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September 16, 2006
the malediction of benedict xvi
Hey, father, what's the good word?
Pope Benedict XVI showed his stripes today in comments which stung and grievously wounded the hearts and souls of Muslims worldwide to the point that, with great reluctance, they whipped out their prepared effigies of the Pope and burned them.
Salih Kapusuz, a deputy leader of Turkey's ruling party, said, "[Benedict] has a dark mentality that comes from the darkness of the Middle Ages. He is a poor thing that has not benefited from the spirit of reform in the Christian world. It looks like an effort to revive the mentality of the Crusades. Benedict, the author of such unfortunate and insolent remarks, is going down in history for his words. He is going down in history in the same category as leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini."
Oh, the humanity. So unfortunate it is for Benedict to have quoted someone who said Islam was spread by the sword. What's especially painful is the fact that it just isn't true, it's never, ever happened that way. Islam's converts invariably do so of their own free will. Why, just ask Steve Centanni And Olaf Wiig if it ain't so.
Posted by joel at September 16, 2006 12:41 AM
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Comments
Posted on behalf of Uncle Jim:
nice to have you back ... but, talk about the shot heard 'round the world!
i hope plowshares start to appear soon ... but the fertile sands of the middle-east probably absorb the bright red fluids let from the veins of heathens better than these same sands grow food.
bene needs to learn a little pc ... but you gotta admit, that once his words hit the wire services, 'they' had their signs ready to protest, didn't they? the comments sound like their excuse for what comes next, already.
Posted by: Joel ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.chezjoel.com//nav-commenters.gif)
at September 18, 2006 08:45 AM
I suppose the requirements on Bene require him to do some damage control (and it looks like he's now working on that) but this episode was very refreshing to me because he pointed to the 800 lb. gorilla in the room that nobody in political leadership anywhere is really willing to acknowledge: Islam, by its design, isn't a tolerant, go-along-get-along piece of anybody's U.N. flavored World Peace Day Parade. I know there are tolerant Muslims, but they are not the mainstream, and they are not the reason Islam has spread.
Posted by: Joel at September 18, 2006 08:50 AM
so just how are you suggesting islam has spread?
by proselytizing or the sword?
do you think most muslims are true 'believers' or just fear the sword?
Posted by: uncle jim at September 18, 2006 09:03 AM
There is no question Islam's most dramatic growth has always been by the sword. And this current incident has only given us more examples of how they are eager to continue to pursue that method (e.g. calling for the execution of the Pope).
As to whether most Muslims are "true believers" or merely fear the sword, I would say it is not implausible that it could be both. The mind and heart do strange things under the nearly ubiquitous pressure of social convention and threatened violence. Why are (the few) converts from Islam to other religions routinely murdered? The sword is always there; they all know this every moment of their lives. Whether they embrace Islam wholeheartedly or not, the sword is always there.
Posted by: Joel at September 18, 2006 04:05 PM
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