The Closing of the Islamic Mind

The Daily Standard ^ | 10/11/2001 | David Brooks

[AmishDude]

Or like bin Laden trade young daughters with his buddy.

I had not heard this.

I am not saying I don't believe you. I do. Every word. I just haven't heard it.

[TKEman]

When Naipaul used the phrase Universal Civilization, he was talking about that civilization that believes in the future, in progress, in the unfolding of human accomplishment. That civilization started in Europe, and once had racialist overtones, but it has spread.

This is correct. This civilization is sweeping away all other civilizations. In 500 years the world will be vastly different, not just in terms of technology. The cultural mores of the peoples will be more similar than today.

[TomSmedley]

The only Islamic country to successfully master modernity separated Islam from the state and adopted wholesale Western law, customs, and even the Latin alphabet! ... Turkey ...

The Turks keep the evil djinn of Islam stuffed in its bottle through brute force. Whenever Islamicist parties get too successful at the polls, the military stage a coup. Maybe their centuries as the hub of an empire embued their military caste with traditions of professionalism. The "janissaries" (slave soldiers) had no local loyalties.

[Travis McGee]

After a period of lynchings of Westerners in the islamic countries, (Algerian style), we will head into a defacto quarantine of those regions.

After that, they can all devolve into Mogadishus and Kabuls, and will not be getting another western bailout.

[TomSmedley]

When a Muslim makes a statement about doing something in the future, he always seems to append "inshallah" (God willing).

"'Ishallah' makes 'manana' look like frantic haste!" (source forgotten)

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Excellant point!!!!

[TKEman]

It should by now be clear that we are facing a mood and a movement far transcending the level of issues and policies and the governments that pursue them. This is no less than a clash of civilizations -- the perhaps irrational but surely historic reaction of an ancient rival against our Judeo-Christian heritage, our secular present, and the worldwide expansion of both.

It is crucially important that we on our side should not be provoked into an equally historic but also equally irrational reaction against that rival.

The above is cut from the "Roots of Muslim Rage" article, and is right on the money. We should be gracious winners.

[x]

Since we have been attacked we must fight back. But it is surprising how quickly all the opposition to the New World Order, Globalization, and the Universal Homogeneous State have dried up, leaving an enthusiasm for progress and the Universal Civilization. Fight to defend your country and your people, but don't get dragooned by the Wall Street Journal into a war for global standardization or a world state. A lot of people who do now will regret it later. There's much to be proud of in the achievements of Western civilization, but there are also disturbing trends that ought to be resisted.

Clearly our country must fight back against those who have attacked us and defeat them, but there are a lot of people in the world who may not agree with us in everything but who just want to be left alone. I say if they don't hurt us, let them alone. There's a temptation that we can remake the world to bring about permanent peace, prosperity and freedom. History seems to indicate, though, that such crusades create more trouble than more limited actions do.

[SuperLuminal]

BTTT

[Dan Day]

Bump for the afternoon crowd.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[patent]

bump

[Travis McGee]

rebump.

[spirit_free]

Thanks for the flag, Cool Guy! What a wonderful article. I enjoyed it very much. How are you, by the way. It is sure good to see ya again. Take care and watch the Fresno FReeps... (smile). They are wonderful, aren't they?

[Cool Guy]

I am fine. Thank you. How are you doing? I do read the reports of the Fresno freep all the time. Ofcourse they are wonderful! We are going to have one this weekend in San Francisco. You take care and keep FReeping:)

[denydenydeny]

Bumping to Clash of Civilizations list.