Posted on 09/09/2004 1:45:13 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
The Real History of the CrusadesMisconceptions about the Crusades are all too common. The Crusades are generally portrayed as a series of holy wars against Islam led by power-mad popes and fought by religious fanatics. They are supposed to have been the epitome of self-righteousness and intolerance, a black stain on the history of the Catholic Church in particular and Western civilization in general. A breed of proto-imperialists, the Crusaders introduced Western aggression to the peaceful Middle East and then deformed the enlightened Muslim culture, leaving it in ruins... [T]he Crusades to the East were in every way defensive wars. They were a direct response to Muslim aggression—an attempt to turn back or defend against Muslim conquests of Christian lands.
by Thomas F. Madden
9 May 2002
Thank you for the reminder and the pingarooni
Joking or not....I think you may have something! Crusades!!
Three strangers strike up a conversation in the airport passenger lounge
in Bozeman, Montana, while awaiting their respective flights.
One is an American Indian passing through from Lame Deer.
Another is a Cowboy on his way to Billings for a livestock show
and the third passenger is a fundamentalist Arab student, newly
arrived at Montana State University from the Middle East.
Their discussion drifts to their diverse cultures. Soon, the two
Westerners learn that the Arab is a devout, radical Muslim and the
conversation falls into an uneasy lull.
The cowboy leans back in his chair, crosses his boots on a magazine
table and tips his big sweat-stained hat forward over his face. The wind
outside is blowing tumbleweeds around, and the old windsock is flapping;
but still no plane comes.
Finally, the American Indian clears his throat and softly he speaks, "At
one time here, my people were many, but sadly, now we are few."
The Muslim student raises an eyebrow and leans forward, "Once my people
were few," he sneers, "and now we are many. Why do you suppose that is?"
The cowboy shifts his toothpick to one side of his mouth and
from the darkness beneath his Stetson says in a smooth drawl . .
"That's 'cause we ain't played Cowboys and Muslims yet,
but I do believe it's a-comin'."
Pingarooni... kinda neat soundin'... "Franco-American Pingarooni..."
"The Crusades was just one of those parties that got out of hand."
There have been six, so far, AFAIK, this link being the oldest:
The Real History of the Crusades
Crisis Magazine | 4/1/2002 | Thomas Madden
Posted on 04/07/2002 10:35:39 PM EDT by traditionalist
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/661560/posts
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