Good news, Jim!

Submitted by Baran (Australia), Mar 15, 2010 at 20:34

Good news, Jim!

You sound cocksure even though there is no evidence to back up any of the three claims you make. I doubt if the readers are interested in your gut-feel much less in your ... philistinism.

Firstly, you presume that there are two and only two options citizens of Turkey have: Kemalist dogma enforced by a gang of generals or what you call "Islamized" society! But, surely, these are not the only choices facing Americans -or Germans who have a 'Christian' Democratic political party. Evidently, you are not worried that the latter may create a "Christianized" society where burning women at stake just to secure a divorce is permitted. If you are so fond of generals' rule, have you considered moving to Burma or North Korea? You are likely to be welcomed with open arms.

Secondly, the Mullahs in Iran came to power as a direct result of the "Law of Unintended Consequences" of UK & US agents overthrowing a democratically elected government in 1953 and then propping up a tyrannical regime under the rule of a universally reviled Shah. If the West succeeds in thwarting Turkish people's desire for democracy and the rule of law, a similar bloody revolution is probable. Wasn't it that charismatic American president JF Kennedy who said those who make change through peaceful means impossible make change through violent means inevitable?

Thirdly, you simply do not know what "barbarism" is. Start reading the Bible esp. the treatment of captive Midianites by Moses or the account of Joshua killing all living, breathing things ie cats, dogs, sheep, cattle, poultry etc in addition to the people. I really hate to disillusion you, but Muslims are not responsible for the Inquisition & burning alive millions of innocent people, Muslims did not start WW I or WW II and Muslims had nothing to do with the Holocaust!

I could write a lot more to remedy your inscience, but I fear that if you learn more historical truths rapidly you may become a dangerous fanatical Muslim! So, the GOOD NEWS is you can start an evidence-based learning regime very, very, very slowly ie at your own pace.

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".