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September 19, 2006

The Pope's Words Continue to Sizzle

Topics: Understanding Islam

Here's an interesting and informative piece written by Chad Evans (In The Bullpen), and posted at his site and also at Freedom's Zone.

"Daniel Pipes writes the story told by Pope Benedict XVI of a meeting between a Byzantine emporer and a Persian scholar was told in order to circumvent an expected letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. An interesting theory that is hard to check without seeing that expected letter.

Regardless, the reaction is yet another step in the growing Islamist movement trying to paint the world against Islam, but the world should not be afraid to criticize Islam as it shouldn't be afraid to criticize or debate any other religion, movement or ideal. In this respect, I have always found it fascinating when many Christian religious leaders welcome controversy so that they may have a chance to explain what they believe in. In the Middle East the adverse seems to be the fruit of the day."

Reader Ahsileri also wrote in an email to me yesterday the following, which is very sound in this debate.

I am following with a level of frustration and anger the apparent unhappiness of the 'eastern' (read muslim) world with regard to the 'words' of the Pope and the Vatican.

They seem to be stuck on academic words, but hardly see beyond them. Sadly, it also seems this is a typical reaction to expect anytime someone/anyone in the Islamic world feels somehow "insulted" and as in most of the cases, the (and any) reaction is totally dis-proportionate to the so-called offense they react to...(think Danish cartoons started last year around this time)... and regardless whether or not the Pope's comments were an insult or were offensive is besides the point! Why shouldn't anyone express his opinion or an opinion that was expressed years ago? Do the muslims not do that when they express opinion on the ways of the Koran and Moh'd?...What a pile of crap these people really are is un-f'ing-believable!

And that's the issue at its core, really. For those of us who are relatively new to following the reaction of the Islamic world (read: Middle Eastern Islamic world), we remember the orchestrated reaction to the Danish cartoons of Muhammed and now we're seeing much of the same. What's strange though to me is that even though I do think the reaction to the Pope's comments will be larger when gauged through history, the reaction to the Danish cartoons were far more violent; there were more deaths to cartoons than there has been to the Pope (one by my count thus far).

Therefore we must draw two logical conclusions: (Continue reading at Freedom's Zone)

The Jamaica Gleaner News just happens to have a well written editorial that serves as a good companion to Chad's piece, with the following excerpts offering a short "bird's eye" view of the situation we are all find ourselves facing:

Pope Benedict's statements, or more precisely, the reaction to them, highlighted one thing, a deepening intolerance of the Muslim world to views or positions that challenge its philosophies and certitudes.

The response to the Pope suggests again to us the need for the Islamic world to seriously consider its place in a modern, global environment. Tolerance and free speech are critical to democratic governance and provide a good index to social development.

Posted by Richard at September 19, 2006 6:16 PM

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• The Pope's Words Continue to Sizzle - Sep 19, 2006