My review of Oriana Fallaci's superb and essential The Force of Reason appears in this week's Human Events:
A common thread runs through some of Oriana Fallaci’s 1970s interviews with world leaders:Golda Meir: “I think the war in the Middle East will go on for many, many years.... Because of the indifference with which the Arab leaders send their people off to die, because of the low estimate in which they hold human life, because of the inability of the Arab people to rebel and say ‘enough.’”
What was the cause of that indifference, that low estimate and that inability?
Yasir Arafat: “No! We don’t want peace. We want war, victory. Peace for us means the destruction of Israel and nothing else.”
Whence his unwillingness to negotiate or compromise?
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto: “[Muslims and Hindus] are not brothers. We never have been.... We’ve never arrived at a harmonious relationship.”
Why not?
Successful Strategy
By her own account in her new book, The Force of Reason, it was years before Fallaci herself discovered the answer to these questions. She explains that George Habash, the Marxist leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, explained it to her in 1972, but she did not grasp the full import of his words. “Our revolution is a part of the world revolution. It is not confined to the reconquest of Palestine,” Habash told her, but he wasn’t spouting Marxist dogma. “Palestinians are part of the Arab nation,” he continued. “Therefore, the entire Arab nation must go to war against Europe and America. It must unleash a war against the West. And it will. America and Europe don’t know that we Arabs are just at the beginning of the beginning. That the best is yet to come. That from now on there will be no peace for the West ... To advance step by step. Decade after decade. Determined, stubborn, patient. This is our strategy. A strategy that we shall expand throughout the whole planet.”
In The Force of Reason, Fallaci chronicles how fantastically successful that strategy has been—so successful that before this century is out the Mediterranean Sea could become an Islamic lake, with countries on the Northern side joining those of the South in the global Islamic umma. She writes with verve and passion about short-sighted Europeans who are more concerned about violating multiculturalist sensibilities than fighting for their own survival—and who decline even to acknowledge that what they are in is indeed a fight for their survival.
The Force of Reason reads as an explanatory postscript to the remarks of those leaders of the 1970s. Why did the Arab leaders value life so cheaply, as Meir noted? Because of the Islamic notion that Paradise awaits those who “kill and are killed” for Allah (Koran 9:111). Why did Arafat reject all hope for peace and call openly for Israel’s destruction (at least in the days before he learned how far he could go by dissembling on this point)? Because of the Islamic idea that infidels must not rule in any land that has once been ruled by Muslims. Why did Bhutto dismiss any possibility of Hindus’ and Muslims’ living in peace with as much finality as Arafat did when speaking of Israelis and Arabs? Because of that same jihad ideology that has no place for Muslims and non-Muslims to live together in peace on an indefinite basis as equals.
For the leaders of the 1970s, jihad was no concern, and for those of today, it is the conflict that none dare to name. Fallaci chronicles her travails after the publication of her post-9/11 manifesto, The Rage and the Pride, likening the mainstream media to Medieval inquisitors and herself to a heretic whom they thirst to destroy for her abominations. For today’s chattering classes, supporting America against the jihadists is a crime more heinous than even the mass murders of September 11. In Europe today, Fallaci asks acidly, “If I hate Americans, I go to Heaven, and if I hate Muslims, I go to Hell?”
In today’s PC world, yes. But her book attests to the fact that the force of reason is still very much alive, and powerful.
"I have seen the face of evil and confronted it. Evil cannot be overcome with love, compassion, reason, or logic, for that is what evil does not posses. The only way to overcome evil is to eliminate evil."
I was trying to think of a country that became Islamic and stayed that way since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. I could only come up with Albania, and I'm not sure of that. Some parts of Bosnia might also qualify. Perhaps Islam didn't spread to the Philippines and Indonesia until after 1453. But those countries aren't unequivocally Islamic even today. Spain lost its Islamic character entirely by 1492. Hungary was conquered but reclaimed by the year 1700. All in all, the record of conquest for Allah is remarkably thin in recent centuries. Just as the Byzantine Empire kept the Mohameddans at bay for 800 years, I think the West has a much better chance of convincing the Islamic world of the military and cutural superiority of modern rational culture than vice versa. These facts, of course, don't mean the mullahs aren't capable of dangerous stupidity. But there's room for much optimism as to the result.
Mr Spencer,
Why is George Habbash (a Palestian Christian) quoted as a supporter of Jihad even though he's a Marxist. PFLP was a nationalist organization (similar to the ones in South America) and people who killed themselves certainly didn't believe in the afterlife.
Dude, because it's the Red-Green Show!
Failures of a feather flock together!
Re: The Force of Reason Against Jihad Ideology
In her book The Proud Tower Barbara Tuchman notes that at the beginning of the 20th century the elites in Europe were almost uniformly of the opinion that the era of war in Europe was over. On June 22,1941 few believed Russia would be able to withstand Hitler's attack. In 1956 Soviet President Nikita Kruschev shouted at US representatives "We will bury you". In 1975 the USSR looked formidable and the prospect of the collapse of the USSR in 1990 seemed an impossibility. In 1969, New York Met catcher Jerry Grote predicted the Mets would be World Champs in 1969. New York sports writers laughed at him. He was right, they were wrong. Now Jihadists believe that Islam is the future of Europe and the earth. However, the future may show Islam mocked in Mecca, people in Arabia calling Shiria law shameful and Mohammad a monster. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be the Kruschev of our era (I hope he's not he Hitler of our era).
The great threats in the future are likely things we don't anticipate. Things will not turn out the way we think they will. Instead of "global warming" the earth may see global freezing, Chinese armies may invade the Mideast and every Muslim there might be looking to Israel for help, a disease may rise in Siberia that will kill almost all human life on earth. Oriana Fallaci may be considered a Joan of Arc in the future, even though she is politically incorrect today.
We are not the author of life, and all we can do is do the best we can. The future is largely a crap shoot.
Conventional wisdom 50 years ago....
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:7C616B8UDJ0J:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_will_bury_you+%22We+will+bury+you%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&
The sanity of reason versus the insanity of islam.
Where's that other fiery Italian, Camille Paglia, who also thinks outside the box? She's been conspicuously silent about Islam since 911. You'd think Paglia would laud Fallaci and come on board.
I have read this book and consider it a "must read". I wish every "infidel" would read it.
It is quite scary, yet rivetting.
Her style is unusual: very passionate, and she makes a lot of excellent points.
I am glad I do not live in Europe!
"Perhaps Islam didn't spread to the Philippines and Indonesia until after 1453. But those countries aren't unequivocally Islamic even today."
The traditional date associated with the conversion of Indonesia is 1478. The king, Bravijaya the fifth converted from Hinduism to Islam. Prior Islamic kingdoms existed in northern Sumatra (from around 1200 AD), but Islam made inroads in southern Sumatra, Java and the eastern islands after the conversion of the Majapahit king I mentioned, and with the spread of the Sultanate of Molucca in the 1500s.
Another kingdom which I would consider becoming Islamic after 1450 would be Malaysia. The king, Paramesvara, converted to Islam around 1410, but the bulk of the conversions to Islam occurred in the late fifteenty and sixteenty centuries.
Also, I would check up Niger and Chad. Islam came fairly early there (around 1100 and 800 respectively), but it was not until the 1500s that it was firmly established. it seems to have been a religion of the elites, who converted to have good relations with Arab traders in the north.
It is great to observe that Mr. Spencer, Ms. Fallaci, Bat Ye'or, and others documenting the theology, and mindset of Islam. My heartiest appreciation for their efforts.
I am sorry to deviate from the topic here, but I have an idea where we board members could really do something to help in the actual countering of Islamic claims.
Hugh here mentioned what we can do about the spreading jihad everywhere. He is right in what he suggests, but I would like to add one thing. Here we are, a bunch of people from all over the globe, with diverse skills. What we could and should do, IMO, is to document the crimes perpetrated by Islam through the centuries. It is great to see the barbaric record of Islam in the modern era, but it would put things in perspective if we documented the abominable record of Islam through the centuries, say between 600 AD and 1800 AD. It is this period that people point to and say, ``The other religions were as bad as Islam''. This is demonstrably false, and I think we should do just that - demostrate the falseness of the claim.
The politically correct historians will never do this - many of them have too much at stake in the continued sale of Islam as a religion of peace. Maybe we could even, by mutual agreement, work on different areas of the world. What I suggest is that we look up primary sources (literary and epigraphic evidence) and present the ghastly record of Islam coldly and professionally (as one would write a research paper). Let me know what you people think.
Robert:
I just finished this book -- with copious underlining and markups -- just three days ago. Gramfan above used the most accurate word possible to describe the experience of reading this book, and that word is: "RIVETING"
This book keeps its aim centered like a laser beam on the history and nature of Islam from the beginning to the end of the book in a way that the earlier "The Rage and the Pride" did not.
Sure, the tone is magnificently screed-like but it is the highest quality of truthful and open and courageous screed-like writing there is. The truth is Oriana did this deed because a screed is a need if we are not to bleed.
Read this screed. It is potent and desperately needed medicine. One cannot remain unmoved by her passionate clarion call to COURAGE near the end. Simply terrific.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
ISLAM: It's a Human Misery Manufacturing Machine
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Yes, yes one word though: alarmist. I still fail to see how Muslims who comprise less than 10% of Europe will ever take it over. Plus "Jihadism" will all collapse when oil stops being useful or runs out. Even Islam will cripple without the black gold. Certainly we should take action now, but the best way to do so is to begin to boycott oil and anything else from the Muslim world. The only reason the Middle East does not play to the tune of the West is because they have become arrorgant. They have too much money and therefore fear nothing.
"I still fail to see how Muslims who comprise less than 10% of Europe will ever take it over."
-- from a posting above
1. Check the records on the growth in the Muslim populations of England, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Holland. One example: in 1970 there were 15,000 Muslims in Holland. Now there are one million. In the other countries the rise has been equally dramatic. Not worrisome? One out of every three babies now born in France is a Muslim baby. In 20 years, one out of every three 20-year-olds in France will be a Muslim by birth. How many will, among its population of Infidels, some of them unhinged by modern life, or seeking The Answer, or wanting a vehicle to express their discontent, will have converted to Islam?
What makes you think that Muslims will magically remain 10% of the population especially since everywhere in Western Europe, the birthrate of non-Muslims has sunk below replacement level? What will prevent that 10% from becoming 20% in 15-20 years, and 30%-40% in 30-40 years?
And why do you think that a Muslim majority is necessary for Muslims to take control of a society? Determined, self-conscious, aggressive because of its aggressive texts and essence, Islam has managed to take over many lands through essentially non-military conquest. Look at the East Indies, now Indonesia. Look at how, over the past few decades, Malaysia has been transformed into what was once a pluralist society into a society where Islam dominates, and Muslims rule. Look at how, wherever Islam has dominated, the non-Muslims are persecuted, driven out -- as with the Hindus of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
There is not the slightest reason for anything but alarm. Anything less than alarm would be crazy.
I agree with Hugh.
Let me reproduce here my posting from another thread on this site:
As most of you here will be aware, I post to this board from the UK - sometimes, if I have a moment, from work but mostly from home.
Earlier today I was called into the office of the legal advisor to the company for which I work and was ordered to stop posting to this site or, and I quote, "any other right-wing or islamophobic American or European site or any site that purports to offer comment or criticism of or about islam" from my work because doing so is illegal in the UK. I was told that if I persisted in posting to such sites from home that I would be fired from my job as posting to these sites is illegal under UK law. I was asked to give, and sign, an undertaking that I would desist from posting to such sites that the legal advisors found unacceptable.
This I refused to do. I was immediately dismissed from my employment. I can ill afford to lose my job but I refuse to be silenced by the PC re-casting of UK law which has gone on over the last few years. I'll find another job - indeed, I already have the offer of one - but if it can happen to me then it can happen to anyone.
Eurabia - it's already here. America, defend yourself.
Perhaps now you see why I agree with Hugh!
Dominic.
"I still fail to see how Muslims who comprise less than 10% of Europe will ever take it over."
-- from a posting above
.............
I have a few things to add to Hugh's comments.
In the past hundred years or so, Islam has made numerous incursions into Christian, Hindu and Animist societies. In many cases they have persecuted, driven out, forcibly converted, or just massacred the indiginous populations.
While Turkey has been largely Islamic since the 15th century, until the early 20th century they had a fairly large Christian population (mostly Greek Orthodox and Armenian, as well as a fair number of Jews). In the Armenian massacres, erupting on and off from about 1895 to 1920, Turks drove out or murdered almost all Armenians, Greeks, and Jews. Today non-Muslims make up less than 1 percent of the population.
Islam has been in Indonesia and Malasia since the 1300s, but it has established itself in the last few decades as the dominant religion. Increasingly, non-Muslimns are subject to Sharia law. Bali, which is still largely Hindu, and East Timor, largely Christian, have seen increaing violence against their independence under a UN mandate in the early 1990s, East Timor saw massacres of their Christian populace. Of course, Bali is under increasing pressure--note the nightclub bombing of a few years ago.
There is also pressure on Christians and Animists in southern Nigeria and Sudan, including mass killings, land seizures, rape and even slavery of non-Muslims. In Egypt, Christian Copts are being threatened with violence and the destruction of centuries-old churches.
In the 1980's, Israel had to rescue the entire remaining Jewish population of Ethiopia (known as the Falasha, which translates roughly to "alien" or pariah"). The entire remnant of people was threatened with violent extinction, even though they had lived in Ethiopia since biblical times. (I am proud that I had a (very small!) part in this rescue--I illustrated an article urging Israel to act before it was too late).
Today in Kosovo, Muslim Albanians are driving out Christian Serbs, in many cases destroying churches and ethnically-cleansing towns.
I'm sure there are many other examples--Islam is violently on the march in many places, including many where they are not yet the majority, such as Thailand and the Phillipines.
Oriana Fallaci's books should be required reading for all school students, esp. colleges and universities. They are filled with vital information. Some of it made me angry with the pusillanimous pc crowd that has now ruined Italy, France, Spain and is gaining ground in Great Britain. She (if her health allowed) should be making speeches, shouting it from the rooftops, being interviewed by all the talking heads, magazines, etc. Viva Fallaci..do your families and friends a favor, give them her books, let's wake up about this issue. Our freedom and liberties are at stake. These people she writes about hate our liberty, freedom, culture, choice of religion, unless you convert to Islam they will either kill you or make you a dhimmie. Neither choice appeals to me, having been blessed to be born and raised in the beautiful, U.S.A. It's not perfect but I'm grateful for the life I've had here. Again, read The Rage and The Pride, also The Force of Reason.
"Mr Spencer, Why is George Habbash (a Palestian Christian) quoted as a supporter of Jihad even though he's a Marxist.?"
Same reason outgoing Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, Archbishop Swerios Malki Mourad of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate, Bishop Riah Abu El-Assal of the Episcopal Church and Bishop Munib Younan of the Lutheran church recently slammed Christian Zionists for staunchly supporting Israel. They're all f*cking the same. Don't trust them as far as you can spit. Don't fall for the friendly smiles and don't turn your back on them.
"We further reject the contemporary alliance of Christian Zionist leaders and organizations with elements in the governments of Israel and the US that are presently imposing preemptive borders and domination over Palestine,"
~So-called "Palestinian" Clerics..
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154526003849&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
There are some interesting comments here. First, Dominic, I am shocked and disgusted to think that the UK has set up laws that means one cannot express an opinion regarding the truth about Islam. That is oppression and suppression of your freedom of speech. Maybe more normal and average Brits need to learn to speak out against such oppressive behaviour. Yes, here in Australia we have draconian legislation, and even Christian pastors are not allowed to speak the truth in Victoria. The populace in Victoria remain mutely silent, not understanding the terror that awaits if they do not get these laws changed.
Second, if this book becomes available over here, then I shall have to purchase it. We need people who are courageous in speaking out against this creeping menace. We have all been slack and silent for too long, and the media does not help because they conspire to cover up the awful truth about Islam, and the real Mohammed.
Third, one cannot be a Christian and a Marxist at the same time. Something has been compromised by following the atheism of Marxism. I refuse to get involved with criticism of Michael Sabbah, and I would not place those clerics in the same category as the Marxists. In some ways I do agree about criticism of Christian Zionists, especially those non-Palestinian Christians who have their own goals. What I was going to say as well is that for some Christians who came from the Haifa and fled to Nazareth during the month long war, they will not give any further money to either Hamas or Hezbollah because of the way that they were treated when went to Nazareth and elsewhere. They have learned a bitter lesson concerning their support of these groups, as they did not understand that Hamas and Hezbollah have full contempt for any who are not under Islam. It is a bitter pill for them to swallow, but they must swallow their pride in order to break forth with the truth of the Gospel message.
My other point is how Golda Meir was so wiley in her assessment of the situation. She was correct in her understanding. She understood that the Arabs do not value human life. In fact their ancestors did not value human life and they went as far as offering human sacrifices to their gods. The one I have in mind is Astarte, and the children were sacrificed to that god.
It is like the world has been wilfully blinded against the dangers of the rise of Islam. Too many believe the rubbish that Islam as practiced by Mohammed was a religion of peace. We do need to get it across that anyone who believes that these are a peaceful people need to do a lot of digging to discover the truth about the atrocities committed in the name of Islam.
With regard to Turkey, I have a book written by a woman whose family was involved in a form of needlelace. As well as teaching how to do the lace, the writer also tells about the holocaust against the Armenians, from the point of view of a family that was caught in the middle. Her story was really quite rivetting. Until I purchased that book, I had no knowledge of the holocaust against the Armenians. It was a wake up call for me.
I think the idea of the research is a good idea, but how do you find primary sources on the net? The left wing on channel 4 have convinced a lot of people that the Crusaders were totally in the wrong. They have given a very wrong account of the Crusades. Telling the truth about the Crusades (warts and all) might be a starting point.
"The great threats in the future are likely things we don't anticipate. Things will not turn out the way we think they will. Instead of "global warming" the earth may see global freezing, Chinese armies may invade the Mideast and every Muslim there might be looking to Israel for help, a disease may rise in Siberia that will kill almost all human life on earth. Oriana Fallaci may be considered a Joan of Arc in the future, even though she is politically incorrect today.
We are not the author of life, and all we can do is do the best we can. The future is largely a crap shoot."
hey Bohemond_1069 did you write this or did you paraphraze it - pretty good whatever
Dominic: Your weren't fired from your job for posting on this site....you were fired for posting on this site using your employers computer and your employers network. It's called an acceptable use policy, and it would apply to you posting at JW, viewing porn or even talking to your mates on the company phone all day.
You were able to post via your own resources at your leisure, why didn't you just do that?
Albion:
The way I read it he was told he had to agree not to post here from HOME as well, and THAT is what he refused to do, and got fired for.
I'm sure this is related to my latest (third) banning from al Ghurardian. I didn't use foul language, I didn't make any threats - I did use a bit of ridicule, as advised by Ali Sina; but that didn't get me banned either - it was when I posted a list of links, of the "Ten Myths ..." variety, all very dry, very informative, that I got banned.
And it's not just the MSM - NOBODY with influence in the UK wants the general population to know the truth about Islam. Why is this? It's a question that needs an answer.
Can you read, pal?
I've also noticed since the banning that all those who were showing support for me are no longer postng. Have they been banned too?
I've got a little project on just now, that I started yesterday. I downloaded from "Rekigion of Piece" a list of every moslem atrocity worldwide between Sep 11th 2001 and Sep 7th 2006 (yesterday - almost exactly five years). This I'm reformatting, for easier reading, in two versions: one will be ALL atrocities - which looks like coming out at about 350 pages of A4 - and the second, for the benefit of those morons who say it's all about Iraq, will have all Iraq and Afghanistan incidents deleted - which looks like coming out at not all that much fewer pages. I plan to e-mail these as attachments to every Member of Parliament, every newspaper editor, every church leader, various journalists, and anyone else who's e-mail address I can get my hands on.
The idea behind this is that these attacks all come in in dribs and drabs, and the media and politicians kind of just get used to it and after a while it just slides over them - they don't take any notice any more. And anyway, the MSM don't even tell us about everything that happens in our own country(ies), never mind what happens abroad. My reading of it so far is that India seems to be taking the brunt of it, and we never hear anything at all about that apart from the occasional spectaculars. Nothing about the daily drip of a family murdered here, a farmer beheaded there etc.
We just don't hear about it. I'm hoping a list of hundreds of pages of it in one go will punch someone in the gut and he or she will take it up in a big way. Who knows, it might work.
I'm also highlighting particular incidents, not to downplay the rest, but because some incidents - beheadings, deliberate child murders, Western victims etc - will strike a chord in the Western psyche.
I don't know if it'll have any effect, but we've got to keep plugging away at this - in lawful ways.
If anyone can post me a link where I can get the e-mail addresses for every American Senator and Congressman, newspaper editors etc - I'll e-mail these two attachments to them too.
Or find some way of getting your addresses to me and I'll send you the attachments and you can engage in your own mailing campaigns. We need some big names to take this issue up.
Read the lists and you'll see it really is a war that Islam is waging against the whole world, not just New York, Madrid or London. It's every day, somewhere - we just aren't hearing about it, that's all.
It'll take me a day or two to get the re-formatting done - then I'll start mailing.
Help, please? Links to get e-mail addresses? Of big name people?
hello Captain Morgan,
yes I can read thank you.
Dominic was instructed not post onto JW from work (a breach of the acceptable use policy), and he was instructed not to post on JW from home (this would only be a breach of the AUP if the company provided the network / computer). Likewise, unless he was in a role whereby Dominic's posting would bring his employer into disrepute (i.e. if he was a policeman), Dominic's company do not have the legal authority to restrict him from posting at home. If fact, he would have a case for unfair dismissal because they restricted his ability to post from home (if it was his own kit at home). But considering you can post anonymously on this site, why didn't Dominic keep his job and continue anyway (from an internet cafe / new sign-on name etc).
There is no legal restriction to post on JW from the UK...in your own time, with your own equipment
As you say Albion.
Didn't stop him gettin the push though, did it.
And why SHOULD he hide his non-violent and non-illegal activities just because the Sith and their sympathisers don't like it? Are you one of those sympathisers. Do you agree with the recent additional restrictions on free speech?
The UK is jam-packed with keep-your-head-down merchants - and that's why the Dark side is pushing for ever more - it sees conciliation as weakness.
Ever heard of Pastor Neimoller?
You may seem to have kind words for them, but they'll still get around to you eventually you know. Or would you be content to live as a Dhimmi?
You will have only three choices, once they get around to you: conversion (or have you already?), dhimmitude, or a short sharp pain in the neck.
Do you know anything at all of Islam and its methods, ever since its beginnings, and as currently ongoing? I'm no real expert - yet - but I know enough to know what's coming if everyone takes your attitude.
The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. They haven't changed in nearly one and a half thousand years; do you think they're about to change next week?
Anyway, I've got work to do, as you know from the above comment of mine. I'll be back later for a quick look around, but I'm not going to get into an argument with you. I save that for al Ghurardian, which I should be back into within a week.
YOU CANNOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE EVEN ONE INCH!
Robert: Islam has been in Indonesia since the 1200s, if not earlier. In fact, it is even possible that the Hindu-Buddhist Javanese kingdoms of Central Java were brought down by Islamic Holy Wars (although it has not been proven)before the year 1000AD.
maidros,
"What I suggest is that we look up primary sources (literary and epigraphic evidence) and present the ghastly record of Islam coldly and professionally (as one would write a research paper). Let me know what you people think."
A few of us Jihad Watch readers are now working on a Booklet for people who wish to debate Islam against Islam defenders. Part of our Booklet will hopefully deal with the historical record of Islam. If you'd like to join in and work on some aspect of Islamic history in terms of documenting the Imperialistic violence of Muslims, we could use your help.
Here's the link for our ongoing project on the Booklet:
http://islam-watch.org/CommunityServer/forums/182/ShowThread.aspx#182
maidros,
Yes, I had the same thoughts and called to people here. I have started on the project, and two more people are in it with me. And we do need to divide the job up. It is massive, to say the least. And it is extremely unpleasant. I would like your suggestion on how to present the whole thing, once we have all the history.
Apology: Human Misery Manufacturing Machine
On this exact fifth-anniversary moment of the extraordinary attack on Manhattan, I wish to reflect that Robert has asked us to be temperate and to reasonable in our contributions and our assertions -- as this benefits all of us in our task of questioning and understanding Islam. On that account I do retract with sincerity my statement that identified Islam broadly and in toto as a human misery manufacturing machine.
That manner of assertion fails to meet the intellectual/moral standard described by Neil Hamilton who emphasized the importance of "accuracy and thoroughness in the collection and use of evidence, reasonable assertion, impartiality in the determination of the weight of the evidence, careful analytical reasoning, and fairness in argument or controversy."
I strive to a greater dispassion, reason and balance in regard to what Islam is in its totality. This does not mean earnest or unquestioning sympathy for Islam, as I am not extraordinarily sympathetic except for my appreciation for the beauty that flowed out of Islam into the path of the great Sufi tradition.
I take this 9/11 anniversary moment to apologize for the intemperance of my original assertion. I consider it a duty to reach for a higher standard of conversation and will strive for that over the next five years. May that conversation continue in earnest.