disagree

Submitted by SkepticOverAll (France), Jan 6, 2009 at 09:06

This is simply the culture he hails from. If Islam permeates the culture, the culture's idioms and proverbs, then how do you expect Erdogan, who openly embraces the culture, to express himself.

Let's remember, that secularism, even in Turkey, is a forced doctrine. It isn't natural. Islam is. Erdogan is pushing the envolope on what is considered appropriate in a hunta-controlled state.

If we in the West tar these people, everytime they express something which puts us on guard, their impression of our "democratic" spirit sinks.

Gerecht is right, we need to give even the Islamists breathing room. We have no chance with "democratic reformers" unless we can convince the Islamists that it is their breathing room, which a democracy can give them. If you apply democracy selectively, then it isn't democracy anymore.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".