This wanton destruction is a fresh reminder -- as if we needed another -- that the 'Arab Spring' does not just equal an Islamic winter for Muslims and any unfortunate non Muslims in the vicinity. This self-inflicted Islamic-inspired lobotomy equals a massive setback for the human enterprise and a victory for the forces of ignorance and darkness. In the wake of the silence from the West and other supposed voices of liberty and freedom, such forces can only grow stronger.
From "Burning books in Cairo", by Ryan Jones, Israel Today Magazine, 27 December 2011:
"Where they burn books, so too will they in the end burn human beings." - Heinrich HeineAny number of political analysts have tried to write off the electoral gains by Islamist parties in Egypt, insisting that once in power, groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist al-Nour Party will take a pragmatic approach to governing.
It is the same nonsense that was spouted as the Nazis rose to power in Germany, when the Ayatollah Khomeini made his triumphant return to Iran, when Yasser Arafat's PLO terrorist organization was elevated to the status of a national government, and when Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election.
On December 17, an Egyptian mob - presumably of the type that has been voting for the Muslim Brotherhood and al-Nour - demonstrated that they have no intention of "modernizing" or adopting Western-style pragmatism when they torched the Institute of Egypt in Cairo.
Among the casualties of the Islamist assault were some 192,000 rare books and manuscripts.
The Institute of Egypt was established by Napoleon Bonaparte when he invaded Egypt in the late 18th century. For centuries the Institute of Egypt housed priceless chronicles of the nation's history, as well as the findings of hundreds of top scholars and scientists.
The Institute of Egypt symbolized Egypt's connection to the West, and for many its establishment was the start of the "modern era" in Egypt. And that is why it had to go. Because Egypt's Islamists have no intention of modernizing, not on Western terms, at any rate. Like the Ayatollahs in Iran and Hamas in Gaza, their ultimate goal is to return Egypt to a medieval form of life where a strict interpretation of Sharia Law governs the actions of all.
The first to suffer will be Egypt's Christians. They are suffering already.
But most of this is being ignored by an international community determined to paint the "Arab Spring" as a positive phenomenon. It is certainly a positive thing to throw off the yoke of a repressive dictatorship. But it is a negative thing to replace that repressive dictatorship with oppressive theocratic rule.
That the world is championing this change in Egypt when just 30 years ago the same scenario played out in Iran with devastating results just goes to show that mankind is doomed to never learn from his mistakes.
Education is a Jihadist's greatest fear.
Quite apt when you consider that the self-appointed 'prophet' of Islam was said to be illiterate. Illiteracy is Sunna, so who needs books?
Clowns!
and the bastards at unesco, have NOTHING to say about this???
only that they grant full membership to a fictive murderous nonenetity???
we must carry gravol pills with us at all times....
Watch them blow up the pyramids, and behead the sphinx...
A hallmark of barbarians is that they destroy the cultural icons and landmarks of other civilizations. The Taliban did it to the huge statues of Buddha in Afghanistan and now the Islamist barbarians of Egypt are doing the same thing to repositories of human learning stored in that country. Islam equates to ignorance and backwardness but is possessed of an amazing conceit that convinces its adherents that Islam is the only thing that matters in this world.
An ascendant Islam will usher in a new Dark Ages for the earth. It must be resisted and defeated at all costs. If the UN wanted to be useful for a change, it could mount an international campaign to preserve legacies of human scholarship and culture wherever they are threatened. These libraries do not belong to Egyptians. They belong to mankind and need protection -- by force if necessary.
I'm afraid I'm rather ignorant of the period in history when Khomeini returned to Iran. Is it really the case that mainstream, liberal commentators were suggesting that Khomeini would adopt a pragmatic, moderate approach to governing? Any clarification greatly appreciated.
I wonder how many of the books and manuscripts from the Institute were actually looted, like the antiquities from the Baghdad Musuem, instead of burned, and will turn up in the collections of wealthy collectors. There were probably a good many old-fashioned thieves among the fanatics.
Boko Haram, meet the Muslim Brotherhood.
Ha, ha! Next, they'll be dynamiting the pyramids. I imagine that all the incredible stuff from tutenkahmun's tomb will end up on a pyre as well...
They may as well burn the whole country to the ground now, as it's going to happen anyway. Their economy is on the brink of total collapse.
islam is lobotomy by non-surgical means.
"Their economy is on the brink of total collapse."
and hence the driving force for establishing the worldwide caliphate to parasitize the West.
Westward Ho. From MrSanity:
The West will get gypped by Egypt.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/156/wagontrain.jpg/
Ah ... book burning.
Orwell, Huxley, Bradbury, Rand ...
It's all been foreseen and foretold.
Sure, nobody gets all the particular gritty details perfect in advance of reality. But then, the little gritty details don't make much difference.
It's all so obvious.
If there is anything left that still comes as a surprise to me after all these years, it is the degree to which people seem immune to the obvious, to the force of facts, to the force of logic.
That people do such execrable crap should be no surprise to anyone who has ever read any history or even newspapers. But that such a large majority of us seem completely unmoved ... completely oblivious to the obviousness, the meaning and awfulness of it, this still shocks me a bit.
Maybe I'll never get used to it. Maybe it's somehow better if I don't.
We'll see.
Hello joeblough:
The West has become very weary. The Left is winning the war against common sense, setting reasonable men and women adrift. Ill-considered wars have sapped our strength and will to resist. The miracle that is the West is very vulnerable to collapse. Few are the romantics who still vigorously resist and they are headed for martyrdom.
Here is my love poem.
The Martyrs
On a clear, moonlit autumn night,
as geese honk and wing to south,
gather soldiers and loved ones round,
around the campfire bright.
Talk of the ever desperate battles,
and the war, existential, not yet won.
Scorn the enemies, without and within,
the existers, whistling in no-man’s-land.
Soar as Icarus—it is your birthright,
and find strength in your very fragility.
You, bannered with Cross and the Star,
and those for life: mind and spirit right.
Cry for us, cry hard—now get on with it.
Be alive—vibrantly, as we once were.
If you will, raise a glass to us—the fallen:
Obedient to Our Martyr Oath unto death.
Pokermutt , April 2011, Sixth Draft
What's happened to Zahi Hawass,the great defender of Egyptian antiquities? He seems to have gone rather quiet of late.
The Great Pyramids of Egypt were originally covered in white limestone and must have truly been magnificent in the desert sun. Over the years this limestone was unceremoniously and disrespectfully removed by muslims to make the their ugly rat-hole mosques in Cairo without any thought that they were destroying one of the ancient wonders of the world.
The massive hole in the side of the great pyramid at Giza was blasted out by muslims who sought to remove its treasure without any thought of the magnificence of what they were destroying or the loss to the ages. There is some evidence as well to lay the desecration of the face of the Great Sphinx at the feet of islam
I strongly suspect that the only reason the great pyramids have not previously been completely destroyed by the great religion of peace was because that would involve some considerable work and Lord knows hard work is not an islamic forte. Nonetheless the Pyramids today stand as an infidel monument to a better and superior culture and that under islam that will NOT be tolerated for very much longer.
Wait I hear you say “they need it for tourism dollars and since this is one of their only form of income why would they destroy it? “ - to that I say STOP thinking like a westerner - since when did these clowns operate with any iota of common sense – if they had that they would reject their ridiculous ideology and join the 21st century. Furthermore who is going to visit the Pyramids once the brotherhood takes over – Afghanistan and Iraq are not exactly tourist destinations.
The great pyramids have survived hundreds if not thousands of years of abuse – principally by these morons but I doubt they will survive the islamic dark ages coming to Egypt – the beautiful Buddha’s in Afghanistan could not stand and were destroyed in spite of world opposition – no one wanted to go to war over a couple of statutes. While the liberal left wing idiots will continue to dither over the rights of a culture to express its beliefs, the Pyramids are likely to meet a similar fate. The library in Cairo is just the beginning.
The difference today is that these morons certainly know how to blow things up - that involves very little work and no brains - two things they excel at in spades.
Nearly 200,000 books in Egypt reduced to ashes at the hands of Islamic supremacists
...
...approximately 192,000 rare books and manuscripts belonging to the Institute of Egypt in Cairo went up in flames, destroyed by rampaging Muslim mob.
....................................
The significance of this **cannot be overstated**.
The founding of the Institute of Egypt by Napoleon is often considered the beginning of the "modern" period in the Middle East, as well as laying the foundations of the science of Archeology.
This may have been *the largest collection of books in the Islamic world*. These vicious morons are *destroying their own heritage*.
This may be second only to the burning of the ancient Library at Alexandria in terms of cultural loss to the region—I say this without any hyperbole.
But then—like the Egyptian Museum in Cairo—the institute always had more Western visitors than Egyptians. And why would that be? Because all too many Muslims considered this little more than "Jahillya".
This, even though many Qur'ans and other Islamic texts were among the collections...
More:
The Institute of Egypt was established by Napoleon Bonaparte when he invaded Egypt in the late 18th century. For centuries the Institute of Egypt housed priceless chronicles of the nation's history, as well as the findings of hundreds of top scholars and scientists.
The Institute of Egypt symbolized Egypt's connection to the West, and for many its establishment was the start of the "modern era" in Egypt. And that is why it had to go. Because Egypt's Islamists have no intention of modernizing, not on Western terms, at any rate. Like the Ayatollahs in Iran and Hamas in Gaza, their ultimate goal is to return Egypt to a medieval form of life where a strict interpretation of Sharia Law governs the actions of all.
....................................
Very, very true. When we see pictures of comparatively modern and free Cairo from the early and mid Twentieth Century, this is the legacy of the Institute of Egypt and its scholars.
As an art historian, I was already quite familiar with the Institute. In addition, my mother-in-law is a docent at an important American collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, and she had traveled to Egypt to study in somewhat better days.
She studied at both the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and at the Institute of Egypt.
I am sick at heart—but, God help me, not as shocked as I might be if I hadn't already seen where the "Arab Spring" was heading. This is a loss not just to Egypt, or the Muslim world, but *to the legacy of mankind*.
And I believe this is just the opening volley—Egypt is perhaps richer in "Jahillya" than any other Muslim land—the treasures of Ancient and Greco-Roman Egypt come first to mind...
Yes, and Europe is going to be subject to a massive wave of Muslim immigrants as they flee their collapsing 'perfect' societies. But no Muslim will ever admit that life in the non-islamic countries is better, as the entire worldview they have been brainwashed with since birth would come crashing down around them.
"I strongly suspect that the only reason the great pyramids have not previously been completely destroyed by the great religion of peace was because that would involve some considerable work and Lord knows hard work is not an islamic forte."
Brilliant.
Politically, ancient Egypt seems a lot like Islam in these respects:
the near monopoly of power by the priestly class and that paradise is to be found in the afterlife. Ergo, life is cheap.
So they intend to cover the pyramids in wax and put blankets over the idolatrous statues, do they? How long will it be before they decide to destroy the non Islamic mummies I wonder? Goodbye Egyptian tourist trade, goodbye economy. Have they discussed what to do with those other morons in the Maldives yet?
I guess the army couldn't be bothered to protect the Institute?
Destruction of the Alexandrian library.
Nothing new about muslims in Egypt burning libraries: According to Isya Joseph, Bar Hebraeus says that Yahya, a Coptic philosopher, petitioned Amr Ibn Al-As to restore the royal library (Alexandria Library). Amr referred the matter to Omar. Omar ordered him to destroy the library on grounds that if what is in the library agrees with the contents of the Qur’an, then it is redundant. And, if the contents of the library do not agree with the Qur’an, then such contents are heretic.
In either case, the destruction of the library was necessary as Omar viewed it. Those of us who studied the personality of Khalif Omar “Al-Farooq” are not surprised at all by the story above. It fits Omar’s personality to expect such a reaction from him.
You raise a good question. Researching it fully would take time but it would be worth it if it has not already been done.
One small clue to how such media were helped on their already deluded way to give wishful credence to yet another totalitarian regime in the making is given in Afary and Anderson's 'Foucault and the Iranian Revolution':
"During October and November, Khomeini’s supporters in France were coaching him on how to soften the harshness of his Islamist discourse. He did so a bit, also calling for independence, freedom, and democracy in Iran." (p.71)
I had lots to say but others have already said it.
I was born during a War and it now looks that I may die during a war (I AM old) Let us just hope that the new Crusade (if our "leaders" have the cojones) finally nails the Islam problem.
Then again, even at my age, I would be prepared to take up arms. I would also be prepared to support the "totally inhumane" policy of repatriating all Muslims from the West.
They follow Islam; they may not actually know what Islam really says but they should and time for them to be acquainted in stark reality; they have done sod all to quell the firebrands in their midst. "time to say goodbye" is what I would say.
Whilst we are at it then all "aid" to Muslim countries should be stopped forthwith and the cost of Western technology should be trebled. Hell I can live without dates and even oil.
My heating system died 4 years ago. I haven't replaced and actually I was reasonably comfortable last year during the coldest winter for years in the UK. And I have a bike, and legs.
An air rifle would provide rabbits and pigeons and much else to cook and I CAN cook even over an outside log fire.
Amazing what the early 50s taught me.
My parents had harder lives when they were kids. They survived.
That's unfortunate, as all history regarding book burning is.
that is the Muslim way is it not - wipe out all trace of superior civilisation The latest is a sad repeat of butning down the Library of Alexandria. THIS time though the vastly superior Western technology may have recorded what was there. I hope so. The record, not the paper, is all important.
Indeed, I say it's simply "unfortunate" because words don't really describe what a misfortune and failure it is to have such a collection of materials of educational value up in smoke.
All those one-of-a-kind manuscripts, lost forever. I hope everybody realizes the magnitude of this event.
God help us if we don't.
It's saddening to think that the US has been instrumental in deposing rulers who protected minorities and institutions of culture and learning.
The US should have learned by now to stay out of Middle Eastern internal politics, and quite trying to graft the foreign institution of democratic, constitutional government into tribal societies. It is more than obvious by now that nation-building is a futile enterprise.
Imagine what these barbarians will do if they get their claws on the Oxford University Library, or the British Museum (and Library), or the Smithsonian, or the Library of Congress, or, well, any major city or university library in any part of the non-Muslim world.
**They will burn the lot**, and dance around the flames like grinning devils, screaming, howling, bandar-log, destroying the accumulated wit and wisdom of all of non-Msulim humanity.
Imagine what they would do, if they could, to the Louvre, or to the Musee des Beaux Arts, or to the Rembrandts in Holland.
Burn, slash, burn, slash, burn, smash, smash, smash.
what they will do the Vatican library.
All of Islam is the mindset of the psycho little thug in the playground who, when the other kids were busy building sandcastles, got his jollies **kicking the sandcastles over** ...and couldn't be bothered even attempting to build one, himself.
Just to remind ourselves, a poignant posting by 'Hugh Fitzgerald' on 'What's at Stake' (that is, what we stand to lose if Europe - and the rest of the West, too - falls to Islam):
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2005/05/fitzgerald-whats-at-stake.html
Good of you to treat me to such an expansive and heartfelt response.
And movingly put.
Much appreciated.
Pokermutt wrote:
Politically, ancient Egypt seems a lot like Islam in these respects:
the near monopoly of power by the priestly class and that paradise is to be found in the afterlife. Ergo, life is cheap.
..................................
Pokermutt, much of the ancient world—even the Greco-Roman world, which I have enormous respect for overall—had disturbing aspects.
I can respect the history and art of ancient Egypt—*which I do*—and this doesn't mean I want to live by the values of that bygone civilization.
Most Westerners make this distinction—we recognize the value of studying a subject, without necessarily being in full agreement with its tenets, or—especially—advocating a return to the lifestyle of the era.
I imagine most Westerners are troubled by aspects of ancient Egyptian life—I know I am—but that does not mean that I cannot appreciate the beautiful or awe-inspiring works created by the people of that place and time.
This is part of the heritage of mankind—as was the scientific and archeological works also destroyed by these ruinous fools.
These vicious Muslims regard *all of it*—from ancient artifacts to historical relics to the great works of art and literature and documents like the Magna Carta and the US Constitution—to be nothing but "worthless Jahillya" to be rent and effaced and sent up in smoke.
Please don't believe they are apt to stop with this destruction...they are, likely, only getting started...
To put it bluntly: every library in the entire non-Muslim world, from the humblest school and town library right on up to the great city and university libraries, is in danger from the Jihad, in danger from psychotic sharia-pushing Muslims. And so is every archive, great and small, and every museum.
And every conservatorium of music, and every symphony orchestra, and every opera house; for strict sharia forbids all music vocal and instrumental, sacred and profane, and although music has persisted in Islamic lands, it has done so not *because* of Islam but in despite of it.
And every art gallery, great and small, containing visual representations of living beings - which sharia forbids, and sculptures of same, which sharia also forbids. (Such things as Persian and Mughal miniatures were created in despite of Islam, not because of it). These also are in danger. The Muslim project to Islamise Europe threatens the Uffizi gallery - and it threatens also the mosaics of Ravenna, and the painted caves of Altamira and Lascaux.
And every vineyard and winery and distillery is in danger - the famous whiskey-makers of Scotland, the great vineyards and vintners of France and Germany and Italy.
And nobody would be allowed to ring church bells, and nobody would be allowed to keep a dog as a pet.
The most devout sharia-pushers, crazed by Islam, desire nothing less than to destroy, world-wide, every trace of everything not-Islam, every trace of everything and anything that Islam forbids.
If they got their wish the entire planet would end up a wasteland of what John Quincy Adams called 'desolation and delusion', without memory, without history (except for Muslim lies and nonsense and boasting and gloating), without beauty, collapsing endlessly into a horrible blend of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Women and girls locked up, covered in sacks, beaten and raped and murdered; men turned into the human equivalent of 'rapist roosters'.
There would be no art, no music, no kabuki, no shakuhachi, no koto, no samisen,no Vienna Philharmonic, no Chinese lion dancers, no Hawaiian hula dancers, no totem poles, no tikis, no Indian or Thai or Cambodian or Balinese traditional dancers, no Aboriginal Australian cave paintings (pictures of animals, humans, spirit beings - HARAM! BLOW THEM UP !), no Charioteer of Delphi, no Venus de Milo, no 'burghers of Calais', no 'David', no 'Pieta', no 'The Kiss', no nothing...just dust and ashes, ruin and darkness.
No doubt Islamic leaders will try to replace all that evidence of history with the lie that Muslims were the ones to make all those discoveries and who did all those documented good deeds. Even U.S. history is being rewritten (even by the President!) to say that Muslims were the major contributors. Politicians take credit when things they never or barely had a hand in have good results. So do jihadists.
I wonder whether anyone noticed when the Jaffna Library with its priceless collection of rare books and manuscripts was burned to the ground, not by THE Religion of Peace, but by the other Religion of Peace.
Irrelevant tu quoque and nothing to do with the manifest fact that Islam explicitly forbids free and critical inquiry and explicitly and obsessively stifles music and representational art.
Islam's stunting of the mind and its suppression of human creativity, and its cultural vandalism, go far, far beyond what any other belief system has ever promoted.
Dumbledore's Army wrote:
To put it bluntly: every library in the entire non-Muslim world, from the humblest school and town library right on up to the great city and university libraries, is in danger from the Jihad...
........................
Very, very true, DDA—excellent posts..
Our entire culture and all its treasures are at risk from Islam. Think what we have to lose if Jihadists have their way with all of that rich "Jahillya"...