Much More on the "Cartoon War"

Thomas Lifson, in “The Cartoon Crisis Conspiracy and Moderate Muslims”, provides some thoughtful analysis about the “cartoon flap.” To begin with, Mr. Lifson advances the theory that the “outrage” over these cartoons is a fabricated and well-orchestrated event deigned to inflame the “Arab street.” It’s hard to deny the logic, as presented.

Mr. Lifson then goes on to discuss the emerging “war of civilizations,” and the goals of radical Islam. He further discusses the mindset of those moderate members of the umma, such as Hirsi Ali, a Danish Muslim Member of Parliament who is now in hiding for having the temerity to speak out. Mr. Ali’s quote:

“A free discussion of Islam remains rare and dangerous, certainly in the Islamic world, and even in our politically correct times in the West… Apostasy is still punishable by long prison sentences and even death in many Islamic countries such as Pakistan and Iran…”

“You cannot liberalize Islam without criticizing the Prophet and the Koran…You cannot redecorate a house without entering inside.”

And therein lays the primary issue. I believe the radicals have so intimidated moderate Muslims that they are afraid to speak out. As Mr. Ali points out, heresy in the greatest part of Muslim world is a crime, and a serious crime, at that. So, aside from the threats of violence delivered by the radical Muslims, you have the force of the Islamic STATE criminalizing any criticism of Islam that may be offered. Moderate Muslims in the United States who feel free enough to speak out will be largely ignored by the rest of the umma, because they would be perceived, in my opinion, to be Americans first, and Muslims second. To a lesser extent, the same would be true of individuals in other nations daring to criticize Islam or more importantly, the radical brand of Islam that is the source of the problems we face.

The second facet of the problem is the West’s tendency toward tolerance, even of those who would kill us for our tolerance. The importance of this misguided train of thought cannot be over-emphasized. We should NEVER tolerate those who would deprive us of our freedom, even if those people wrap their outrage of things we say or do in the cloak of their faith. We’re reaping the bitter fruit of excessive multi-culturalism. That’s a terrible outcome for a movement that began with pure motives at heart. But like a lot of things taken to excess, multi-culturalism has become an evil unto itself. Just sayin’.

More thoughts in a similar vein here, here, and here.