lampposts, and Moslem "refugee" ships are sunk.

Tenth century aggression should be met with tenth century reprisals. Twenty-first century armaments are optional.

[fporretto]

Dr. Pipes is an accomplished, brilliant and very learned man. Even so, I think he's wrong on this score. The evidence to the contrary is very strong. Much of it is compiled in the Spencer book I cited.

For me, the clincher is how very, very few Muslims of any stature have stepped forward to condemn terrorist acts perpetrated by Muslims, without a "but" clause that suggests that "humiliations" inflicted on Muslims by the West (or by Israel) somehow explain why we, or the Israelis, or the Australians and Balinese "had it coming."

The Saudi prince who wrote a check for $10 million and handed it to Rudy Giuliani while spewing venom for Israel was a high-profile example of what "moderate" Muslims have done:

"At times like this one, we must address some of the issues that led to such a criminal attack. I believe the Government of the United States of America should re-examine its policies in the Middle East and adopt a more balanced stance toward the Palestinian cause." -- Saudi Prince Al-Walid bin Talal ibn Abdul Aziz, after handing the $10 million check to NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani

The ibn Saud family isn't a family of Muslim fanatics; they're rich playboys, far more Western in their tastes and habits than Middle Eastern. The only reason a Saudi prince would say such a thing is that he had been directed to do so by his family, out of fear of the Islamist extremists that have become numerous in Saudi Arabia.

I could be wrong, of course. But I await solid evidence that points in the opposite direction. I haven't seen any yet.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[rj45mis]

"Islam is not a religion -- it is a 'cult of violence, gang rape, torture and murder.' I say go right ahead .... boot them all"

Their actions - or lack thereof - speak for themselves.

[expatguy]

Islam is not a religion -- it is a 'cult of violence, gang rape, torture and murder.

While you are correct in proclaiming that Islam is not a religion, I would not go so far as to say it is merely a cult.

The truth is that Islam is a Theocratic form of government which cannot coexist with Democracy.

[A Navy Vet]

"When do thousands and thousands of peace-loving Muslims take to the street to protest the violence?"

My only problem with this question is it should read, "millions and millions"! I've read there is approximately a BILLION Muslims on this planet. How many have we heard from to denounce this carnage? 20? 40?

[expatguy]

Francis,

Below is a letter I sent to Daniel Pipes with regards to his new book.

Dear Mr. Pipes:

Im writing to you over serious concerns that I have where I believe that you might have inadvertantly mislead people to believe that what you describe as "militant Islam" is in fact some rare, violent strain of Islam when in fact this is not true.

You have stated:

"...The enemy is militant Islam, and the policy goal should be to weaken militant Islam and strengthen moderate Islam...[sic]"

This is not true and the truth concerning Islam needs to be told and not sacrificed on the altar of political correctness, and that is that the enemy itself is in fact Islam. There is in reality no difference between what you describe as "moderate" and "militant" Islam.

What you describe as "militant" and "moderate" versions of Islam is in fact misleading. These "militant Muslims" as you describe them are in the real and true Muslims. You are mistaken if you believe that there exists a peaceful, tolerant or moderate version of Islam. No such thing exists in Islam. Of course there are people who call themselves Muslims who are peaceful, tolerant and moderate, but this has absolutely nothing to do with Islam. These people are tolerant and peaceful to the same extent that they are not Muslims and do not live by the teachings of the Quran. To make matters worse, these (non practicing Muslims) will be the first ones to tell you this.

[snipped]

Islam as it truly is, a theocratic form of government which presents a greater threat to democracy and freedom than communism ever did.

I would be happy to hear your comments on this and would be perfectly willing to openly debate you on this matter because I truly believe that truth regarding Islam needs to be understood and unveiled.

I look forward to your reply.

Kind Regards,

-----------------------------------------------------------

Daniel Pipes responded by only saying that he disagreed with me.

[alaskanfan]

The truth is that Islam is a Theocratic form of government which cannot coexist with Democracy.

Also incompatible with modern civilization. It probably worked pretty good back in the dark ages but I would hope we have progressed from that time period.

[SauronOfMordor]

That's close, but not perfectly on-center. "Moderate" Muslims know that the fanatics would be perfectly willing to kill them for any "disloyalty" to Islam.

The price of "moderate Islam" joining the Western world is civil war. The "Moderates" must be willing to eliminate the fanatics. Absent such willingness, the moderates will be treated as co-conspirators when it gets to be time to exterminate the Islamic fanatics

[Honorary Serb]

Because the 'moderates' agree with the goals of the jihadis.

And those who don't support the jihadists are intimidated (i.e., in fear of being killed as "apostates") by those who do!!!!

islam is the BIGGEST MAFIA in the world!!!!

[Gal.5:1]

I was tv surfing and came upon the Iran news show. As it began, the veiled woman news reporter began with. "In the name of God, the merciful and compassionate." Then she bagan reporting the news. She is obviously referring to the muslim god, and she has to be kidding.

[smpc]

That New Zealander musnt know the facts which are that Australia has provided more help to the US militarily than any other nation per capita.We are also one of the few nations who have been fully supportive of pre-emptive action in Iraq.While i have nothing but fond thoughts of Kiwis,their Government is way to the left of Australias,which far from being too liberal,is actually to the right of the Bush admin.Dont confuse a bunch of protesting leftists with the general Aussie consensus,which is very pro-American.About us letting the US do all the work,we were left to 'do all the work' in East Timor with no ones real support.