Posted on 04/11/2006 10:57:44 PM PDT by Dallas59
THE HAGUE, 12/04/06 - An unjustified fear of and aversion to Islam exists in the Netherlands. Instead of continuing to drag the name of that faith through the mud, there should be far more criticism of friendly countries such as the US, Israel and Russia, the Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR) concludes.
WRR researcher Jan Schoonenboom is worried about "Islam-bashing" in the debate in the Netherlands. The frequently heard statement that Islam in principle conflicts with democracy and human rights is wrong, he declares. "If you, as a Muslim in the Netherlands, keep hearing only that Islam is the equivalent of violence and that you belong to a fifth column, then you feel alien. In the debate, many big words are used without being based on facts."
"Look, for example, at the warnings of the Christian democrats (CDA) parliamentary leader Verhagen about the introduction of the Sharia. As if we in the Netherlands would then get corporal punishment! I do not know whether it is ignorance or design on the part of Verhagen, but it does not make sense and is irresponsible." Schoonenboom was commenting yesterday on 'Dynamics in Islamic activism', a report by the WRR to be presented to Foreign Minister Bot today.
According to Schoonenboom "we should not be so spastic about the Sharia." It may be that the system leads to corporal punishment in countries like Saudi Arabia and Sudan, "but under the Sharia in Morocco, family law has been reformed, very much to the advantage of women's rights." The Sharia for Muslims is comparable to the Ten Commandments for Christians, in the researcher's view. "It is God's plan for human nature."
The WRR researcher wipes the floor with Islam critics such as MPs Hirsi Ali, Wilders and Verhagen, law philosopher Afshin Ellian and Rotterdam politician Marco Pastors. "They often play on gut feelings in the debate. On fear of Islam and of Muslims. You also see that in the debate on the accession of Turkey to the EU, this country is made out to be much more Islamic than it is, and Europe much more Christian that it really is."
Schoonenboom advises "an adventurous foreign policy" for the Dutch government. "We must support the moderate Islamic powers much more, such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Hezbollah in Lebanon, instead of secular movements without prospects in Muslim countries. We must talk to the Palestinian regime of Hamas. They are democratically elected. It is a terrorist movement, but so was Arafat's PLO. And the IRA in Ireland."
"On the other hand, we must be much more critical regarding our friendly countries. We must address Russia more forcefully on human rights violations in Chechnya, Israel for its decades of ignoring UN resolutions and the US regarding Guantanamo Bay. In the Netherlands, there has practically never been a debate on the reasons for the invasion of Iraq and the Dutch support for this." (...) "We must also get rid of hypocrisy. We protest if one Christian is sentenced to death in Afghanistan, but what do we do if it is a Muslim?"
Schoonenboom denies that the WRR report is naive. It is a reaction of "a real fear of dangerous developments. Do we want to go on living in a land that is plagued by fear of attacks? A cultural change is needed here. The Netherlands cannot save the world, but we can try to influence EU policy. The battle against terrorism has got out of hand, is getting the characteristics of a clash of civilisations. (...) Bush is said to be considering attacking Iran or Syria. What in God's name are we doing?"
Did a search, found no posts with original title.
Thanks to Little Green Footballs.
"We protest if one Christian is sentenced to death in Afghanistan, but what do we do if it is a Muslim?"
If a Muslim is sentenced to death in Afghanistan, chances are that it was Muslims who did the sentencing. (No skin off my nose.)
"Schoonenboom advises "an adventurous foreign policy" for the Dutch government. "We must support the moderate Islamic powers much more, such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Hezbollah in Lebanon"
Yep, those are the moderates. Kind of like cuddling with a rattlesnake instead of a cobra.
Folks over there should get some different scientists on there councils, else they better stock up on lube.
Suicide wish.
The Politically Correct Crowds are to busy forming their Suicide Cults to be bothered by the realities of the situation.
If a snake bites you, you cut off its head. You don't say it's not the biting type and go on your merry way.
This is an exception.
Scientists over there should stick to science.
Remember Technocracy, and changing the currency to an erg-based standard*?
Scientists outside their field of expertise, epecially when they sacrifice principles of evidence & logic, are as bad as, or even worse than, pontificating clueless actors.
*If they try again, I've already got my anti-slogan:
Yes, it is the Muslims who kill muslims who want to leave Islam. Islam does not benefit the people of this world, it only tries to turn people into puppets with no sense at all.
Yes, indeed, the Muslim Brotherhood and Hezbollah, cast as "moderate" Muslims. The sad truth is that in today's Muslim world, there are groups even worse than these two.
But the response to expansionist Islam that this dodo suggests is pure and simple cultural surrender. I suppose that putting a gun to your head and pulling the trigger would be described by this loon as "adventurous horseplay", and makes just about as much sense as his proposed "foreign policy".
Just perfect. Reminds me of Invasion of the Body-snatchers.
The US in the past 15 years has intervened in Kuwait, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq to keep more Muslims from being slaughtered.
We need to apologize to no one if we are upset when they threaten a Christian with death for being an apostate of Islam.
I agree with you, but you'll see Sharia law practiced in cities in Europe before you and I are done.
The world is bombarded daily, hourly with threats and slaughter in the name of Islam -- the Iranian president is telling the world he's out to establish an Islamic empire, with nuclear weapons to back it up -- and a good portion of the West stands in a corner, fingers plugged firmly into their ears, shouting "not so, not so, not so!"
Absolutely right!
You don't stand around discussing if it can be tamed ( moderated / civilized ) you exterminate it, without a thought. Sometimes in this world it really is a question of us or them.
How we choose will determine not only our future but our kids and their kids future. I for one will do everythng possible not to leave the future to a backward ass 8th century set of laws and morons.
I'm with you there. All I can say is I am glad there are authors who aren't afraid to state the truth about the murderous religion of Islam.
bttp
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