I don't much like gossip shows, but I believe that the error that Western conservatives fall into is thinking that when Muslim groups make such moves, they are demonstrating the basis for an alliance. In fact, this endeavor stems from the same Sharia impulse that would subjugate non-Muslims as dhimmis. Sharia Alert from modern, moderate Indonesia, from AFP, with thanks to Twostellas:
JAKARTA • Indonesia’s largest Islamic movement, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), is considering issuing an edict that would ban Muslims from producing or watching popular television gossip shows, an NU official said yesterday....Musa said the edict, if agreed by a congress of the organisation in Surabaya, capital of East Java, would declare it a sin for Muslims to produce or watch the gossip shows, known as infotainment news.
I don't much like gossip shows, but I believe that the error that Western conservatives fall into is thinking that when Muslim groups make such moves, they are demonstrating the basis for an alliance. In fact, this endeavor stems from the same Sharia impulse that would subjugate non-Muslims as dhimmis.
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This is so astute. I noticed after 9/11 some Liberal commentary indicating that targetting New York City was ironic because few New Yorkers "voted for George Bush". As if taking out a few square blocks of, say, Houston would have been OK.
Likewise, I have heard Conservatives trying to make common ground with Islamists over perceived Hollywood excesses or Gay issues.
I think this is all insanely misguided. To Jihadists, Westerners are *all* targets. To the truly hard-line, devout Christians and commited Atheists are one and the same. A Lesbian stripper and Susie Co-ed holding hands with her college boyfriend are both whores.
Certainly, there are aspecs of contemporary Western popular culture that I am not fond of. But Islam would brutally supress *all* aspects of non-Islamic culture. Personally, I'd gladly put up with cheesy shows like "Entertainment Tonight" and "Jerry Springer" rather than live under Sharia.