Posted on 11/25/2001 7:19:47 AM PST by sola gracia
It is for freedom that Christ has set you free.!
Yes. That's why I fled the Liberal enclaves of California.
Liberalism--America's version of the Taliban.
I wish we could have a grassroots uprising against them in the United States.
This is exactly what is needed in the Islamic world.
Whether or not the inhabitants of those benighted countries turn out to be "deeply grateful" is beside the point.
It will be by far the best thing for the rest of the world, and
There is no excuse for the toleration of an imperialistic, tyrranical theocracy by the civilized world any more than the toleration of Naziism or Japanese imperialism.
Islam is imperialistic.
Islamic apologists like to sweep this little fact under the rug.
Demand unconditional surrender. Sweep away the cultural legacy of centuries, and impose an American-style constitution, with guarantees of freedom of speech, freedom of religion (including the freedom to convert to religions other than Islam), separation of religion and state, and women's suffrage. If the subjugated population objects--too bad. Open these countries up to missionaries. Convert them from the imperialistic, intolerant, war-like, tyrranical religion of Islam to some other religion--any other religion. Give Islam the respect it deserves--none.
"So called" is the operative phrase here. There is nothing we can do to be "holy" or pleasing to God.there is nothing we can do to "earn" heaven..
Salvation is of God ,external rules do not save.
Are you changing your tune?
That's a matter of debate.
But you've got to admit: radical Islamic fundamentalists have a lot in common with the Nazi and the Japanese imperialists.
Like most Americans, I was never anti-Islamic until Sept. 11--not quite three months ago. I've travelled in Islamic countries. Had Muslim friends.
But where were all the moderate Muslims when the Taliban was acting like Nazis? Why was it left to the Americans to rid Afghanistan of this scourge? And why is it illegal in Islamic theocracies for citizens to convert from Islam to another religion? There are many such questions that have arisen since Sept. 11. The response of moderate Muslims has been tepid and unconvincing.
What do you think?
In my view, the most realistic strategy is to support educational campaigns by groups such as the Cato Institute, which can, for example, hold conferences for groups such as Imans. Through this, admittedly slow, strategy, the Islamic world can be slowly reintroduced to an earlier tradition of liberty. It would be somewhat akin to introducing Russians to Hayek or re-introducing the socialist French to the long-forgotten ideas of Bastiat or Say.
There is a more pro-liberty tradition in Islam which can provide a foundation. Unfortunately, this tradition has been dead largely for several hundred years. The best hope is to revive it and build on it....but this may take several centuries.
World Civilization will be Western Civilization, combined with Chinese Civilization to an extent which cannot be determined yet.
It may be able to make some accomodations to Islam, but not many, because of the fundamental differences between Islam and Western Civilization.
Islam will accomodate World Civilization or face annihilation.
Moderates within the Islamic world will become secularized, as most Christians and Jews have been. Intransigents will be overpowered and overwhelmed by the dominant World Civilization culture. Ultimately, an altered Islamic world will be absorbed into World Civilization.
If present trends continue, Islam will help catalyze the forging of Russia, India, and NATO into a solid and powerful alliance, an alliance that will ultimately include China also.
A rich, liberal tradition from the past was of little help in bringing Germany from Naziism (or pre-Naziism) to democracy. Democracy was foreign to German thinking and experience.
There are conflicting currents in contemporary Japan, but capitalism and constitutional democracy have definitely succeeded.
Both Germany and Japan are miracles of post-war political and economic success--and American magnanimity in victory.
Success in both countries is due to the sweeping away of centuries-old cultural traditions by less-than-culturally sensitive occupying armies that imposed upon the subjugated populations an American-style constitution, which made them free whether they wanted to be or not.
It also made the world safer for everyone else.
This is the future of the present-day Islamic theocracies.
What do you think?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.