Why the Muslims Misjudged Us

Opinion Journal ^ | 02/25/2002 | VICTOR DAVIS HANSON

[Pokey78]

Since September 11, we have heard mostly slander and lies about the West from radical Islamic fundamentalists in their defense of the terrorists. But the Middle Eastern mainstream--diplomats, intellectuals and journalists--has also bombarded the American public with an array of unflattering images and texts, suggesting that the extremists' anti-Americanism may not be an eccentricity of the ignorant but rather a representative slice of the views of millions.

[McGavin999]

America has been a friend more often than not to you. But now you are on the verge of turning its people--who create, not follow, government--into an enemy: a very angry and powerful enemy that may be yours for a long, long time to come.

This is something else the Muslims don't realize about us. We are very, very slow to anger but once we do, we don't forgive easily. They have already lost our trust.

I have watched the anger grow on this board, and this board is only a small representative (even with 80,000 registered posters) of the American public. You can hear it every day, in every conversation, the American people feel betrayed by those they thought of as friends.

Oh yeah, and it's not just the Muslim world, people are pretty fed up with the europeans too.

[185JHP]

Their foul and filthy religion - Islam - is the source of most of their problems. Words have power - and when the muezzins spout that filth five times a day, it helps keep them stupid, backward and evil.

[zeaal]

BUMP

[ozzymandus]

The Blame-America RAT media has a lot to do with it.

[Faraday]

Bookmarking this baby. What an outstanding article! There are so many things to comment on. I'll just make one here.

Values and traditions--not guns, germs and steel--explain why a tiny Greece of 50,000 square miles crushed a Persia 20 times larger

This is an attack on the theory postulated by Jared Diamond in his book, Guns, Germs, and Steel--The Fates of Human Societies. Diamond maintains that differences among human societies is based on a geographical determinism. It is essentially an apologia for African backwardness. Hanson is clearly correct in arguing that it is culture which plays the principle role in forming civilizations, for good or ill.

[Faraday]

Please mega-ping this must read article.

[truth_seeker]

This is an attack on the theory postulated by Jared Diamond in his book, Guns, Germs, and Steel--The Fates of Human Societies. Diamond maintains that differences among human societies is based on a geographical determinism. It is essentially an apologia for African backwardness. Hanson is clearly correct in arguing that it is culture which plays the principle role in forming civilizations, for good or ill.

No doubt geography and resources played a big role, in the past. Dr. Thomas Sowell also opines that Africa's geography held it back (it lacks long, slow rivers into the interior, which would support greater trade).

But in the present, oil wealth has been largely squandered. And the human resources have also been squandered. Islam's inherent cultural shortcomings are numerous, and the author is right on. A real keeper article.

[Demidog]

formal machinery of democratic government.

The formal machinery of a democratic government is 2 wolves and a sheep voting over what's for dinner. If "the Muslims" (nebulous and useless term) have been devoid of democracy, they should consider themselves lucky.

[The Cuban]

I am scared!!! This article is so politically incorrect! Oh my oh my, I feel as though the end of the world might be upon us. This journalist has spoeken the raw truth. I don't know about you guys but I am going to run to the hills!

[jwh_Denver]

There was a thread yesterday about an article written by the British journalist ? Hitchens where he said that the Muslims he met in Pakistan were filled with self-righteouness (I can do anything I want), self hatred (you can only love your neighbor as yourself, so therefore you can only hate, and full of self pity (it's always somebody's elses fault). A very dangerous threesome coupled with the fact that the Muslims have micron like theology vision that cannot comprehend anything outside of the "scope" and not caring about finding out about it as this author has pointed out. Their scolars are intellectual morons. Listen to the 1 sentence tripe that comes out of their mouths about the United States. Like an angry 6 year whose been told no for 6 times and finally got the message.

"Fed up with the Europeans". While basically the entire worthwhile world is facing fanatical committed murderous slugs the Europeans have b*tched because we don't want them or need them. Do you think we would listen if they yelled loud enough to join us that we would turn them down (exclude the French)?. So when the going gets tough Europe chooses weakness and cries like the wimps they are.

[Ban Draoi]

One of the things that we learned from the Indians is the power of sustained vindictiveness. The Indians held a grudge for a long, long time and were very patient in exacting their revenge -- but when they exacted it, they made damn sure that everybody knew what it was and why it was done.

The US is a very patient nation, slow to wrath, but once angered, is an implacable enemy -- and has the habit of exterminating its enemies.

[Dan Day]

DAMN, that was one excellent essay...

[Balata]

Bump!

[Dec31,1999]

This is something else the Muslims don't realize about us. We are very, very slow to anger but once we do, we don't forgive easily. They have already lost our trust. I have watched the anger grow on this board, and this board is only a small representative (even with 80,000 registered posters) of the American public. You can hear it every day, in every conversation, the American people feel betrayed by those they thought of as friends. Oh yeah, and it's not just the Muslim world, people are pretty fed up with the europeans too.

Very well said. The other day, 5 foreign Arabic youngsters got on the subway car I was on, speaking Arabic, of course. They had sort of big jackets on. They were probably just innocent kids, but it made me wonder if they were going to blow us up. Did they have explosives underneath their jackets?

Of course now It occurs to me that suicide bombers have only worked alone, up to this point.

However, I'm fairly certain that what is going on in Israel is going to start happening here soon, unless they have the word to hold out for a while.

[Dec31,1999]

If "the Muslims" (nebulous and useless term) have been devoid of democracy, they should consider themselves lucky.

Why is it a nebulous and useless term? Please explain. Can you give examples of democratic nations in the past or present? This is a real question.

[Dec31,1999]

I'll drink to that. Add a ham sandwich on top of it.

[Miss Marple]

My sister is the assistant manager of a large, up-scale department store. Since 9/11 she has had increasing problems from Middle Eastern customers, particularly younger ones, who are rude and disruptive. She has taken to following them around the store to make them feel uncomfortable so that they will LEAVE. One of them asked her why she was following him and she said "It's my JOB."

You must understand that my sister has always voted democrat and is used to customers of all ethnicities. She is NOT trusting of these people at all any more and the longer this goes on, the angrier she is getting.

I haven't spoken to her since the Pearl murder, but I am certain that she will not be intimidated, rather more infuriated.

I can only imagine the attitudes in other parts of our city.

And I'll tell you something else...the TV reporters are getting lumped in with the Europeans in her opinion. She is sick of them, too.

[FreedomPoster]

Glad to hear reports from the field of mugged (by 9/11) liberals becoming conservatives.

[Octar]

Thanks for posting this article.