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September 15, 2006

Do You Know What's Hysterical About This Headline?

Muslim leaders demand apology for Pope's 'medieval' remarks

The words he quoted...were.

Any excuse for a street riot and a helluva way to demonstrate the modernity and tolerance of your beliefs.

UPDATE: Hmmmm. I wonder how this Islamic cleric meant for his words to be interpreted?

At least one Muslim leader, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the chief cleric of New Delhi's historic Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque, extolled Muslims to "respond in a manner which forces the Pope to apologize". He did not elaborate.

Throw bottles, wave thousands of convenient Vatican flags then burn them, kill each other in the streets, burn down each others shops, blahblahblah ~ the usual or something more sinister? But I am tickled to death to see a quote like this (even if anonymous) in the al-Reuters story.
..."What one can say as an academic is one thing and what a Pope can say is another," the source added.

But another diplomatic source praised the Pope for "calling a spade a spade".

"I see this as a wake up call for Christians. It will be interesting to see what the next step will be, but I don't think he has to apologize for anything, nor do I think he will," the diplomatic source said.

I HAD to lift this from frolickingmole's comment over at Tim Blair's.

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.”
—Sir Winston Churchill, from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).”


Posted by tree hugging sister at September 15, 2006 11:20 PM

Comments

OH yeah, that's the kind of lovely specimens I'd like like to have as neighbors…

(provided I have access to a properly headspaced and timed Ma Deuce and 10,000 rounds of properly belted ball type and tracer ammo to greet them)

Posted by: Gunslinger at September 16, 2006 12:09 AM

Posted by: Gunslinger at September 16, 2006 12:22 AM

Could anyone be more frickin awesome than Winston Churchill?

Posted by: Nightfly at September 16, 2006 01:50 PM