...just by the nature of the people who live there.
Why are Iraqis, some of whom are shooting at our people and blowing them up, some of whose children or parents have been killed by our invasion, more likely to pick up on democratic institutions, including free speech, freedom of religion, and due process, than Muslims living in European cities where they can experience these things for themselves?
The West is not a limping fawn, and Islam is not a lion.
When we depict ourselves as weak and innocent, we enable those who would motivate us through fear and self-righteousness. We are the eagle: strong, predatory, but not killing for no reason. We need to see ourselves as we are, powerful and responsible, and to comport ourselves accordingly.
Islam is a swarm of bees. It acts in unison and fury when roused, but truly, it is composed of myriad communities and even more individuals. When they are all working at their separate jobs (for this they will have to have jobs) and devoting themselves to the law of the hive, we can see a peaceful, if rather too structured for us, society: productive and industrious.
The people of the Muslim nations, I must believe, are mostly like us when we're not full of ourselves. They want their friends and their families, they want their days out at the mosque to connect with their spiritual needs, they want a bit of fun now and again, they appreciate culture and beauty, they want a secure and prosperous future for their children, and they want to live to see their grandchildren. We have learned that the best way to ensure that for ourselves is to empower the people rather than to rely on fickle luck to provide us with a "good king". We have learned that our civil liberties are intrinsically tied to this. There is no reason why the Muslim nations can't learn this too. Perhaps their idea of liberty will be different than ours. We don't need to feel threatened by this. We can soar above all that. We are the eagle.
But even the eagle can be brought low by the stings of a swarm of bees. The bees also die, but they don't care, because they have been enraged or displaced. Otherwise they would stay in their hive.
So what makes the most sense? To poke around in the hive with a sharp stick? To plant clover near the hive to give the swarm something less dangerous to do?
You know what beekeepers do to calm their bees: they blow smoke. If we want to keep the world together long enough for the Muslim nations to establish their version of a free society, the one that fits them, we could try blowing a little smoke. Just enough to keep things calm. Just a little politesse. Just a little diplomacy. Just a little smoke.
Current Events » in reply to re: I don't take any "comfort" in this at all.
But you know that means Iraq The Model is doomed to fail...
The whole thread (73 posts)
- Making sense of the Muslim outrage over the cartoons.
- They do not understand "Freedom of the Press".
- The more I think about it.
- One Muslim's view:
- "Jesus in a gay bar, with a "Jesus is a fag" caption. I would imagine that fundamental Christians would be outraged."
- re: Da Vinci's Last Supper
- While it was in poor taste, Freedom of the Press permits it.
- I find this hilarious....
- No religion is truthful, and therefore should never trump freedom of expression
- I think they were offensive to Christians.
- Your ignorance of the story of Mohammed is astounding.
- re: Thanks for the information oh most Knowledgable One.
- In reply to the post by the smearer of Catholics, below:
- oh, so you're actually denying the massacre at Medina are you?
- there is some debate about Muhammed yes...but most sources agree he owned slaves, made war, ordered assasinations, and killed jews.
- quite correct
- You're welcome. It comes courtesy of a Hungarian refugee who served in the Hungarian foreign service in Turkey.
- In reply to the post by the smearer of Catholics, below:
- re: Thanks for the information oh most Knowledgable One.
- Your ignorance of the story of Mohammed is astounding.
- Thoughtul post, thanks