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Originally posted by Gattigap
No.
Neither of us are Muslims or scholars on Islam, and I'm not inclined to go on a Google expedition to argue with you about whether Muslim moderates exist but are reluctant to engage in a fratricidal war with their batshit crazy brethren, or whether they exist at all, or whether Islam is just a seething cauldron of hate, evil and other nasty shit.
Look, I agree with you that the fatwas and other shit we've been reading since Benedict made his speech are ironic (Hi, Hank!), stupid, dangerous and wrong. But I'm not yet driven by those statements to the same conclusions that you are.
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Look, maybe I'm coming across a complete lunatic here, but it really, really bothers me that these threats continue to go unchecked. That the actual governments of countries such as Pakistan, Malaysia, Yemen etc get involved and criticize the Pope, it only encourages the mob. and perhaps its the reluctance of the West to get involved due to our love of the freedom of speech, but IMHO it is criminal to remain silent in this context. It reveals to me that we are afraid to speak up. Adding to my outrage is that come Election Day, numerous politicians (historically, Kerry comes to mind, but there are GOPers as well) will wrap themselves is the flag of the Holy See to court Irish, Italian and Latino voters. Well, where the F are they today?
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The "Islam is a Religion of Peace" theme is something that's been driven into the ground on this board by the Hanks and Penskes in our community, and I've stopped trying to discern about whether they even mean any of it, or simply take more joy from stirring the shit. I suspect that you actually do take it seriously, and I'm trying to be sincere when I say that what you're describing sounds like the plot to a bad B-movie.
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Gatti, I hear you. But the reality is that this canard is repeated in practically every article you read these days. Here's just
one from today.
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A billion people don't have monolithic views about anything, and arguing that all of them will rise up because of what clerics and political leaders say makes no sense.
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Why? You mean their words don't inflame the mob? They shot a 70 year old nun in the back today. Churches have been burned. Theo Van Gogh was assassinated after his documentary (here's irony again - about Muslim violence against women) was condemned. According to polls, between 50% - 80% of Muslims worldwide think that 9/11 was committed by the US (and/or Israel) in orcer to make Islam look bad.
eta- A third priest may now have become a victim of the violence and lawlessness in Baghdad. Father Basil Salem Yaldo was last seen leaving a church building in the Dora area of Baghdad. He is the personal secretary to the Catholic Patriarch for Iraq. At the time of his disappearance, a car bomb had exploded in the vicinity and a round-up of suspects took place by Iraqi and Coalition Security Forces. It is not known if Father Basil was taken into custody, is being held for ransom, or worse.
The first priest to be abducted was forced to leave the country after being brutalized and then released. The second is still being treated for injuries suffered during weeks of physical and mental abuse. He was released only after a series of ransoms were paid.
- Holy Mass on a Sunday is the very source and summit of the Catholic week, so my family decided this Sunday to make the trip to Westminster Cathedral together. As we came out about 100 Islamists were chanting slogans such as "Pope Benedict go to Hell" "Pope Benedict you will pay, the Muja Hadeen are coming your way" "Pope Benedict watch your back" and other hateful things.
Presumably, these are British citizens, not exactly the Arab mob we tend to envision in these discussions.
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And agreeing with Coulter that all Muslims need to be converted or killed is similarly screwy.
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That was clearly a joke - and you know that.
