Sunny Days in Heaven Spiritual/Political/Philosophical Blog on the Nature of Truth and Falsehood and Heaven |
Wednesday, July 27, 2005 The Moderates We are often told by the Hugh Hewitts and others that we (Americans, Westerners) can't discriminate against Muslins because most aren't fanatical extremists who have corrupted Islam. Yes, well most Russians weren't Bolsheviks either. Most Germans weren't Nazis. It only takes a very aggressive minority to gain control of countries or organizations. When added to the traditional culture of the Arabs, the Middle East, and Islam, religious fanatics can easily terrorize the "moderates." In fact throughout most of Islamic history, the mass has been thoroughly terrified. Look at what the Mafia in Italy and the US was able to accomplish through fear and intimidation. A small group, but a ruthless one which the narco-terrorists are the most current manifestation. If a group or those in authority (like Saddam was) are willing to torture, rape, maim, and grotesquely murder others without compunction, it is quite easy to create a cowed people who are afraid to stand up and protest. After Sparticus and 3000 slaves were crucified along the Appian Way, Rome never really had another problem with slave uprisings. When people feel pretty much alone before an implacable and merciless foe, they find it difficult to arouse an unyielding martial spirit. Patrick Henry would have felt pretty naked if he'd marched up to the British by himself demanding, "Liberty or Death!" He would have gotten the second in short order. Islam and the culture of Asia and the MidEast were not fine laboratories of democracy. Instead, Islam increased the negative strains in the East in a downward, headlong spiral to what Churchill described:
The habits of despair, slavishness, cruelty, tribalism, and pyscho-sexual depravity are difficult to shake off for a people. posted by Mark Butterworth | 11:33 AM | |
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