From Cal Thomas's syndicated column, picked up here from the Salt Lake Tribune, with thanks to TwoStellas and RB:
President Bush's speech to the National Defense University in Virginia Tuesday was a first-rate definition of what freedom means to the West. The larger question is: Does it mean the same thing to the Islamic fascists in the Middle East and other parts of the world?These fanatics believe the United States, Britain and the rest of the West are the ones in bondage. They note our promiscuity, our abortions, our obsession with homosexuality, our television, our provocative way of dressing and they wonder who is really free?
Can Muslim nations with religious and political dictatorships be liberated in the same way communist nations were set free? Are there millions of people who would live, worship and vote differently if they could think and act for themselves? Possibly. We will know soon.
There is also a chance we are being played for suckers by those who know us far better than we know them.
While President Bush praises Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as a democratically elected leader, does he know that Abbas, a Holocaust denier, believes it was the Israelis who were responsible for the nightclub homicide bombing last month in Tel Aviv?
Abbas told Time magazine: ''The bombers came from the suburb of Tulkarem to Tel Aviv, crossing the wall. So who is responsible? The wall and the Israelis.'' Yes, those crazy Jews kill each other as part of their conspiracy to dominate the world!
In a March 8 speech to the Palestinian Legislative Council, Abbas warned of a possible ''serious impact'' if Israel continues what he regards as its procrastination on the Palestinian proposal for an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital and a return to the 1967 boundaries. Those concessions would set Israel up with indefensible borders and make it ripe for complete annihilation by its Arab enemies.
Anyone in doubt about the rules of the game should read a new book edited by Robert Spencer, director of Jihad Watch, The Myth of Islamic Tolerance: How Islamic Law Treats Non-Muslims (Prometheus Books). Spencer and a fine collection of knowledgeable authors unmask the enemies of freedom and document how much of the West is being duped into believing that the radicals are part of a ''fringe'' and that the overwhelming majority of Muslims wish no one harm and seek to live at peace with all....
We like Cal even without the endorsement. Read it all.
I've seen this argument before from Pat Buchanan. Thomas is nice enough to couch it in terms of what the Muslims think. Why don't these dupes discuss rule of law, representative democracy, valuing honesty, freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, personal freedom, cooperation, comprimise, and a relative lack of sectarian violence?
I mean, hey, if you want to make the Islamists arguments for them for political advantage, I'm sure they'll take it. Divide and conquer has always been their game. Historically, in the long run, they never lose. There has never been a better warfighting strategy, I mean religion, than Islam.
If you'd rather fight against gay people, sex, and crappy TV than fight for Western civilization, you deserve what you get.
If something called "Western civilization" is to be defended, then surely it would be well to ensure that in some form it actually exists. A little more Shakespeare and Spinoza, a little less Britney Spears, would be welcome. One does not feel entirely comfortable even applying the phrase "civilization" to something which is in danger of being reduced to Access Hollywood, hip-hop, Milton Academy "birthday presents," and what Charles Saatchi collects.
Regarding Mahmoud Abbas's denial of responsibility -- not that I'm defending it -- I think what he was insinuating is that the bombers perpetrated their act of terror because of the security barrier, that the continued existence of it is an ongoing antagonism. The fact that for the better part of the last 45 years, Abbas and his late boss cultivated the conditions that led to the construction of the security barrier, I guess he wouldn't like to discuss.
My guess is that Pres. Bush, Secstate Rice, and the whole crew probably are acutely aware that Mahmoud Abbas is a Shoah denier and a number of other unpleasant things. However, with great power comes great responsibility, which sometimes involves the exercise of a great restraint. Also, ever once in a while, giving some bad actor a bit of wiggle room may allow him to wiggle in a right direction.
The enormous changes that have taken place in China since 1978 are instructive. Deng Xiaoping (and he was,admittedly, at base a very nasty little man) learned the hard way that the survival of his family depended on some kind of capital in China other than closeness to and favor from the Chairman of the Communist Party. In many of China's official circles, there was a private acknowledgement that, at least on economic well-being, the capitalist outposts of Hong Kong and Taiwan had the rest of the Chinese world beat hands down. The abortive overhaul of the system that occurred in 1989 indicated that a lot of China was trying to wiggle away from Communism as much as it possibly could. Some other peoples who labored under Marxist-Leninist regimes during the same period got better results when they, too, were allowed to wiggle.
Maybe Bush is hoping against hope with the Falastin Arabs. Yet, can we commit ourselves to the complete destruction of the Falastin Arabs and southern Lebanese Twelver Shi'ah?
The idea that islam is morally superior to the West is laughable. Murder is in their unholy book, rape, mutilation, taking "booty", temporary wives, beating your wives, sex with little children, slavery, how to go to the toilet (with endless rules), how you can shave the body hair ( again with the rules), don't touch the terrible unclean kafirs (don't even speak to them). I am sure I barely touched the beginnings of the "truths" of the ignoble quran.
"Yes, those crazy Jews kill each other as part of their conspiracy to dominate the world!"
It should come as no surprise that Islamic beliefs allow for this type of thinking. They kill their own in massive numbers daily in their pursuit of world domination.
Regarding Mahmoud Abbas's denial of responsibility -- not that I'm defending it --
THEN DON'T
I think what he was insinuating is that the bombers perpetrated their act of terror because of the security barrier, that the continued existence of it is an ongoing antagonism.
NOT SO THE FACT THAT THE WAST LAND WAS MADE TO BLOOM BY JEWS IS THEIR PROBLEM
THE FACT THEY ARE THERE IS ENOUGH FOR THESE MONSTERS??
The fact that for the better part of the last 45 years, Abbas and his late boss cultivated the conditions that led to the construction of the security barrier, I guess he wouldn't like to discuss.
NO HE WOULDN'T!!!
Posted by: waterdragon52 at March 11, 2005 08:56 AM
Part of the American Tribe
Squirrel Hunter
Spider Killer
God Bless the USA and her Fighting Forces and ALL who Fight with her give them Strength, Wisdom, Sight and Courage to stay the course to Destroy ALL Islamic Terrorist and ALL who Support them Amen
PS
I bought 4 books and some go to people I know and to the Libiary in my town!!!
PSS
Ment this for the nazi line but even KKK Bird said last night some times people make mistakes when young and join those kind of groups YOU KNOW!!