tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238093301727076160.post3470096987390860329..comments2023-12-24T23:52:28.688-05:00Comments on cheerful iconoclast: Root Causes of Terrorismcheerful iconoclasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09996124552679638199noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238093301727076160.post-12710322813532642022007-07-08T20:18:00.000-04:002007-07-08T20:18:00.000-04:00Well, I suppose one has to include Russia/the USSR...Well, I suppose one has to include Russia/the USSR in "The West" to make the comment correct, but I'll grant the criticism. I still think the basic point is valid; if, say, the Pacific Northwest where I lived had been conquered by wealthy, powerful moderate Islamics we'd be literally up in arms, sermons would be preached about Crusades, and so on. If it went on for three generations, I think we'd produce some pretty drastic terrorists.<BR/><BR/>Islam is different from Christianity in that social issues are more directly at the fore in its core beliefs, whereas Christianity is more spiritual, though it has in its time governed. Couple of good links on this today: <A HREF="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/8/193448/6517" REL="nofollow">Kos on Ebadi on Operation Ajax</A> (follow the link--all is explained) and <A HREF="http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2007/07/sunday-rant-why-people-hate-america.html" REL="nofollow">Sara Robinson on the US's reputation and Islam as a branch of government</A>.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I believe there are Haitian terrorists; they are just more active outside of the USA.randolphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08339055650788207159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238093301727076160.post-33771049841644631012007-07-06T08:10:00.000-04:002007-07-06T08:10:00.000-04:00So why aren't people from Haiti strapping on suici...So why aren't people from Haiti strapping on suicide vests and blowing themselves up? I mean, given the performance of their country, they have to feel a certain helplessness, and you can certainly argue if you want that they have been abused and neglected at various times.<BR/><BR/>I think you are suffering from the "blame America first" syndrome. Or, rather, the "blame the West" syndrome. It has to be OUR fault, somehow, rather than something rotten in Islam itself.<BR/><BR/>It isn't just that the Islamic world was once a center of civilization and culture, and now it's . . . not. Rather, Islam is an inherently Islamic Supremacist culture, so the fact that they aren't top dog rankles. The Greeks and Romans don't have a religion which tells them they ought to be ruling the world.cheerful iconoclasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09996124552679638199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238093301727076160.post-58429380422490053732007-07-06T03:26:00.000-04:002007-07-06T03:26:00.000-04:00About three years back, I wrote:"I believe it is a...About three years back, I wrote:<BR/>"I believe it is accurate to say that the radical Islamic values that encourage suicide bombings have become popular because of the utter helplessness these people feel in the face of Western powers, which have at whim neglected and abused the Islamic peoples of the Middle East for three generations." And I still think that's true. There's plenty of places with more illustrious pasts than presents--Rome and Greece come to mind--but most of them aren't breeding martyrs to the faith these days.randolphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08339055650788207159noreply@blogger.com