#3 - Expansionist Islam
It is a sign of the times that a large proportion of the population in the West fails to appreciate the extent of violence being undertaken by Islamic 'radicals' around the world. If I told you that, leaving aside Iraq and Afghanistan, there'd been over 4,000 attacks by Islamists since September 11, killing 20,000 and injuring more than 40,000 you might be somewhat surprised.
In Africa, there's been over 200 attacks in Algeria killing 1100, 50 in Nigeria killing 600, 60 in Somalia killing 600 and 60 in Sudan killing 2000 not to mention incidents in Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Morocco and Tunisia. Well, Africa's always had problems, you might respond. OK. 50 in Bangladesh killing 200, 1300 in India killing 3500, 500 in Pakistan killing 1700 and, what might really surprise you, 800 in Thailand killing 1100. Compare those numbers to Israel, apparently the cause of all Islamic tension in the world and focus of radicals everywhere, 280 attacks killing 1000 with a drop off over the last couple of years after they increased their security by building the controversial fence. In Russia there's been 300 attacks killing 2000 with Chechyna making up about half those numbers. Indonesia has seen 80 attacks killing 500 and the Philippines 140 killing over 700.
Makes the moral equivalency argument between Christian radicals and Islamist radicals look a bit weak, doesn't it? There is no other movement that has used violence to anywhere near the extent that Islam has all around the world in the last five years. What is their goal? It's quite simple, really. Expansion. Why are they doing it now? Also simply answered. Opportunity.
Most empires throughout history have expanded with a combination of will and opportunity. Islam, far from being another Abrahamic religion in the manner of Christianity or Judaism, is primarily a political doctrine wrapped up in a religious message. This is another area where the moral equivalency argument falls down; Islamist extremists are driven by primarily political motives rather than religious. Islam's history is one of opportunistic expansion from the moment of its birth right through to the present.
Today, Islamist rebels are waging serious wars in Algeria, Somalia, Sudan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Chechnya. Islam is preying upon weakness in the West (particularly in Western Europe), using its own institutions against it and financing those prepared to take the fight to the enemy whether that be in the form of insurgents in Iraq, suicide bombers in Israel or lobby groups such as CAIR and on-campus Muslim associations. Multiculturalism, cultural equality and social justice have all created a values vacuum that an energised Islam has enthusiastically entered.
You can't fight bad values with no values and if those with bad values are given equal standing through the instrument of cultural equivalence then it's even harder to protect yourself. It should take about a nanosecond to answer the following. Who has greater belief in their values? Islamists or secular Europeans? Who is prepared to fight to defend their values? Islamists or secular Europeans? Who is prepared to fight in order to promote their values? Islamists or secular Europeans?
At least in Australia we apply common sense to the issue, as demonstrated by Treasurer Costello from a speech given in 2005.
CANBERRA: Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state and its laws were made by parliament.
“If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you,” he said on national television. “I’d be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the Islamic law, that that is false. If you can’t agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country which practises it, perhaps, then, that’s a better option,” Costello said.
We really Aussies really do get this stuff right. People should give us the task of leading the charge against expansionist Islam. Mainstream values first. Religion second. Welcome to Australia. Enjoy your life.
We are told that radical Islamists are not representative of the majority of Muslims, who are described as 'moderate'. Where are these moderates? Name even one that has any moderating influence in a Muslim population in the West. That supposed moderate Muslim majority obviously disagrees with the radicals so much that the UK is now facing its worst terror threat since 9/11 with potentially more than 2000 individuals plotting attacks. Where are these so-called moderates speaking out against terror conducted in their name? When have any of them condemned specific attacks rather than make vague statements about peace and respect et blah?
The unspoken truth is that moderate Muslims believe in the expansion of their religion and are not only prepared to turn a blind eye to those that are helping bring it about but also act as a host for radical elements. They understand that if society is frightened then they simply need to claim that the threat has been brought about due to Muslims being discriminated against, push for concessions and bully society into conceding more ground to them. It's a bargaining chip that they use very effectively against weak people that have no values they're prepared to defend.
Islam is an ideology that is completely incompatible with traditional Western values. The disaster that is beginning to take shape in France speaks truth to this. The current expansionary phase can only cause a rupture in which conflict is the only solution. Muslims do not understand that those who promote political correctness have a totalitarian mindset that, when pushed past its limit of tolerance, is capable of extreme violence. This was a large element of what happened in Kosovo.
Recent surveys show that people don't believe that Islam and the West are headed for a showdown. People don't want to look at the reality of thousands of attacks in dozens of countries, preferring instead to worry about global warming. Cognitive dissonance reigns supreme.
For using violence and terror in the name of expanding its influence, Expansionist Islam is the #3 institution on my list of 10 Institutions That Ruin The World.
UPDATE: Imposing Sharia Law - The tactic seems to be to make a huge list of demands in the expectation of getting a few concessions. (HT: LGF)
#4 - The Environmental Movement
#5 - The Mainstream Media
#6 - Education Institutions and Education Unions
#7 - Government
#8 - The Social Justice Movement
#9 - The Peace Movement
#10 - The Intelligent Design Movement, Discovery Institute
2 comments:
Australian leaders seen to have the courage to speak frankly about this problem. Even Bush and Blair often seem cowed by those who would promote sharia law.
Somebody (perhaps Steyn) pointed out a couple years ago that the best way to evaluate Islam as "the religion of peace" is to look at how many of the ongoing conflicts throughtout the world involve Muslims on one side. Then compare that to every other world religion, and see who is really "peaceful".
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