The difference between West and the Middle east
Here is a really interesting article on the difference between the west and the middle east. In it the author highlights the two faces of Islam. On one hand they are outraged at Danish cartoons, on the other hand they depict Christians and Jews terribly in their own cartoons. On one hand they take advantage of freedom of religion in Europe, on the other hand they grant no such freedom in their middle eastern countries. They claim to be a religion of peace, but they do not protest or express outrage when Muslims slaughter the inocent. They claim to be a religion of peace, and yet they celebrated on 9/11. I could sense in reading the article there is a dislike for President Bush, but I think he hit very close to the target when he said that there is an irreconcilable difference between the west and the middle east. The west’s freedom of religion and democratic ways allows muslim expansion which will eventially engulf. The middle east’s total intolerance and violant ways makes progress in culteral reform and democratization in the middle east very hard to come by. We must pray for our troops!
muddled Said,
February 10, 2006 @ 11:33
Yeah man, that’s pretty interesting how that works. I think in light of this, we should make sure we don’t start having double standards, too. Some people may say that if we complain about how the MSM denigrates Christianity, then we should recognize, to a degree, why Muslims are angry over the danish cartoons.
John Piper had a neat post explaining the difference between the true Christian response to insults and the Islamic response.
http://desiringgod.org/library/fresh_words/2006/020806.html
bradlands Said,
February 10, 2006 @ 16:54
Thats a really good article. From the perspective of a Christian we ought to bear all. Also from the perspective of free speach we ought to bear all. But what should our response be with regard to future cartoons? Should we let riots restrict free speech? As Christians we should seek to not stir up trouble, but how should we feel about someone else who excercises their freedom of speech and press to make fun of Islam? Do we condemn them as Christians or support them as Americans? I really don’t know what our response to the riots should be.
muddled Said,
February 13, 2006 @ 11:49
You know, I think the riots are really more a relection of high unemployment and extreme poverty in Muslim countries. You get a bunch of bored, angry people in a totalitarian regime, it’s not going to take much to get them all worked up.
My opinion is that we should critize the choice to print these cartoons, knowing that it is simply inciting more anger and rioting. Do they have the right toprint them? Sure. Is it good judgement for them to? With freedom comes responsibility, not just license to do whatever. I think we all know that, but I wanted to say it anyway.