Posted on 04/28/2005 7:36:48 PM PDT by Cornpone
Washington, DC -- Political disputes and not religion, begat violence, says John Esposito, a widely respected American professor and author on the Islamic world, known for his moderate views on Islam. Esposito was awarded Pakistan's highest civilhonor, the Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam, at the Pakistani embassy in Washington. "Prof. Esposito has done more than any other individual in the last three or four decades to promote a better understanding between the Islamic and Western worlds," said Pakistan's ambassador Jehangir Karamat. Esposito used the award ceremony to urge people living in the two worlds to make a better effort towards understanding each other. He argued that: In the West, particularly the United States, when people talk about moderate Muslims, the underlying assumption is that the majority is not moderate. Some people even talk about moderating the religion itself, assuming that there's something in the religion that promotes violence and extremism.
Similarly, when some Americans ask 'why they hate us,' they assume that the majority in the Muslim world hates America. What they fail to see is that those who have disagreements with the U.S. foreign policy do not necessarily hate America. "If you had Palestines and Northern Irelands in other places, you would have violence in those places as well," said Esposito.
I understood them f***ing well enough on 9/11.
Well now! I never heard that before? Is this just New York as indicated by your reference to the New York Supreme Court? Or are all us Americans allowed to partake of this law?
Everything I needed to know about Islam I learned on 9-11-2001.
"Islam is in America to become dominant" -- See, I already understand that. Thanks anyway. Get your sorry rags outta here, CAIR.
"...West needs to understand Muslims..."
Is this anything like "Hitler was only misunderstood?"
Or is it simply that we do understand them and we know the threat they represent?
One of Esposito's books is "The Islamic Threat: Myth or
Reality?" Did you read that? If so, you know that he's
no idiot. Having said that, it should be recognized that
he is what I call an "apologist" for Islam and I don't
use that adjective favorably. In fact, one has to read
various authors, compare them and evaluate them in the
light of other experts. There are much better authorities
on the subject who give a far more accurate appraisal.
I recommend "The Closed Circle: An Interpretation of the
Arabs", by David Pryce-Jones and "The Two Faces of Islam",
by Schwartz. There are many others but those two are
excellent. One can only see a writer's perspective by
comparison and good critical reviews.
Yeah, I'll bet Esposito and all the other Mideast academic "experts" are out partying like hell to celebrate Syria's withdrawl from Lebanon...NOT!!
The Arab street has risen indeed, just not in the direction the John Espositos of the world would like. They've tried hard to forget about the fall of the Iron Curtain, but it looks like deja vu all over again for the Commie losers.
What's wrong with Massachusetts? Should there not be a chapter or 5 in Mass?
Shall I send you MY bibliography? Esposito is a fool. He doesn't have a clue about Islam.
It came from a case where some New Yorkers had imported a moslem imam or some such guru and the NYSSC ruled him and his religion "persona non grata" and deported him.
The ruling was over the definition of "religion" in the First Ammendment and still stands today as the law of the land, and will until the ACLU-types get their skirts blown up over it.
understanding islam 'just' from 9/11 is OUR weakness. we have a serious enemy and we need to understand that they are doing. lumping all muslims together is a simplistic mental solution to the problem. what you need to understand is that the extremists are fighting battles of public opinion themselves and need more people to join their cause. an understanding of the politics and forces WITHIN islam is essential if we are going to defeat the branch that wants us dead.
Seriously, I'd like to see your bibliography. Some
people can read T.S. Eliot and think he's a fool. I
think a book review or critique has to be above ad
hominum attack of the author. Esposito can surely be
criticized - and I do so - but on the basis of his
tendentious scholarship not by name-calling. Send me
your Bib. Thanks
Wow! I really hadn't ever heard of that. Thanks for the info.
I don't hate all Muslims but I sure don't trust them either.
Their religion teaches that I am an infidel and should be converted or killed.
We lived in North Africa for 2 years in the early 70's and the people would steal the eyes right out of your head if given a chance. 9-11 just confirmed what I already knew.
Texas Mom, I'm with you. 9-11 gave us CLARITY.
"Islam was declared illegal" ????? Can you please elaborate? If legal precedent means so darned much to the Courts these days, then let's use this one.
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