"Poor" Islam?

If we collectively take the reaction in the liberal media vis-à-vis “9/11”, the cartoon controversy and more recently Pope Benedict’s comments, we can only conclude that Islam is the innocent victim of Western imperialism and chauvinism and the great evil to be feared is not terrorism but discrimination against Muslims.

The fact is, dedicated Muslims are not pragmatists, which is hard to swallow for most liberals. The characteristic delusion of liberals is to believe, even against all evidence, that other people, including totalitarians are at heart very much like themselves. Franklin Delano Roosevelt seems to have thought that he could charm Stalin into a reasonable frame of mind and Lyndon Johnson thought he could make a deal with Ho Chi Minh. And as they say, the rest is history.

The public is therefore at the mercy of commentators who are constantly reassuring us that Islam is a religion of peace, and these extreme reactions and forms of violence are inconsistent with Islam. Fair enough, believe what you wish. But it is no secret that Islam vigorously opposes freedom of religion. Although we are quoted “there is no compulsion in religion”, when the rubber hits the road, this is not what is practiced.

Even within Islam itself, the Shiite and Sunni factions appear to hate each other as much as they do the West. “Conflict between Shiites and Sunnis has existed since the 7th century. Because Mohammed didn’t appoint a successor, or caliph, there was disagreement as to who should succeed him. Sunnis believe the caliph should be appointed. Shiites believe he should come from Mohammed’s bloodline” (See, A Kingdom Divided Against Itself).

In an analysis of what has gone wrong with Islam, Bernard Lewis had this to say: “To a Western observer, schooled in the theory and practice of Western freedom, it is precisely the lack of freedom – freedom of the mind from constraint and indoctrination, to question and inquire and speak; freedom of the economy from corrupt and pervasive mismanagement; freedom of women from male oppression; that underlies so many of the troubles of the Muslim world” (Atlantic Monthly, January 2002).

The Islamic mindset seems to be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the majority (if not all) of her problems stem from “crusades against Islam” led by evil Western governments, the chief culprit being America (the great Satan). She needs to realize that the majority of her problems are the logical outworking of her worldview, and can be only be addressed by radical reform and moderation.