It’s Not about Islam

[dutch508]

KoKo (78,769 posts) http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026085040

"War Begets War: It’s Not about Islam; It Never Was"

The war on Islam was particularly vital, as it seemed to unify a large range of western intellectuals, conservative, liberal, religious and secular alike. All done for good reasons:

– Islam is not just a religion, but a way of life. By demonizing Islam, you demonize everything associated with it, including, of course, Muslims.

– The vilification of Islam which morphed into massive western-led Islamophobia helped validate the actions of western governments, however violent and abusive. The dehumanization of Muslims became an essential weapon in war.

– It was also strategic: hating Islam and all Muslims is a very flexible tool that would make military intervention and economic sanctions possible anywhere where the West has political and economic interests. Hating Islam became a unifying rally-cry from advocates of sanctions on Sudan to anti-immigrant neo-Nazi groups in Germany, and everywhere else. The issue is no longer the violent means used to achieve political domination and control of natural resources, but, magically, it all was reduced to one single word: Islam; or, at best, Islam and something else: freedom of expression, women rights, and so forth.

Thus, it was no surprise to see the likes of Ian Black commenting in the Guardian, hours after gunmen carried out a lethal attack in Paris against a French Magazine on Wednesday, 7 January with the starting line: “Satire and Islam do not sit well together…”

Not a word on the French military and other forms of intervention in the Middle East; its destructive role in Syria; its leadership role in the war in Libya; its war in Mali, and so on. Not even a word on François Holland’s recent statement about being “ready” to bomb Libyan rebels, although it was made only few days earlier.

Sure, the pornographic satire of Charlie Hebdo and its targeting of Prophet Mohammed was mentioned, but little was said, by Black, or the many others who were quick to link the subject to “7th century Islam”, to the hideous wars and their horrible, pornographic manifestations of torture, rape and other unspeakable acts; acts that victimized millions of people; Muslim people. Instead, it about western art and Muslim intolerance. The subtle line was: yes, indeed, it is a “clash of civilizations”.

What a huge line of utter bullshit.

KoKo (78,769 posts)
9. I read the whole article (as I'm sure you did)

and I didn't get that impression at all from what he was expressing. Your wording is not the writers.

"This is no more than a paean to Islam. It's great. It's wonderful. It's spotless and shiny and if not for the evil west there would be no problems. He's actually saying that Islam is the template for a utopian society. And I say nonsense. There is no template for a utopian society.

This is just the mirror image of America is the shining city on the hill bullshit."

cali (97,358 posts)
10. it is a paean to Islam:

First, let’s be clear on some points. Islam has set in motion a system to abolish slavery over 1,200 years before the slave trade reached its peak in the western world.

Freeing the slaves, who were owned by pagan Arab tribes, was a recurring theme in the Koran, always linked to the most basic signs of piety and virtue:

“The charities are to go to the poor, and the needy, and those who work to collect them, and those whose hearts have been united, and to free the slaves, and those in debt, and in the cause of God, and the traveler. A duty from God, and God is Knowledgeable, Wise.”

It is unfortunate that such reminders would have to be regularly restated, thanks to constant anti-Islam propaganda in many western countries. The outlandish and often barbaric behavior of the so-called Islamic State (IS) has given greater impetus to existing prejudices and propaganda.

Second, gender equality in Islam has been enshrined in the language of the Koran and the legacy of the Prophet Mohammed.

<snip>

that's exactly what that is. Look, the Koran like the Bible is full of contradictory messages. Both extoll love and both have some pretty damned violent messages. In addition, Islam as practiced in many places does not sustain equality for women. Slavery? Islamic slave traders should ring a bell. In his piece the author is placing ALL the responsibility for acts of violence carried out by Muslims on the West. That's no more accurate than those who deny that Western actions have contributed.

<snip>

The Arab slave trade was the practice of slavery in the Arab world, mainly in Western Asia, North Africa, Southeast Africa, the Horn of Africa and certain parts of Europe (such as Iberia and Sicily) beginning during the era of the Arab conquests and continuing through the 19th century. The trade was conducted through slave markets in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa, with the slaves captured from Africa's interior.

During the 8th and 9th centuries of the Fatimid Caliphate, most of the slaves were Europeans (called Saqaliba) captured along European coasts and during wars. Historians estimate that between 650 and 1900, 10 to 18 million people were enslaved by Arab slave traders and taken from Europe, Asia and Africa across the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Sahara desert.

<snip>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_slave_trade

KoKo (78,769 posts)
11. I read it as pointing out "Blow Back." That making this about Islam as a religion would belike saying all Christians supported the Spanish Inquistion when it was the rogue actions of the High Priests in the Catholic Church who had broken from the principles of Christianity . Or, blaming all U.S. Christians because subgroups of U.S. Fundamentalist Christians support hateful actions against women, GLBT, and African Americans other minorities. Or, all Jews are responsible for the actions of the extremists like LIKKUD in their midst.

Blaming a whole people and their religion for the acts and deeds of their few is a useful tool for those who have other reasons for engaging in war. Been that way throughout history. But, now we are in a time where we are in danger of Global War if we can't get the moneyed interests of the Global MIC held to account.

Remember Bush II called it a "Crusade" before he had to be corrected.

Oh...and about "Blow Back." When the crimes of the few are used to punish a whole religion, ethnic group or sex/gender then the group as a whole has a right to push back. In the case of the U.S./NATO Invasions/Inteventions....the populations of most of ME and extending now into Africa are suffering and the death and destruction may never be repaired. There are many religions and ethnic groups caught up in this who had nothing...now homeless, dislocated from families, communities, businesses to earn a living and tens thousands who are dead for little reason than that they lived in the wrong place at the wrong time.

My read of the article is very different from yours....but, hey...you are entitled to your view.

oberliner (27,491 posts)
14. Absolute garbage that all progressives ought be repulsed by

"Islam is not just a religion, but a way of life. By demonizing Islam, you demonize everything associated with it, including, of course, Muslims."

There you go. Islam is now completely insulated from any criticism. Because if you criticize any of the nonsensical BS in the Koran, you automatically are a bigot.

oberliner (27,491 posts)
16. Here's where I am coming from

If you make the claim that by speaking ill of Islam, the religion, you are, by definition, speaking ill of all Muslims then there is no way to speak critically of Islam without being labeled someone who is bigoted against Muslims.

So if I find the doctrine of Islam to be objectionable, I am demonizing all Muslims.

That formulation creates a situation where Islam is insulated from critical analysis. 

Over and over the Western world has made it clear we are fighting radicalists. That's not good enough for the left who want to 'turn the other cheek' and blame the west.

We are in a global war. We are fighting against islam. The sooner the west wakes up and realizes it the better chance we have on survival.

[98ZJUSMC]

oberliner (27,491 posts)
14. Absolute garbage that all progressives ought be repulsed by

"Islam is not just a religion,

You mean, it's not a religion at all.

but a way of life. By demonizing Islam, you demonize everything associated with it, including, of course, Muslims."

It's an entire social construct based on the whims of a pedophile.

There you go. Islam is now completely insulated from any criticism. Because if you criticize any of the nonsensical BS in the Koran, you automatically are a bigot.

Not feeling the love?

Or, all Jews are responsible for the actions of the extremists like LIKKUD in their midst.

Last LIKKUD terror bombing?  Last LIKKUD murder spree?  Last LIKKUD aircraft to fly into buildings?  Last LIKKUD statement calling all those "not LIKKUD", or Jewish for that matter, unworthy to live?

Please stop spreading your disease, D(U)llard.

[txradioguy]

So anti anything American are the DUmmies that they've unwittingly embraced Sharia Law.

They defend it, they rationalize the brutality done in it's name and they go after anyone who dares to bad mouth it.

These mouth breathing morons who'll take any opportunity they can to bash Christanity and Judaism are out there feverntly preaching the Gospel of Mohammed.