A Poisonous Ghost
Identity is the problem. Does the fight witnessed by the world commiunity this weekend with the murders in Paris represent a true clash of civilizations, or is this a muderous game played out on social media for the benefit of hidden financiers? It would appear that what we are seeing is a battle between one group that is civilized and another that is far from it. As the west attempts to drag radical Islam kicking and screaming into the 21st century, the world trembles. As we rightly condemn the barbarism of the extremists whose monsterous acts are poised to turn the world's democracies into a large police state, one is tempted to ask--what did you expect?
Islam -- radical or otherwise -- is firmly rooted in its medieval traditions and beliefs. If the homicidal psychopaths who carried out the atrocities in France are truly acting with the blessings of faith, they simply have no context to accomodate the tenets of liberal democracy and other western ideals. To expect them to do otherwise is a fool's errand.
The perpetrators of the horrible crimes that took place in France are acting in acordance with an interpretation of a book written about the sayings of a 7th century desert warrior who was illiterate. Islam, an empire that became a religion, conquered much of the western world and parts of Asia and Africa with a speed unmatched for its time. As the succeeding centuries passed, it lost its empire, it lost its identity. It is today acting the part of a modern powerful military, driven by the vanity of social media, a face in the mirror, a poisonous ghost that seeks to regain a glory long since vanquished but not forgotten.
Islam -- radical or otherwise -- is firmly rooted in its medieval traditions and beliefs. If the homicidal psychopaths who carried out the atrocities in France are truly acting with the blessings of faith, they simply have no context to accomodate the tenets of liberal democracy and other western ideals. To expect them to do otherwise is a fool's errand.
The perpetrators of the horrible crimes that took place in France are acting in acordance with an interpretation of a book written about the sayings of a 7th century desert warrior who was illiterate. Islam, an empire that became a religion, conquered much of the western world and parts of Asia and Africa with a speed unmatched for its time. As the succeeding centuries passed, it lost its empire, it lost its identity. It is today acting the part of a modern powerful military, driven by the vanity of social media, a face in the mirror, a poisonous ghost that seeks to regain a glory long since vanquished but not forgotten.
Comments