Daniel J. Pipes

13 readers online now  |  62 million page views

120,172 comments by 30,669 readers

Go to Mobile Site

You overlook one glaring reality though...

Reader comment on item: Europe is Finished, Predicts Mark Steyn
in response to reader comment: Change happens... Its not the end of the world...

Submitted by Noah Wilk (United States), Dec 4, 2006 at 23:33

Kti Martin wrote:

"On account of this basic misunderstanding by steyn that cultural is a static state, rather than a constant negotiation, he sees the "aproach of the Islamist" as a confrontation of two solid things, therefore allowing for only a win lose game, either the Islamist has to be master, or the west. "

The problem is, that's how it has to be, at least according to Islam. Just like the CAIR representative in America who said that he did not want Islam to be "just another religion" in America...he wants it to be the dominant and only religion in America. That's Steyn's point, I believe. Muslims cannot comprehend the concept of peaceful co-existence. The concept does not exist in their religion, in their Koran, or in their cultural habits. Hence for them it's a win/lose proposition in every way. Where in the world is Islam not this self-centered and fanatical? Everywhere they exist, their goal (as stated in their Koran) is to dominate and to force Islam on everyone. And when you resist, they engage in terrorism and genocide.

You also said:

"but this polarized identity does not account for the billions of individuals that live their lives, negotiating the interaction, using a myriad of dispositions formed by their social contexts."

The problem, once again, is that Islam does not work in that context. Any civilized society is a system of compromises, of giving and taking. In civilized society we may not agree on things, but we can also peacefully coexist. We sometimes argue and struggle for an upper hand, and we negotiate through compromises and agreements. But when it comes to Islam those "negotiations" take place at the tip of the sword or in the blast of a suicide bomber. There is a world of difference between two civilized peoples negotiating the interaction and a civilized society trying to negotiate with an evil, barbaric society. The former is possible, the latter is not.

Finally, you wrote:

"Yes the world as we know it is coming to an end, but this is always the case, hopefully, for it is always doing that."

That's little consolation for those who have to live through those changes though. Yes, the world changes, and that is indeed inevitable. However, that does not mean we should not fight against barbarity, savagery, and evil death cults like Islamism, which causes suffering and misery wherever it is found.


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".

Comment on this item

Name
Email Address (optional)
Title of Comments
Comments:

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".

See recent outstanding comments.

Join Daniel Pipes on a Fact Finding Expedition to Israel, March 2012
For full details click here

ADVERTISEMENTS

History News Network
eXTReMe Tracker
Shop BestofVegas for your next Vegas Vacation

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials written by Daniel Pipes on this site © 1968-2012 Daniel Pipes. Email: daniel.pipes@gmail.com

You can help support Daniel Pipes' work by making a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum. Daniel J. Pipes