Who's Left?
Reader comment on item: Appreciating Oriana Fallaci

Submitted by Right of Center Filipino (Philippines), Sep 18, 2006 at 02:27

It's a tragic loss for the world that a person like Ms. Fallaci is now gone. Fewer and fewer "intellectuals" are speaking up on the problem called Islam. Most are either sticking their heads in the sand, just hoping for the best, or have blatantly come out in support of this totalitarian "religion" in the hopes to break the power of the so-called "evils of western society and the American Empire".

I totally agree with her that Western Democracy is losing ground to a bunch of backward barbarians because of the politically correct blinders it has put on itself. Respect for other cultures and beliefs is fine but we should call a spade a spade. If there is something in their culture that is fundamentally against the values we in democracies hold dear, these "people" should adapt to us and not the other way around.

Sadly, many of our "leaders" find it more convenient to appease those who hold rape, thievery, deceit, murder, and tyranny as religious "rights" and "values". This can be seen in the apology of our "Pope". Ms. Fallaci must be spinning in her grave. I for one am ashamed at the holy father's capitulation to islamic intimidation when he was just stating a well known fact.

People may say we Christians can be accused of the same thing the Byzantine Emperor attributed to Muslims. Then again, that's why we had reformation the Reformation and the Age of Enlightenment the faithful just couldn't stand the very un-Christian activities the Holy Mother Church were perpetrating in our name.

Such religious and cultural revolution can never happen in Islam since in it's core orthodoxy the subjugation of the other and the total elimination of opposing views are held as virtues. Whether this was what Mohammed intended I don't know. It was more likely the spin of those he inspired, those ...Arab desert raiders who wanted to justify the actions of their xenophobic and extremely chauvinistic tribal culture. Unfortunately Arab culture and Islamic thought at this point have become so intertwined that one cannot do without the other. It's a deadly symbiosis that has fully shown itself in the attacks on New York, Madrid, London, and even in my home of Metro Manila.

At this point I'd have to disagree with thinkers like Mr. Pipes who believe that there is a "good" Islam. An Islam that is compatible with democratic thought and western ideas of equality in every sense of the word is not Islam at all. Their beliefs dictate to them that their's is the final revelation and must be followed to the letter. Anyone deviating from it, amending it or questioning it are heretics that should be dealt with harshly. To them there is no middle ground. May I ask how can one reason with a creature who thinks in such a way?

Islamo-Facism, Islamic Fundamentalism, Muslim Extremism or whatever label you give it is not the problem. ISLAM and MUSLIMS are the problem. A problem that needs to be dealt with if civilization were to hold of another dark age from which Humanity may never recover from.

Ms. Fallaci knew this and, hopefully, others will as well.

PS: Mr. Pipes! I love reading your articles and while I disagree with you on some points I make it a point to visit your site to see what your opinions are. I would very much like to know your stance on the Pope's apology. I think he's a coward and has done a disservice to the Church. What are your feelings?

---

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 for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.

Daniel Pipes replies:

To the P.S.: See "Pope Benedict Criticizes Islam."