Good for him. The West may be slow to react sometimes, but its concerted anger will erase those who have gone too far.

Posted by: ReligionofPeas at September 17, 2006 10:08 PM

The world is suffering from "islamic fanaticism",time to return the favor...

Posted by: chrisinsouthc at September 17, 2006 10:08 PM

"...48 hours after a Somali Islamic cleric called for Muslims to kill the Pope...

Hmmm, I see. His Holiness wonders if Islam is a religion of violence and is roundly condemned for so doing and is told that it is not - and then this. Exactly how, and I ask this in all seriousness, does this prove the Pope's questioning wrong?

When, oh when, oh when is the free world going to wake up to evil that is islam?

Dominic.

Posted by: necessitasnonhabetlegem at September 17, 2006 10:16 PM

Lesson #1: 9/11/2001
Lesson #2: The killing of Theo van Gogh.
Lesson #3: The Danish Cartoons.
Lesson #4: The violence, threatened violence, and general hysteria over the Pope's remarks.
Lesson #5: Ditto, over the remarks of the Orthodox Archbishop.

Even the Infidels who spent previous classes chewing gum and throwing spitballs at one another are beginning to get the idea.

Posted by: Hugh at September 17, 2006 10:22 PM

Cool. I think they should keep saying it loud and clear until all the sleepwalkers in the West catch on.

Also, here in the States, a pastor named Rod Parsley does a program on Sunday mornings called Breakthrough and he has been calling a spade a spade. He's even taught about allah being the moon god, etc. He's really laying it on the line and trying to wake people up.

Obviously the truth hurts.

Posted by: The Goobs at September 17, 2006 10:27 PM

I wonder what would happen if the whole world started yelling, 'I will not submit to Islam' as loudly and proudly as they scream their threats and lies. They can't kill us all. At least, not all at once.

Posted by: Mo at September 17, 2006 10:37 PM

Maybe we should start yelling a bit.

Posted by: pacwaters at September 17, 2006 11:18 PM

Friends, the archbishop has the right idea. This stinks of Nazi Germany, where people appeased & appeased until he'd swallowed up a hefty portion of the civilized world. If we say black, they are angry and want to cut off our heads. If, on the other hand, we say white, they instead are angry and want to cut off our heads. We don't appear to have a choice one way or another unless we bow down to their un-god and kiss their asses. Then we can still lose our heads and/or pay taxes to them. I'm tired of hearing about poor misguided Muslims who are undoubtedly having bad hair days and therefore should be understood for slaughtering innocent people. Guess what? This woman is having a bad case of PMS AND a bad hair day. Muslims, beware- I don't like you, I don't respect you or your so-called peaceful religion, and I'd love any excuse to use you for target practice. After all, I'm having a bad day and you offend me.

Posted by: InfidelProud at September 17, 2006 11:23 PM

No need to scream.

Quietly end the Jizyah -- every single bit of aid, of any kind, from Infidels to Muslims. Cut off access to most goods and services. Sabotage, or make vulnerable to sabotage, armaments that depend on Western computers, so that those armaments will malfunction if put to any use the Western suppliers deem inimical to Infidel interests. Cut off access to Western medical care except upon payment of huge sums by the Arab rich who can afford, say, a head tax -- a Jizyah if you will - to be permitted even to visit the hospitals and clinics of the West. They'll pay. Cut off all access to higher education in the sciences -- of any kind. Make access even for degrees in "communications" or "Islamic studies" very expensive.

Work, in tandem with other Infidels, to diminish the use of oil and gas, for it is revenues from the sale of oil and natural gas that fund the Jihad, and always will fund it.

Make noises about -- think about -- seizing the assets of enemy aliens, as was done during World War II. Among those enemy aliens would be, of course, members of any state deemed deeply invovled in the Jihad to spread Islam, and that of course includes tiny Qatar, slightly bigger Kuwait, slightly bigger United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Seize those illiquid assets if there are any further terrorist attacks. It will get their attention. And what, after all, can they do about it? Stop selling oil?

Make every foreign policy decision based on a single criterion: does an act weaken the Camp of Islam, or strengthen it? Wherever possible, play on the pre-existing divisions -- ethnic, sectarian, and economic -- within that Camp of Islam.

Begin with Iraq. The perfect place to begin. Get out, and let the inhabitants go at, Sunni Arabs and Shi'a Arabs, and all the while extend aid to the Kurds so that they may make their move, and not only, at a later date, inspire Kurds in Iran and Syria (for now, if Turkey behaves itself, the Americans can guarantee that it will not be the object of Kurdish territorial demands. But only if it behaves itself).

Let the violence and aggression and refusal to compromise and conspiracy theories, all of which arise naturally in the world of Islam, with its aggression, its violence, its harshness, its encouragement of the habit of mental submission, work for us, the Infidels. We've spent quite enough attempting to bear the Infidel Man's Burden. Just look at hopeless, tarbaby Iraq. Stop the freedom--loving "moms and dads" in the Middle East nonsense. For god's sake stop it. Use what is there for the exploiting. Just do it.

Posted by: Hugh at September 17, 2006 11:31 PM

I am VERY disappoined with Pope B's retractions. I'd really thought he was very much on point with his carefully crafted remarks and i am DISMAYED he cowed before these fascists.

THANK GOD for this Greek Archbishop to pick up the slack.

if the Roman Cath Church is looking to attract new recruits and the Youth in general - THEN THEY NEED TO OFFER US SOMETHING!!!!

COWTOWiNG will NOT do the trick!!

This church will continue to petrify and age. I am deeply disappointed and saddened beyond belief that Pope B is selling out our hopes in him.

I was just about ready to become a Roman Catholic.. NO DICE if you don't fight the fight baby!

Maybe I'll have to become a JEW if I want to join the right CREW!

THEY know what time it is!

I am SO disgusted right now.. I am practically in tears. I know we shouldn't show weakness before this manaical enemy.. BUT.. WHERE do we find our leaders to start fighting this mess we are in??!!

Posted by: germaninamerica at September 17, 2006 11:31 PM

I agree with the last poster re. letting these savages fight/kill one another!

I really have had it with them!

Posted by: germaninamerica at September 17, 2006 11:32 PM

Hugh is correct. Quietly end the jizyah and work together, at the same time, toward freeing the West from its dependency on the islamic world's fossil fuelstuffs - twelve trillion US dollars is more than enough payment, don't you think?. We free ourselves and we help to stabilise our environment at one and the same time. I can think of no finer a response to islamic bullying.

Dominic.

Posted by: necessitasnonhabetlegem at September 17, 2006 11:56 PM

I am very impressed with our ecumenical leaders. If our political leaders are too hesitant to speak up about the violence being perpetrated against us, then it's up to the spiritual leaders. One would hope that the Buddhist leaders would make a speech in a day or two, mentioning the beheaded Buddhist monks. Then, a few days after that, the Hindu leaders could mention the Islamic genocides that have taken place against Hindus. Keep up the pressure, and ratchet it up a little every day. Every non-Muslim group in the world has something they can add to the discussion.

And, as others have said, so far I see no apology in the Pope's remarks. Good on him.

Posted by: special_guest at September 17, 2006 11:59 PM

seething

That has become one of my most favorite words.

Posted by: PRCS at September 18, 2006 12:01 AM

PRCS,

Where I come from, in Britain, 'to seethe' is to cook in a mixture of oil, butter and water in order to purify the foodstuff in question.

Yep, I see it. Quite appropriate, really. Neat one.

Dominic.

Posted by: necessitasnonhabetlegem at September 18, 2006 12:05 AM

"...the Prophet Mohammed (the Islamic supreme leader)..."

I like it. Usually you see (pbuh) after his name. This is better. It makes me think of Kim Jung Il in a nightgown.

Posted by: PRCS at September 18, 2006 12:06 AM

From what I can gather about the Greeks, they (1) do not like Jews; (2) take the Palestinian side; (3) do not like Moslems (in Greece, only). Talk about byzantine!

Posted by: Seymour Paine at September 18, 2006 12:09 AM

There is a price to be paid for being leaders, as the Pope & Archbishop are discovering. When my message reads "Muslims are a barbaric bunch of baby-raping thugs," no one cares. If I congratulate them because they've knocked up their camels again, it might cause a minor local to-do- yeah, in this part of the world, someone would probably call it a hate-crime, when I'm just happy the old boys haven't lost it yet. I'm not a Christian, but I have newfound respect for the Roman Catholics & Greek Orthodox and would feel proud, if it ever came to this, to fight alongside them as my brethren.

Posted by: InfidelProud at September 18, 2006 12:16 AM

Dominic,

Two nations separated by an ocean and language!

Bob

Posted by: PRCS at September 18, 2006 12:16 AM

InfidelProud,

As long as it's merely PMS, you may touch the noble Qur'an.

Once the dam breaks, you will be prevented from engaging in Islamic ceremonies.

You lucky girl.

Posted by: PRCS at September 18, 2006 12:25 AM

This is a positive development. A Christian-Muslim schism is infinitely preferable to one confined to Catholics and Muslims....particularly in the face of a Vatican that appears to be trembling at its core.

It is imperative to garner a global majority against Islam, one encompassing not just Christians and Jews, but Hindus, Budddhists, athiests and others.

If the non-Muslim world can reach a consensus about the violent proclivities inherent in Islam, two things could happen:

1) the Muslim world might - after its inevitable display of adolescent defensiveness- begin a process of introspection to find out why the entire world is against it. Perhaps the seeds of a true reformation could then be sown.

2) In the absence of such an introspection, the world will be united to face down the Islamic threat.

Posted by: Cornelius at September 18, 2006 12:43 AM

The Anglican church should come out in support as well.

My bet is they will not, PCism and the multicultural yolk will prevent the spiritual voice of Britain from speaking out.

Posted by: km at September 18, 2006 12:44 AM

Was this coordinated between this Archbishop and the Pope? Have quiet conversations been occurring behind the scenes, about the the PRIME threat to all of European Christians, namely islam.

It seems UNLIKELY that such quiet conversations HAVE NOT been occurring?

Everybody can't help but observe the Satanic rise in violence and supremacism in islam, and the events occurring in Europe. So it seems natural, that whenever they have these little inter-faith dialogue sessions, that afterwards, after the scheduled discussions on something so esoteric as liturgical norms, that afterwards, during cocktails, that the REAL discussion commenced. And of course, that real convesation covered islam, violence and the demographics.

Discussions may be far more advanced than any of us might surmise.

Posted by: Dan at September 18, 2006 12:48 AM

Discussions may be far more advanced than any of us might surmise.

One can only hope and pray.

Posted by: km at September 18, 2006 12:55 AM

Christodoulos has been saying it like it is for years. He has refered to the Turks as Barbarians but I think this is the first time he has singled out muslims. I think the timing is great I was worried he would not support the pope finally some christian solidarity.

Posted by: pissedoffcanadian at September 18, 2006 12:56 AM

See how a so-called moderate Muslim interprets the Pope’s recent references to the Prophet Mohammed:

http://www.deccan.com/Columnists/Columnists.asp?#Holier%20than%20Me

Robert, do you have an answer to the arguments put forward by the man in question, Mr. M.J. Akbar?

Posted by: cincinnatikid at September 18, 2006 12:58 AM

It is good to see other Christian leaders coming to the Pope's defense to speak the truth about Islam.

But I don't expect much from the Anglican leaders.

They are intoxicated with political correctness and are cowardly.

Posted by: Johnathan at September 18, 2006 1:20 AM

"Maybe I'll have to become a JEW if I want to join the right CREW!"

You're not wrong! I've been looking into it, and although orthodox Jews don't seem interested in converts, there are more liberal branches that believe that conversion to Judaism is only unusual because Jews were so persecuted that converting people was unsafe. These branches' general concept of religion seems to be a personal exploration of God, not anything fanatical or strict.

Still, I can't make myself believe in any God at all, unfortunately, and I really can't see the logical point of kosher eating and many other of the rules.

But I'd like to do something more than joining the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, somehow show my solidarity, for this reason: ever since I learned, as a child, about the holocaust, I always hoped that I would have the courage to help the right side at a time like that. This idea of showing solidarity in some clear and constructive way is growing in my mind...

Posted by: Lili at September 18, 2006 2:02 AM

Pope is “Sorry for the reaction from Muslims..”
What kind of statement is this?
How confused one has to be to issue such a statement?
One can not feel sorry for something one has not done, has no control over it or even influence.
It is a feeble attempt to apologize and in the same time save the face.

I am an atheist, but “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Pope speaks for all the Catholics in the world. I just lost all my catholic friends.
I do not feel sorry. I am disgusted.
I do not buy as some suggested the pressure put on Pope by western government. Not because it did not happen, it probably did. For several years I had been in charge of a religious organization and a religious charity. During my work I met people in similar position from many denominations and could compare my experience with theirs. Not once any of us had to bend to a politician. Quite the opposite: they had to bend to us. All of them. Members of parliament, even PM. And I could swing just a few thousand votes. Pope can do so much more. In most western countries to be in bad terms with Pope is a political suicide.
More then ones I criticized opposition to Islam on the bases of Christianity, Judaism and other religions. They all have too much in common.
Greek position over the years had been supportive of Arabs, Palestinians and Islam in general. Now they have been “invaded” by muslim Albanians and suddenly Islam is not as good as it seemed to be. No sympathy for them. They asked for it.
I do not think The Archbishop will issue any apology even in line which Pope did.
Catholics of the world, face it: your leader is a dhimmi.

Posted by: pong at September 18, 2006 2:03 AM

on the bbc yesterday the presenter said to a muslim that the pope was going to return to the subject later in the week!!
so stay tuned i dont think wev'e heard the last from the pope. probably another abiguos message.

remember this is his watch. he is ultimately responsible for christianity does he want it sinking on his watch?
.no
people have faith.
here in the UK their are 3 million there are 57m who are not!
they make a very lot of noise, far too big for there boots expect some kicking butt from us brits, we have all had enough & we have a far right party willing to repatriat them all. their vote is growing daily.

Posted by: alwaysinfidel at September 18, 2006 2:08 AM

PRCS said

As long as it's merely PMS, you may touch the noble Qur'an. Once the dam breaks, you will be prevented from engaging in Islamic ceremonies. You lucky girl.

Am I missing something here? How do you know InfidelProud's gender, and what do his/her comments have to do with PMS? You got me scratching my head on this one.

Posted by: special_guest at September 18, 2006 2:34 AM

Somebody said that Greeks do not like Jews and take the Palestinian Side.

Well lets see where you can find proof on the official greek government website

www.greekembassy.org

We have very strong Military relations with Israel, we are the most recent place to be officially visited by the Israeli President, our police have been insulted by Amnesty International for using tear gas to disperse anti-semitic demonstrations, Greece is Israel's 6th most important trade partner, our government's webpage dispells the myth that Israel stopped humanitarian aide to Lebanon, Cyprus recently stopped a massive arms shipment to Syria, so if we Greeks are anti-semitic Israel haters we certainly do suck at it Sir/Madame.

Posted by: NicephorusPhocas at September 18, 2006 2:35 AM

Deja vu in all this, when Jerry Falwell called Muhammad a terrorist on "60 minutes" back in 2002. Several people in India died protesting Falwell's comments then.

Posted by: yadayada at September 18, 2006 3:53 AM

Picture of a damaged Greek Orthodox church in Tul Karem, on the West Bank, after a peaceful Palestinian protest.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4640/388/1600/JRL122_wa.jpg

Posted by: kasper1062 at September 18, 2006 4:09 AM

There will be a Muslim outrage. But why? Surely all those millions of moderate Muslims agree that there are fanatical Muslims who misinterpret things, and that these fanatics must be stopped? Well, maybe not.

Posted by: Jesus Christ Supercop at September 18, 2006 4:27 AM

The Greek Orthodox Archbishop is acting with integrity. I was upset to hear that Benedict apologised, but in reality, he has not apologised to the Jihadi.

The Jihadi clerics living in London who are once again breathing fiery threats, this time against the Catholic Church, need to be arrested and thrown in prison, for treason.

Posted by: Maggie4Life at September 18, 2006 4:48 AM

James Fallows has an article in the Atlantic Monthly with this interesting passage:

With the advice of Islamic scholars and think-tank officials, Guirard has assembled an alternative lexicon he thinks U.S. officials should use in both English and Arabic. These include hirabah (“unholy war”) instead of jihad; irhabists (“terrorists”) instead of jihadists; mufsidoon (“evildoers”) instead of mujahideen; and so on. The long-term effect, he says, would be like labeling certain kinds of battle genocide or war crime rather than plain combat—not decisive, but useful.

The assertion is that by calling it jihad, holy war, we actually legitimize the Islamist concept of what is going on and speak of them as they speak of themselves: as holy warriors, mujahideen. By using that terminology, we also supposedly generate extra support for jihadists among Muslims. They think, hey, why should one not support people that even an enemy acknowledges are "holy."

On the other hand there are certain educational advantages with Westerners in calling the jihadists what they call themselves. The fact that it is part of the very core of the Quran and Islam that a "holy warrior" or mujahideen carries out a "holy war" or jihad involving actual militancy, is very instructive.

Posted by: traeh at September 18, 2006 5:02 AM

I'd like to visit Constantinople one day.

Posted by: Hyman Roth at September 18, 2006 5:08 AM

What shines most in Islam is its imbecility and fanaticism.

Muslims may get angry, but there's nothing they can do about it.

They can not help being fanatic and idiotic.

Posted by: rocky at September 18, 2006 5:30 AM

Now if we could just have all the other visible like minded Christian leaders throughout the world stand up for the truth about what the pope said and confront the scourge of this violent Ideology that is becoming more and more set in the mode of the dar-al-harb.

Posted by: Mackie at September 18, 2006 8:46 AM

Cut off all access to higher education in the sciences -- of any kind. Make access even for degrees in "communications" or "Islamic studies" very expensive.

The problem with this idea is that it is good and makes perfect sense to any reasonable and sane individual!

Good ideas are bad things!

Our government leaders (Libs and Conservatives) won't stand for it; the student unions won't stand for it; the teachers unions will fight it court; and the activist judges that now rule the US, will over turn it!

Posted by: witness at September 18, 2006 8:48 AM

Re: Orthodox Church Archbishop attacks 'Islamic fanaticism'

The most disturbing aspect of the Islamic belief-system is not the 'Islamic fanaticism', although that's bad enough, it's the Muslim bad judgement that is most unsettling. This is the result of Muslims treating their belief-system as fact. The consequence of this attitude has to be a distortion of the perception of reality that must result in Muslims seeing conspiracies as real, and of themselves as being persecuted. The Muslim tendency to projection is also astonishing as they deny the reality that the Islamic-belief-system is the only religion on earth with a well developed theology that mandates violence against unbelievers, a fact which is continuously denied by Muslims.

Islam looks remarkably like a mental illness. All mental illness, in one way or other, treats belief-systems as fact as it denies verified facts in reality.

Posted by: Frank at September 18, 2006 8:55 AM

Assalamau Laikum!

I have decided that it may not be a bad idea to become a muslim!

Yes, it is true -- islam is the religon of peace as they say (cough! cough!).

After reading

http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/paul-williams091606.htm

and espcially the following:

The al Qaeda operatives who will launch this attack are awaiting final orders. They remain in place in cities throughout the country. Many are masquerading as Christians and have adopted Christian names...

it occurs to me that maybe we should all adapt a muslim name and perhaps get to meet some of these terrorist... er... uhh... martyrs... celebraties up close; and maybe in mecca and medinah.

Isn't true that if some of use can not afford to make the required hajj; that some rich arab with lots of petro dollars will pay for our passage?

Yes, well -- my recommendation; become muslims for the approximately the same reasons Adnan el Shukrijumah is a muslim.

And Naseem always says -- we should all become muslims.

Perhaps, that is not a bad idea after all...if you get my drift!

Posted by: witness at September 18, 2006 9:11 AM

Orthodox Church Archbishop attacks 'Islamic fanaticism' Oh at last a man with guts. The pope is so pathetic that he appologises for his words which were only truth.. He and us are held at randsom by the threat of Muslim violence if we dont behave. I for one am sick of this, I am sick of their bullying, I am sick of the non stop world wide Muslim violence and I am sick of hearing the name of Islam every day.
This religion is nothing but an excuse for war, you cant tell me that so called good clerics and leaders couldnt stop this violence, if they really wanted to, instead they are the reason for it... moderate muslims!!! what rot there isnt any and the people are getting more and more angry at our own leaders stupidity for not finding out what is really in the quran, thus putting us in great danger... If we the people know the dangers of the Quran then why not our leaders, and we also know that the wonderful verses in the Quran were changed after Mohammad converted enough people to become a force who would go out there and slaughter people and take booty so as he could get 5% of the booty so as he could live in the life of luxury that he had become accustomed to under his first wife who was very rich.

Posted by: Gaye at September 18, 2006 10:17 AM

special_guest,

"This woman is having a bad case of PMS AND a bad hair day."

Posted by: InfidelProud at September 17, 2006 11:23 PM

In Islam, menstruating women, the impure, and infidels are prohibited from touching the Qur'an.

As I understand it, menstruating women are pretty much confined to the house for the 'period' of menstruation.

Bob

Posted by: PRCS at September 18, 2006 10:26 AM

As I keep saying, terrorism is the fruit, Islam is the ROOT.

Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at September 18, 2006 10:27 AM

Beware the muslim menace!!! Latest on Brigitte Gabriel's blog is that these muslim rat primitives are telling Muslim/Americans (is there such a thing) to get out of Washington DC and New York City as they are planning major attacks to burn these cities down and leave them in ashes! These muslim primitives also blame America for using muslims here as shields. All I can say is that muslims in general are a cowardly brainwashed ideology seeking to dominate the Free World. A pox on them! If they attack the USA again I say us atomics on Mecca, obilterate Tehran, stop all payments and aid to muslims lands, prevent any of our knowledge and good that benefits them in any way. Mohammed was a murdering rapist who made women slaves. Infidels of the world rise up and crush this menace now!

Posted by: Truthseeker at September 18, 2006 10:32 AM

If you see muslims families loading up their camels and leaving town that is the sign that the attacks are coming. Arrest and detain all of them for they have prior knowledge and with interrogation will we will find out who, what, and where! We know why! Close all mosques as they a places of hate and subversiness.

Posted by: Truthseeker at September 18, 2006 10:40 AM

I would add to Hugh's comment

1) never travel as tourist in muslim lands (it's another way to pay the jiza) and suggest all your friends to do the same

2) don't buy goods that might come from muslim lands

3) if you have a factory/shop/office, NEVER hire muslim people

Posted by: FedUp at September 18, 2006 10:54 AM

the sad thing is these reports don't get on mainstream media.

Posted by: alwaysinfidel at September 18, 2006 12:39 PM

PRCS, sorry, I only saw InfidelProud's other posting (September 18, 2006 12:16 AM). I can stop scratching my head now, thanks.

Posted by: special_guest at September 18, 2006 2:03 PM

"I'd like to visit Constantinople one day."

Interesing concept I bet Constantinople would be nice in the fall, and a lot nice and cleaner than Istambul.

Posted by: ethoman at September 18, 2006 2:36 PM

special_guest,

No problem. There is so much info on JW/DW, it's just about impossible to read everything.

And, if scratching your head feels good, I can't think of any reason for you to stop.

Posted by: PRCS at September 18, 2006 2:50 PM

cincinnatikid,

His arguments are:

(1) The pope is covering up an answer by the Persion scholar. That answer *surely* addressed how exactly God can be both purely transcendental and reasonable. (Never mind that it is equally possible the Persian scholar's view, in justifying conversion by violence, might have actually been that God could command idolatry, if he wanted to.)

(2) Muhammad's (offensive) wars were justified (for some unspecified use of the term: see the Koran for more information on Islamic "justice") because he was the head of a state by the time he pronounced those verses.

(3) The pope is not credible in his discussion on the difference between the ways the Catholic understanding relates God to reason, and thus to conversion by violence, on the one hand, and implications of Islamic understanding of God as purely transcendental on the issue of reason and violence, because the Catholic church did bad things in the past. (Never mind whether or not they were backed up by the Catholic holy texts).

There aren't any real arguments to address, not that I could find at any rate.

There are, instead, (1) an accusation of cover-up, (2) an evasion hinging on the assumption that most readers will interpret claims about states, war, and justice with the traditional Western interpretation of 'justice', and (3) an attack on credibility, by bringing up a nasty era from the past that the Catholic church now says, with textual support, was totally out of line with Christian teachings.

Real arguments would be pointing out any actual positive innovations by Muhammad, or would be an argument explaining how a a purely transcendental view of God could forbid things like spreading religion by violence. He doesn't do anything like this.

Aside, regarding his comments on "people of the book", the people of the book are to be allowed to live in "dhimmitude", with radically reduced civil rights, and paying a special tax to Muslims. Their special status is not being killed outright, unlike the people of other religions who refuse to convert to Islam (Hindus, pagans, etc.). The author's flaunting this travesty as evidence of the goodness of Islam is further evidence that he is intellectually dishonest. Read the posts on the thread about the Coptic Pope to find out more about dhimmitude.

Posted by: mrsmomomoto at September 18, 2006 5:55 PM

It's a good thing no Muslims have heard my archbishop's sermons of the last few years, or my cathedral would have been burned to the ground by a peaceful demon-stration of Asain youths. Somehow he can manage to find a warning against the evil menace of Islam no matter what his sermon is about...

Posted by: St. David, King of Georgia at September 18, 2006 7:19 PM

For goodness sake, all the crusaders did is what we are going to have to do again soon... Their aim was to stop the Muslim agression and to stop the march of Muslims across the world, and what have we today,, we have just the same circumstances.. yes the crusaders did some terrible things, but they stopped the world becoming Muslim eh...

We have to start educating the people as to the real reasons for the crusaders, instead of always blaming ourselves. IF Islam hadnt tried to violently take the world for Allah, the crusades wouldnt have happened....

Posted by: Gaye at September 19, 2006 9:37 AM