Posted on 11/27/2006 7:22:31 AM PST by Mark Felton
ISTANBULTens of thousands of Turks have protested the Pope's visit to this Muslim country with placards and chants that denounced Benedict XVI as an enemy of Islam.
The protest of more than 25,000 people yesterday was an extraordinary sight in an officially secular country, where the government is counting on a smooth papal visit to boost Turkey's chances of joining the European Union.
"For Western civilization to develop it needs an enemy and the Pope openly says that this enemy is Islam," Recai Kutan, chairman of the Islamist Saadet Party, told the crowd.
The protestors jammed one of Istanbul's major boulevards, waving banners and Turkish flags under the gaze of 4,000 police backed by armoured vehicles and hovering helicopters.
One large English-language poster read, "Go home Pope" and showed the pontiff's face on the head of a pig, blood oozing from his mouth.
Another demanded he apologize for wars from the Christian crusades to Iraq. One accused the Vatican of producing terror while another said, "Jesus is not the son of God, he is a prophet of Islam."
In Rome, the spiritual leader of the world's Roman Catholics asked thousands of followers gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray for the success of his four-day trip to Turkey, which begins tomorrow.
"I want to send a cordial greeting to the dear Turkish people, rich in history and culture," the Pope said yesterday during his weekly noon address. "To these people and their representatives I express feelings of esteem and sincere friendship."
Benedict XVI sparked outrage in much of the Muslim world with a September speech in Germany, where he suggested Islam was rooted in violence. He later expressed regret for the offence his comments may have caused, but stopped short of the apology many in Turkey are demanding.
The Pope first angered many Turks in 2004 when, as the powerful Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he rejected the country's bid to join the 25-nation European Union, describing its Muslim faith as being "in permanent contrast" to Europe's Christian heritage.
His main mission is to support Turkey's dwindling Christian communities and work to heal a 1,000-year-old rift with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, regarded by many as the spiritual leader of the world's 300 million Orthodox Christians.
There is a reason why islam used to be called the church of the AntiChrist.
Just to play the Devils Advocate, isn't partly the Wests fault that Byzantium fell? After all, one of the Crusades did invade, divided it up, and left them hopelessly weakened in the face of the Muslim threat.
That said, Islam is obsessed with events done 1,000 years ago (perhaps thats because that was the last time they were revelent?) The West barely cares about what happened 15 years ago.
Actually, in Huntington's concept, every civilization defines itself in the opposition to others: "THIS is what I am, as opposed to THAT which I am not".The absence of something doesn't mean that there is something viable left in its place. This is what C.S.Lewis referred to as stepping outside of the "Tao of Humanity."
Rurudyne perhaps
- you are not reading what your nimble fingers are typing, or
- you don't believe what you write, or
- you possess the belief that truth twisting is a worthy goal, or
- you enjoy seeing your words in print so much you feel compelled to play childish games on a conservative website.
In any case, once again, your words are posted below:
Ahhh angry Muslims- whoda thunk it? http://sacredscoop.com
This si BLASPHEMY!! OFF with their heads!
Oh wait...WE don't do things like that...that's their schtick...Our main message is "Love one another"...
The crusades was just one of those parties that got out of hand.
Wait, I thought Islam was of satan! /sarc/
I want an appology AND FINANCIAL REPARAIONS for 400 years of slavery and religious oppression from the ottomans!
Gee, I wasn't aware that Pope Benedict XVI played a role in the Crusades.
Very well put.
I would add that this is the continuation of a war started back in 672 and has continued on to today.
Islamic protesters use Crusaders as pajorative as the kkk using the n word.
These idiots might as well blame the serpant, Eve and the apple for all their discontent...not to mention poor old stupid and gullable Adam.
The pope speak german,
The pope lives in italy
The pope is visiting in Turkey
Yet all the signs of the protesters are conveniently in ENGLISH!
(so much for press 1)
Seriously, I bet a few astute cameramen could take some pictures discretly showing how the protests are for show rather than substance.
How 'bout 2 commercials ago?
Que? :)
I didn't know they were but makes some sense to me. I never knew much about Islam until 911, however.
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