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September 26, 2006
Commentary On Islam, From Churchill's 'The River War (1899)'
Topics: Understanding Islam
Quotation of the season, from Datelines, The Churchill Centre: "...the United States, united as never before, have drawn the sword for freedom and cast away the scabbard."--WSC, Congress of the United States, 26 December 1941 (Why not now)A reader sent in this interesting link and quote from Churchill's "The River War." The reader wrote that It seems that the Muslim problem we are experiencing is really nothing so new as we think. Churchill was well versed in its potential danger and problems 107 years ago, in 1899. Surely he is speaking of Islamic "extremists" and not of "moderate" Muslims, since, as we are so often told by Muslims and politicians, Islam is predominantly a peaceful religion :
"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries.Actually, I personally believe that many Muslims, if not most, are indeed peaceful and capable of living in and assimilating in - modern western societies. However, Chuchill's comments, dating back over 100 years, prove that there were populations of Muslims that lived long before we went into Iraq, even long before any of us was born, that were not peaceful, were fanatics, had improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property. Does any of this sound familiar???Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity.
The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen; all know how to die; but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.
No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science‹the science against which it had vainly struggled‹the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."
Related: Churchill and "The West and Islam":
Arguably the most aesthetically beautiful of original trade editions of Churchill's books, The River War is a brilliant history of British involvement in the Sudan and the campaign for its reconquest: arresting, insightful, with tremendous narrative and descriptive power. Though published 100 years ago, it is uniquely relevant to our times: combined with Churchill's personal adventure, there are passages of deep reflection about the requirements of a civilized government of ordered liberty. Far from accepting uncritically the superiority of British civilization, Churchill shows his appreciation for the longing for liberty among the indigenous inhabitants of the Sudan; but he finds their native regime defective in its inadequate legal and customary protection for the liberty of subjects. On the other hand, he criticizes the British army, and in particular its commander Lord Kitchener, for departing in its campaign from the kind of respect for the liberty and humanity of adversaries that alone could justify British civilization and imperial rule over the Sudan.Hat tip - Paul D
Posted by Richard at September 26, 2006 10:35 PM
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- Commentary On Islam, From Churchill's 'The River War (1899)' - Sep 26, 2006
