The Pope and Islam

Here’s a short editorial from The Telegraph (UK) in its entirety:

The Pope quotes a barbed medieval criticism of Islamic violence in the course of a scholarly discourse, and Muslims all over the world go into uproar; churches are firebombed. The Prime Minister's wife delivers a playful slap to a cheeky teenager, and six detectives rush to question her.

We are living in a world that has lost not only its sense of proportion but also its ability to discriminate.

In the case of Cherie Blair – who aimed a slap at a 17-year-old fencing champion while both of them giggled – it is hard not to conclude that it served her right. In her role as a trendy human rights lawyer, she has helped foster the nosy paranoia that led the Child Protection in Sport Unit to call the police. That said, however, Mrs Blair was clearly guilty of nothing more than a sense of humour.

By contrast, it is not immediately apparent how much blame to attach to Benedict XVI for the worldwide furore over last week's lecture. On reflection, the answer must be: not very much. Presumably, the Pope regrets quoting the Byzantine emperor's opinion that aspects of Islam were "inhuman". Moderate Muslims have been upset by it, and Benedict reiterated yesterday that he was sorry that they had taken offence. But he is even more sorry that this offence has been exacerbated by the deliberate manipulation of his words by Islamic firebrands and their slick media operation.

The combination of grievance-nurturing multiculturalism and instant headlines is having a disastrous effect on the worldwide Muslim community. There seems to be no limit to its spokesmen's willingness to voice outrage; and their messages are then picked up by fanatics who mount appalling attacks on Christians in Muslim countries. When was the last time a Muslim leader apologised for such atrocities?

The truth is that barbaric attacks happen weekly. No wonder that Benedict favours an urgent dialogue with Muslims on the subject of religious violence, rather than the usual touchy-feely exchange of compliments.

Well, he has started a dialogue now, albeit not quite in the way that he intended. And it is essential that it continue. A self-abasing apology from the Pope would have postponed that discussion yet again.

We suspect that Western public opinion is not displeased that Benedict has said the unsayable. Now it is time for other churchmen to tell their Muslim counterparts that, in addition to dishing out criticism, they must learn how to take it.

“There seems to be no limit to its spokesmen's willingness to voice outrage; and their messages are then picked up by fanatics who mount appalling attacks on Christians in Muslim countries.” While there were no “appalling attacks” on Christians in London, there were threats. If you haven’t seen the photos Joee Blogs put up of the demonstration yesterday outside of Westminster Cathedral, do go. Amazing stuff, and most certainly not in a good way.

The Daily Mail (UK) reports:

A notorious Muslim extremist told a demonstration in London yesterday that the Pope should face execution.

Anjem Choudary said those who insulted Islam would be "subject to capital punishment".

[…]

Choudary's appeal for the death of Pope Benedict was the second time he has been linked with apparent incitement to murder within a year.

The 39-year-old lawyer organised demonstrations against the publication of cartoons of Mohammed in February in Denmark. Protesters carried placards declaring "Behead Those Who Insult Islam".

Yesterday he said: "The Muslims take their religion very seriously and non-Muslims must appreciate that and that must also understand that there may be serious consequences if you insult Islam and the prophet.

"Whoever insults the message of Mohammed is going to be subject to capital punishment."

This sort of stuff is so out of hand, so over the top, so excessive and so antithetical to western liberal thought I simply cannot find words to describe it. One just has to wonder about Mr. Choudary’s motives. Is he purposefully inciting violence? Are his rhetorical excesses designed only to intimidate and silence critics? What? I’m not buying the “outrage” thing…I think there’s much more than that in play. But this I also know: there are elements within British society that are more than willing to confront the likes of Choudary, and I do not mean in a civilized, reasonable way. Choudary should be damned careful about what he says in the future. As a matter of fact, if I were he I’d go underground immediately.

The moderate Muslims had better find their voice, and the sooner, the better. Allowing the extremists to continue in the manner described above bodes ill for the umma as a whole. Serious ill. Silence indicates approval, or at the very least, acquiescence. This cannot be allowed to continue.

Confederate Yankee has similar thoughts:

If practitioners of the Muslim faith think that they can exert their will unchecked through the most violent of means without facing an earthly reckoning beyond their comprehension, they are sadly mistaken. Our rational beliefs have had us regarding Islam as a possible threat to be dealt with surgically, but not one yet worth acting against generally with our full military might.

One act of sufficient scope and horror would change the calculus of the equation. Islamists seem to sincerely believe that nations shaped by Judeo-Christian beliefs are soft, and that we will fall quickly if they act with sufficient aggression and callousness against those they see as infidels.

Islamic leaders should reconsider the ramifications of the widespread Jihad they call for against the West. If they provoke us sufficiently, the same reason that has had us hold ourselves in check to date will dictate that that restraint we have practiced is counterproductive to our continued existence, and Islam will not see another century.

We are not weak, but reasoned, and the Muslims of the world crying for violent Jihad against would be wise to note the difference.

Words to the wise. CY is thinking more on global terms, granted. But big explosions often begin with a little spark.

Sigmund, Carl, and Alfred has a good essay on this subject, too. He closes with:

The deliberate and concerted effort to vilify the Pope and Christendom as fundamental and basic tenet of Islamic identity is a deliberate attempt by dysfunctional political and religious leaders to create and subjugate a society that cannot function.

Much of the Islamic world has painted itself into a corner. The vicious hate that has been brought to the fore cannot be hidden away at will and pulled out when necessary, to be used as a tool to intimidate, as it was during the cartoon riots.

And that’s just the summation of his clear and thoughtful analysis. Recommended.

Finally…I trust The Anchoress on all matters Catholic. In addition to her own thoughts she has assembled an extraordinary collection of links on and about this explosion of Islamic intolerance, hate, and idiocy. Just keep scrolling.