Loss of Spain hurts still, centuries after Moors' last sigh

theage ^ | March 14, 2004 | Isambard Wilkinson

[GulliverSwift]

Iberia looms large in Islamist ambitions and regrets, writes Isambard Wilkinson in Madrid.

Thursday's bombings have raised an uncomfortable question for Spaniards. Is Osama bin Laden dreaming of exacting revenge for the loss of Al-Andalus, the ancient Moorish kingdom in Iberia?

A group said to be close to bin Laden's al-Qaeda, the Brigade of Abu Hafs al-Masri, sent a message to a London-based Arabic newspaper saying: "This is part of settling old accounts with Spain, the crusader and America's ally in its war against Islam."

While the authenticity of the message is open to doubt, there is no question that it reflects the thinking of Islamists who hold that any land that has once been part of the Muslim community should forever remain under Muslim rule.

At the beginning of the 11th century, three-quarters of Spain's population was Muslim. But as soon as the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella reconquered the country for Christianity, the Muslims were ordered out.

The humiliation has never been forgotten in the Arab world. But the sense of hurt may have grown since Spain, for decades a friend of the Arab world, backed the US-led war on Iraq, despite vast domestic opposition.

A dozen al-Qaeda-linked suspected terrorists have been arrested in Spain.

Bin Laden gave warning that Spain would be singled out for attack in a taped message released last October through an Arab satellite TV channel.

Bin Laden has also spoken of Al-Andalus, regarded with nostalgia by Islamists as the halcyon age of Muslim power and artistic achievement.

Moorish armies from North Africa conquered the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century and transformed the region into an integral part of the Muslim umma, or nation.

The year 1492, when Granada was ceded to Ferdinand and Isabella, is a talismanic date for some Islamist scholars, who consider it as the beginning of the decline of the Muslim world.

The tale of the "Moors' last sigh" is recounted to epitomise the loss of one of the Islamic world's great jewels.

When King Boabdil fled Granada, the last bastion of Moorish rule, he looked back and wept. His mother chided him: "Do not weep like a woman for what you could not defend like a man."

[GulliverSwift]

Bin Laden has also spoken of Al-Andalus, regarded with nostalgia by Islamists as the halcyon age of Muslim power and artistic achievement.

Boot out the Muslim "crusaders" terrorists and discover America. Good job Spain.

When King Boabdil fled Granada, the last bastion of Moorish rule, he looked back and wept. His mother chided him: "Do not weep like a woman for what you could not defend like a man."

He's as brave as the average Muslim suicide coward. His mother has to tell him to be a man.

[Unam Sanctam]

I've been waiting for someone to raise this angle.

[Restorer]

Islamists ... hold that any land that has once been part of the Muslim community should forever remain under Muslim rule.

Surely it should then be fair for Christians to hold that any land that has once been part of the Christian community should forever remain under Christian rule.

Which means the Muslims have to give us back Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, to name a few.

Why do these press reports routinely grant credibility to Muslim beliefs that would, rightly, be rejected out of hand if put forward by Christians?

[Tax Government]

"Do not weep like a woman for what you could not defend like a man."

Good advice tomorrow, for countries that support Bin Laden today.

[ClearCase_guy]

I am still upset at the loss of the Crusader kingdoms. I say we go re-conquer Syria.

Oh, and since Alexander the Great and Rome both succeeded in conquering Egypt, can we reclaim these lands (and lots more!) as part of our Western Heritage? Shall we send our troops? No?

Then why are the Moslems even talking about what they lost? The fools invite disaster.

[TrueBeliever9]

Surely it should then be fair for Christians to hold that any land that has once been part of the Christian community should forever remain under Christian rule.

Do you think we could reclaim Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia (fastest growing in the Nation) to just name a few over run states?

[Clean_Sweep]

"While the authenticity of the message is open to doubt, there is no question that it reflects the thinking of Islamists who hold that any land that has once been part of the Muslim community should forever remain under Muslim rule. "

What's wrong with that? They plan to convert the whole world anyway.

[GulliverSwift]

I wish the Mexicans would "reclaim" southern california. Goodbye, Hollywood.

[jed turtle]

"For Muslims, Loss of Spain Still Hurts, Centuries After Moors's Defeat"

Good. some good news today, at last. i hope it hurts a lot.

i hope it hurts just as much tomorrow also.

[VOA]

Moorish armies from North Africa conquered the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century
and transformed the region into an integral part of the Muslim umma, or nation.

How about a headline of
"Spaniards Getting Tired Of Invasions/Murders By Muslim Thugs"

[GulliverSwift]

they're hurt by everything, or at least they pretend. Every Israeli baby who is killed by a bomb is done to "retaliate" against an "offense" by the Zionist pigs.

[billorites]

get over it
get over it
all this bitchin' and moanin' and pitchin' a fit
get over it, get over it
get over it
get over it
it's gotta stop some time so why don't you quit
get over it,get over it
get over it

[IonInsights]

For Muslims, Loss of Spain Still Hurts, Centuries After Moors's Defeat

Put some ice on it.

[nickcarraway]

BUMP

[GulliverSwift]

I hear three Morrocans were arrested for the bombings. Those are the closests Mulims to Spain, and probably their ancestors were driven out.

[Seth1]

But as soon as the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella reconquered the country for Christianity, the Muslims were ordered out.

Enough said.

[Restorer]

At the beginning of the 11th century, three-quarters of Spain's population was Muslim. But as soon as the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella reconquered the country for Christianity, the Muslims were ordered out.

For the most part, this meant that during the 12th thru 14th centuries, when the Christians were winning, most of the Muslims converted back to Christianity, just as most of the Muslims' ancestors had themselves been Christian who converted to Islam when the Muslims were winning.

The article implies that Ferdinand and Isabella expelled 3/4 of their subjects, which of course they didn't.

[RonHolzwarth]

Pasted from the article:

"as soon as the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella reconquered the country for Christianity, the Muslims were ordered out,,,

The year 1492, when Granada was ceded to Ferdinand and Isabella, is a talismanic date for some Psalmist scholars, who consider it as the beginning of the decline of the Muslim world."

---

My response:
HEY!!! YOU FORGOT SOMETHING!!! 1492 was an important year for SOMETHING ELSE!!!

That's the year that all the Jews were ordered out too!

(and also the C. Columbus guy, but that's another topic)

Although, Jews were allowed to stay, as long as they pretended to "convert".

But Jews have just about never resorted to taking measures like the Muslims are doing today.

Maybe because Jews are more moral?

Or is it because Jews go on to the future, and make progress in physics, medicine, and just about every other field?

While the Muslims just borrow technology from the "infidels", to make bombs to kill people.