Today's earthquake is a reminder that Afghanistan and Iran sit on top of an earthquake zone. Hopefully a big earthquake will destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities sooner rather than later. The Al Aksa in Jerusalem mosque are also on an active fault. With a bit of luck the next earthquake should reduce it to a pile of rubble.
Those of us who follow earthquakes will remember that the Israelis have good rescue equipment, including heavy lifting gear, and were amongst the first to arrive after the Haiti earthquake. This means that they combine doing a good deed with keeping their own people up to date in their training.
The Palestinians will then blame the Israelis for not giving them priority when it comes to rescue operations. They will probably also blame the Jews for the earthquake itself.
måndag 26 oktober 2015
Guarding the doors of the church
Recent events have focussed attention on the need for security in places where people gather. So far, there have been incidents involving lone individuals, but organised activity is also a possibility; last week, in a quiet suburb of Gothenburg, a restaurant owned by an Assyrian Christian was sprayed with ISIS slogans – “Convert or die”, “Caliphate is here” and the Arabic “N” (ن) symbol applied to Christian property in places which have been taken over by ISIS.
There have been incidents in the recent past which might have been prevented by basic security, including Hisingen fire of 1996 which resulted in 63 deaths, and an attack by a nude swordman on a church in South London in 1999. Catholic churches are at risk because they are well attended, especially those which host congregations membership from Syria and Iraq. A particular difficulty for Catholic churches is that their congregations are large enough for strangers to be able to slip in without being noticed.
WE SHOULD NOT BE FRIGHTENED
Catholics should not need to be reminded that this is primarily a battle in the spiritual war against the devil. We can win it. God’s promise to the Catholic Church is that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. However, this demands that we understand the enemy and respond in the right way.
Islamic terrorism works by instilling fear – that is its aim and purpose. If we become terrorised, then the devil has obtained a foothold in our own souls. We must strengthen our own faith and courage. Catholics have nothing to fear. We have the all the angels and saints and the entire company of the heavenly host on our side. We must however, increase our efforts at prayer, including recitation of the Rosary and the prayer for the intercession of St Michael, which used to be said after every Mass. We should also avoid watching and distributing terrorist horror videos. Their purpose is to instil terror. We should not be helping their producers to achieve their aim.
A REVIVED MINISTRY?
For most of the past 2000 years, the Catholic church conferred what were known as "Minor Orders". They were abolished in 1972. One of them was the Order of Porter, Doorkeeper or Ostiarius. It is suggested that what was, prior to 1972, the Minor Order of Porter or Doorkeeper, be reinstated informally. These would consist of young people recruited from the parish and given a professional training in security techniques. Their normal function would be to provide a welcoming presence, to greet visitors, and possibly to carry out other duties such as handing out newsletters or taking collections. They would also perform related tasks such as acting as marshalls at outdoor parish events, as well as at national gatherings of the church.
As Lay Ministers, whilst on duty they would wear cassocks and carry a virge, a staff or rod still used by vergers in the Church of England. Such a ministry would provide a useful focus of activity for young people, both men and women, provide an opportunity to participate in the work of the church and help build team loyalty. It might take the form of a guild named after an appropriate historic person or event such as Sobieski or Lepanto, under the patronage of suitable saints such as Our Lady Help of Christians and St Bridget. A programme of other activities could be developed including sports, fitness training, martial arts, and social events.
WE SHOULD NOT BE FRIGHTENED
Catholics should not need to be reminded that this is primarily a battle in the spiritual war against the devil. We can win it. God’s promise to the Catholic Church is that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. However, this demands that we understand the enemy and respond in the right way.
Islamic terrorism works by instilling fear – that is its aim and purpose. If we become terrorised, then the devil has obtained a foothold in our own souls. We must strengthen our own faith and courage. Catholics have nothing to fear. We have the all the angels and saints and the entire company of the heavenly host on our side. We must however, increase our efforts at prayer, including recitation of the Rosary and the prayer for the intercession of St Michael, which used to be said after every Mass. We should also avoid watching and distributing terrorist horror videos. Their purpose is to instil terror. We should not be helping their producers to achieve their aim.
A REVIVED MINISTRY?
For most of the past 2000 years, the Catholic church conferred what were known as "Minor Orders". They were abolished in 1972. One of them was the Order of Porter, Doorkeeper or Ostiarius. It is suggested that what was, prior to 1972, the Minor Order of Porter or Doorkeeper, be reinstated informally. These would consist of young people recruited from the parish and given a professional training in security techniques. Their normal function would be to provide a welcoming presence, to greet visitors, and possibly to carry out other duties such as handing out newsletters or taking collections. They would also perform related tasks such as acting as marshalls at outdoor parish events, as well as at national gatherings of the church.
As Lay Ministers, whilst on duty they would wear cassocks and carry a virge, a staff or rod still used by vergers in the Church of England. Such a ministry would provide a useful focus of activity for young people, both men and women, provide an opportunity to participate in the work of the church and help build team loyalty. It might take the form of a guild named after an appropriate historic person or event such as Sobieski or Lepanto, under the patronage of suitable saints such as Our Lady Help of Christians and St Bridget. A programme of other activities could be developed including sports, fitness training, martial arts, and social events.
The deeper implication of Benedict's abdication
In this video, Michael Voris is heavily critical of Pope Benedict's resignation. What is one to make of it? I have always had misgivings about it myself. For a start, what precedent has it set?
lördag 24 oktober 2015
What happened to sleepy Worthing?
Worthing, on the south coast of England, is one of the places where people go to spend their last few years in peace and quiet. That has long been its reputation. It has never been quite true. Trains between Brighton and Worthing can get pretty rowdy late in the evenings especially at weekends. But this from the local paper a couple of days ago is something altogether different.
Teenage girl cornered by ten men and sexually assaulted while one brandished knife.
Sugar tax doublethink
Proposals are being put around for a tax on sugar. The aim is to discourage people from eating food and drinks with sugar. Advocates of this idea have grasped the obvious point that if you tax something, people are discouraged from doing that particular thing.
So why do governments persist in raising most of their revenue from taxes on successful legal economic activity - on things like work, goods and services? Do politicians have a few missing vital connections in their thinking apparatus?
So why do governments persist in raising most of their revenue from taxes on successful legal economic activity - on things like work, goods and services? Do politicians have a few missing vital connections in their thinking apparatus?
fredag 23 oktober 2015
Allah rejoices when a Jew is killed
Allah rejoices when a Jew is killed, so it is no surprise to read that at Park View Academy in Birmingham, where Muslim took over the board of governors, is promoting antisemitism among its pupils.
This has resulted in disciplinary action. The next target needs to be the mosques themselves. If their leaders are promoting antisemitism, then they need to be prosecuted and sentenced if guilty. After that, there needs to be a crackdown on distribution of the Koran itself. An authorised version is required, with the bloodthirsty passages removed. If they are not meant to be taken seriously then they do not need to be there.
This has resulted in disciplinary action. The next target needs to be the mosques themselves. If their leaders are promoting antisemitism, then they need to be prosecuted and sentenced if guilty. After that, there needs to be a crackdown on distribution of the Koran itself. An authorised version is required, with the bloodthirsty passages removed. If they are not meant to be taken seriously then they do not need to be there.
Tragedy at Trollhättan
The first assumptions following yesterday's school murders at Trolhättan were that the perpetrator was a Muslim. That is in itself significant and indicates the prevailing level of mistrust. It now turns out, however, that the assailant was a weird young man with extreme right-wing interests. Whether he was sane or not, he looks like another in the Breivik mould.
Had it been a Muslim, it would have led to a stepping-up of the wanton unpleasantness that identifiable Muslims have to put up with. That it was not, is, to put it mildly, unhelpful to the immigration debate currently in progress in Sweden. Either way, it is an indication that there is a limit to the numbers of newcomers a community can absorb before the tensions become too great, and that the greater the cultural differences between newcomer and host, the smaller the number that can be absorbed. This is a simple and obvious fact that politicians are ignoring.
The numbers flowing in as a result of the current Swedish open-door policy are overloading the authorities and their arrangements for absorbing newcomers. The costs are sucking resources from the very services for which people are content to pay the highest taxes in the world. High taxes and cut-down services lead to discontent.
Discontent is also fed by the very obvious failure to integrate amongst many of the large number of immigrants who have arrived in Sweden over the past twenty years, the rates of gun and sexual crimes, and the known arrival of ISIS operatives, combined with the soft treatment given to returning "Swedish" members of ISIS, all of whom should be on remand in custody, pending investigation for suspected war crimes.
Thus, yesterday's events are the appalling tip of an iceberg of discontent. Madness begets madness. There are always a few lunatics and paranoiacs who brood for a while and then surface and do something terrible.
It does not get the politicians off the hook for failing to deal with a serious issue.
Had it been a Muslim, it would have led to a stepping-up of the wanton unpleasantness that identifiable Muslims have to put up with. That it was not, is, to put it mildly, unhelpful to the immigration debate currently in progress in Sweden. Either way, it is an indication that there is a limit to the numbers of newcomers a community can absorb before the tensions become too great, and that the greater the cultural differences between newcomer and host, the smaller the number that can be absorbed. This is a simple and obvious fact that politicians are ignoring.
The numbers flowing in as a result of the current Swedish open-door policy are overloading the authorities and their arrangements for absorbing newcomers. The costs are sucking resources from the very services for which people are content to pay the highest taxes in the world. High taxes and cut-down services lead to discontent.
Discontent is also fed by the very obvious failure to integrate amongst many of the large number of immigrants who have arrived in Sweden over the past twenty years, the rates of gun and sexual crimes, and the known arrival of ISIS operatives, combined with the soft treatment given to returning "Swedish" members of ISIS, all of whom should be on remand in custody, pending investigation for suspected war crimes.
Thus, yesterday's events are the appalling tip of an iceberg of discontent. Madness begets madness. There are always a few lunatics and paranoiacs who brood for a while and then surface and do something terrible.
It does not get the politicians off the hook for failing to deal with a serious issue.
torsdag 22 oktober 2015
Disgusting cover-up of Mufti's role by Guardian
This article, which is not open for comments, criticises Netanyahu for referring to the role of the Palestinian leader from 1920, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. The claim is that the Mufti was responsible to convince the Nazis to go for the Final Solution when he visited the Nazi leaders in 1941. The theory surfaced about a year ago. The timing is right, because the Final Solution was not agreed on until 1942. That does not of course mean that he played a decisive role; it might well have been more like one extra stone that tipped a balance.Certainly he was well aware of what was going on, supported it all the way through and was firm in his opposition to the emigration of Jews to Palestine.
My criticism is of the article's silence on all the rest of the Mufti's previous activities. He was encouraging progroms against Jews in Palestine from as early as 1920, when interest in Zionism amongst Jews was minimal and the prospect of any Jewish state was remote. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, these were a regular occurrence. From 1936, the pressure from the Arab leadership was such as to persuade the British to impose heavy restrictions on immigration to Palestine, thereby closing an important escape route.
In 1941, the Mufti travelled to Baghdad and promoted a coup-d-etat and progrom against the Jews. Throughout the war he broadcast on behalf of the Axis, encouraging Arabs in their antisemitism. After the war his name was on the list of war criminals but he escaped and was never put on trial, having become a pawn in politics designed to appease Arab feelings.
None of this is referred to in the Guardian..
My criticism is of the article's silence on all the rest of the Mufti's previous activities. He was encouraging progroms against Jews in Palestine from as early as 1920, when interest in Zionism amongst Jews was minimal and the prospect of any Jewish state was remote. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, these were a regular occurrence. From 1936, the pressure from the Arab leadership was such as to persuade the British to impose heavy restrictions on immigration to Palestine, thereby closing an important escape route.
In 1941, the Mufti travelled to Baghdad and promoted a coup-d-etat and progrom against the Jews. Throughout the war he broadcast on behalf of the Axis, encouraging Arabs in their antisemitism. After the war his name was on the list of war criminals but he escaped and was never put on trial, having become a pawn in politics designed to appease Arab feelings.
None of this is referred to in the Guardian..
onsdag 21 oktober 2015
Cry Wolf - comments blocked
An increasing number of newspaper articles no longer have an opportunity to comment, or if they do, then it is closed after a short while.Thus the journalists are withdrawing into an ivory tower where they no longer receive feedback from the public at large.
In the internet age, is that people will stop taking notice when what they read does not correspond to what they see on the ground, or to the information that the pick up from the rumour mill.
This affects in particular articles on what is the issue of most concern to most people today - immigration. There is a widespread and well-founded fear of a large influx of Muslim immigrants. Unjustified fear of immigration in the past has given rise to the "Cry Wolf" syndrome. This time there is a wolf.
The trouble is that, as was to be expected, the populist right has picked up the cause and is running with it, whilst the mainstream politicians are either blind, or too cowardly to admit that there is a wolf. This is poisoning the waters of political debate, and at the same time driving out public discussion on other important issues.
In the internet age, is that people will stop taking notice when what they read does not correspond to what they see on the ground, or to the information that the pick up from the rumour mill.
This affects in particular articles on what is the issue of most concern to most people today - immigration. There is a widespread and well-founded fear of a large influx of Muslim immigrants. Unjustified fear of immigration in the past has given rise to the "Cry Wolf" syndrome. This time there is a wolf.
The trouble is that, as was to be expected, the populist right has picked up the cause and is running with it, whilst the mainstream politicians are either blind, or too cowardly to admit that there is a wolf. This is poisoning the waters of political debate, and at the same time driving out public discussion on other important issues.
tisdag 20 oktober 2015
We must not be terrorised.
Catholics should not need to be reminded that what is happening today with the Islamic invasion of Europe is primarily a battle in the spiritual war against the devil. Islamic terrorism works by instilling fear – that is its aim and purpose. If we become terrorised, then the devil has obtained a foothold in our own souls. We must strengthen our own faith and courage.
Catholics have nothing to fear. We have the all the angels and saints and the entire company of the heavenly host on our side. We have, in particular, Our Lady, St Michael, St Eric and St Brigit, Patron Saint of Europe. Whilst we do not deliberately seek martyrdom, if it comes, we avoid the torments of purgatory and gain the crown of glory with the saints in heaven.
Our first efforts must be to increase our efforts at prayer, including this one which has been neglected for many decades, which was revealed to Pope Leo XIII in a vision in 1884.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle,
be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan
and all evil spirits who wander through the world
for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
In this connection, it is worth remembering that at the end of his Angelus message given in St. Peter’s Square, Sunday, April 24, 1994, Pope John Paul II urged Catholics to recite this prayer to Saint Michael once again: "The prayer can fortify us for that spiritual battle about which the Letter to the Ephesians speaks: "Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power."(Ephesians 6:10). And to this same battle that the Book of the Apocalypse refers [to], recalling in front of our eyes the image of St. Michael the Archangel (cf. Revelations 12:7). Surely, this scene was very present to Pope Leon XIII, when, at the end of the previous century, he introduced to the entire Church a special prayer to St. Michael: ‘St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil… ’ "
Even if today this prayer is no longer recited at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, I urge all of us to not forget it, but to recite it in order to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and the spirit of this world.”
Catholics have nothing to fear. We have the all the angels and saints and the entire company of the heavenly host on our side. We have, in particular, Our Lady, St Michael, St Eric and St Brigit, Patron Saint of Europe. Whilst we do not deliberately seek martyrdom, if it comes, we avoid the torments of purgatory and gain the crown of glory with the saints in heaven.
Our first efforts must be to increase our efforts at prayer, including this one which has been neglected for many decades, which was revealed to Pope Leo XIII in a vision in 1884.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle,
be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him we humbly pray;
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan
and all evil spirits who wander through the world
for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
In this connection, it is worth remembering that at the end of his Angelus message given in St. Peter’s Square, Sunday, April 24, 1994, Pope John Paul II urged Catholics to recite this prayer to Saint Michael once again: "The prayer can fortify us for that spiritual battle about which the Letter to the Ephesians speaks: "Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power."(Ephesians 6:10). And to this same battle that the Book of the Apocalypse refers [to], recalling in front of our eyes the image of St. Michael the Archangel (cf. Revelations 12:7). Surely, this scene was very present to Pope Leon XIII, when, at the end of the previous century, he introduced to the entire Church a special prayer to St. Michael: ‘St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil… ’ "
Even if today this prayer is no longer recited at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, I urge all of us to not forget it, but to recite it in order to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and the spirit of this world.”
Comments switched off
The flow of news and comments pieces on the subject of immigration, and in particular, Muslim immigration, continues to rise. Also on the increase is a tendency not to allow comments. In the age of the internet, this will backfire. The mainstream news media are beginning to lose their credibility to the rumour mills.
This kind of suppression is a dangerous trend and feeds extremism.
söndag 18 oktober 2015
Churches must take Islam threat seriously
For several years now we have read about attacks on congregations during church services in countries like India and Pakistan, Nigeria, Tanzania and other places where there is a significant Muslim presence. The time has now come when we can expect to see similar things in Western Europe, for example in Germany, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, and, probably at the top of the list – Sweden.
ISIS has arrived in force in Göteborg and other Swedish cities. Members of the Islamic group have been present for several years. Their supporters stand in the main shopping centre in Göteborg every week, but the activists have previously travelled away to the Middle East to commit their war crimes. Some have now returned. More have come with the flow of refugees, as ISIS announced they would. Estimates are that several dozen arrived each week. At one refugee residence in West Sweden, a reliable source expressed the view that nearly all the men living there were ISIS; a single Christian from Damascus was found among them and was removed to a safe location. The individual concerned, whom I have spoken to, described constant harrassment.
If you are still sceptical and think this is scare-mongering – last week, a restaurant in the Göteborg suburb of Frölunda, owned by an Assyrian Christian, was sprayed with ISIS slogans – “Convert or die”, “Caliphate is here” and the Arabic “N” symbol applied to Christian property in places which have been taken over by ISIS. These people are fanatical, ruthless, care nothing about human life – their own or other people’s. They are driven by a visceral hatred of Christianity and Christians. Given the established technique of terrorisation, as prescribed in the Koran (3:151, 8, 12), the kind of actions that are possible include suicide bombing, hostage-taking and shootings of congregations at church gatherings or when emerging from services. Worst-case scenarios are the kind of events that occurred at a theatre in Moscow in October 2002, a school in Beslan in September 2004, and a synagogue in Jerusalem in November 2014.
Catholic churches should in particular take this seriously. They are well attended, especially those which host congregations membership from Syria and Iraq. Unlike the small Syrian Orthodox communities where everyone is known and recognised, their congregations are large enough for strangers to be able to slip in without being noticed.
I would expect that nothing will happen at least until the New Year. A major incident now will turn public opinion decisively against the “open doors” policy before ISIS has had time to assemble its forces. This gives church authorities – priests, administrators and the bishops themselves, a brief window of opportunity to take the necessary steps to reduce the vulnerability of people attending church services. This threat needs to be taken seriously and as a matter of urgency. If people say they want to kill you, it is folly to ignore them, especially if they have an established record as killers.
ISIS has arrived in force in Göteborg and other Swedish cities. Members of the Islamic group have been present for several years. Their supporters stand in the main shopping centre in Göteborg every week, but the activists have previously travelled away to the Middle East to commit their war crimes. Some have now returned. More have come with the flow of refugees, as ISIS announced they would. Estimates are that several dozen arrived each week. At one refugee residence in West Sweden, a reliable source expressed the view that nearly all the men living there were ISIS; a single Christian from Damascus was found among them and was removed to a safe location. The individual concerned, whom I have spoken to, described constant harrassment.
If you are still sceptical and think this is scare-mongering – last week, a restaurant in the Göteborg suburb of Frölunda, owned by an Assyrian Christian, was sprayed with ISIS slogans – “Convert or die”, “Caliphate is here” and the Arabic “N” symbol applied to Christian property in places which have been taken over by ISIS. These people are fanatical, ruthless, care nothing about human life – their own or other people’s. They are driven by a visceral hatred of Christianity and Christians. Given the established technique of terrorisation, as prescribed in the Koran (3:151, 8, 12), the kind of actions that are possible include suicide bombing, hostage-taking and shootings of congregations at church gatherings or when emerging from services. Worst-case scenarios are the kind of events that occurred at a theatre in Moscow in October 2002, a school in Beslan in September 2004, and a synagogue in Jerusalem in November 2014.
Catholic churches should in particular take this seriously. They are well attended, especially those which host congregations membership from Syria and Iraq. Unlike the small Syrian Orthodox communities where everyone is known and recognised, their congregations are large enough for strangers to be able to slip in without being noticed.
I would expect that nothing will happen at least until the New Year. A major incident now will turn public opinion decisively against the “open doors” policy before ISIS has had time to assemble its forces. This gives church authorities – priests, administrators and the bishops themselves, a brief window of opportunity to take the necessary steps to reduce the vulnerability of people attending church services. This threat needs to be taken seriously and as a matter of urgency. If people say they want to kill you, it is folly to ignore them, especially if they have an established record as killers.
lördag 17 oktober 2015
Obsessions with Jews and Israel lead to trouble
Perceptive comment in a response to a an article in the Guardian. The comment was about an article in the Guardian.
"Countries with a Jew obsessed leadership generally come unstuck.
This is NOT because Jews are so powerful that they are able to disrupt and destroy our enemies. Rather it is because leaders with that kind of madness generally make terrible choices. Jew obsession is a reliable leading indicator of terrible things to come - Syria being an excellent example."
The comment applies equally well to Israel obsession and Iraq is another example. It makes one wonder where countries like Sweden are heading.
"Countries with a Jew obsessed leadership generally come unstuck.
This is NOT because Jews are so powerful that they are able to disrupt and destroy our enemies. Rather it is because leaders with that kind of madness generally make terrible choices. Jew obsession is a reliable leading indicator of terrible things to come - Syria being an excellent example."
The comment applies equally well to Israel obsession and Iraq is another example. It makes one wonder where countries like Sweden are heading.
fredag 16 oktober 2015
The unfolding mess in Sweden
The unfolding mess in Sweden is the consequence of a national character which is mixture of good intentions and hubristic arrogance about the country's ability to cure all the world's problems, combined with lack of sound reason and an understanding of history. In normal circumstances it could have got away with it but the combination of a grand coalition with current events has produced a series of bad decisions across all policy areas.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
torsdag 15 oktober 2015
What is racism?
"Racist" has become a meaningless term. It is just a way of saying that you disagree with what someone is say without having to bother to say why, whilst at the same time trying to claim the moral high ground.
tisdag 13 oktober 2015
A little reminder from 1967
The events which led up to the 1967 Six-Day War and the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.
On May 16, 1967, Egyptian President Gamel Abdul Nasser ordered the UN Emergency Force stationed between Israel and Egypt to evacuate the Sinai. Two days later the Voice of the Arabs proclaimed,
"As of today, there no longer exists an international emergency force to protect Israel… The sole method we shall apply against Israel is total war, which will result in the extermination of Zionist existence." Extermination of Jewish existence.
Now, you could argue maybe they mean the state.
On May 20, 1967, Syrian Defense Minister, Hafez Al-Assad proclaimed, "Our forces are now entirely ready not only to repulse the aggression, but to initiate the act of liberation itself, and to explode the Zionist presence in the Arab homeland. The Syrian army, with its finger on the trigger, is united....I, as a military man, believe that the time has come to enter into a battle of annihilation."
He exhorted Syrian soldiers to,
"strike the enemy's [civilian] settlements, turn them into dust, pave Arab roads with the skulls of Jews."
On May 27, 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser proclaimed,
"Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel. The Arab people want to fight."
No, they mean the destruction of Israel as in a battle of annihilation against the Jews where they plan to pave the roads with Jewish skulls and explode the Jewish presence. Their words.
On June 4, 1967, Iraq joined the military alliance with Jordan, Egypt, and Syria. To mark the occasion, Iraqi President Abdur Rahman Aref announced,
"Our goal is clear - to wipe Israel off the map."
The Prime Minister of Iraq predicted,
"There would be practically no Jewish survivors."
Very few survivors. Which would include women and children. In other words, not a Nakba. A Holocaust. In the event, things turned out very differently. If you lose a war that you started, you should not complain but accept the best terms you can get. The best terms were offered but the losers would not even sit in the same room and negotiate. Do such people deserve any sympathy?
On May 16, 1967, Egyptian President Gamel Abdul Nasser ordered the UN Emergency Force stationed between Israel and Egypt to evacuate the Sinai. Two days later the Voice of the Arabs proclaimed,
"As of today, there no longer exists an international emergency force to protect Israel… The sole method we shall apply against Israel is total war, which will result in the extermination of Zionist existence." Extermination of Jewish existence.
Now, you could argue maybe they mean the state.
On May 20, 1967, Syrian Defense Minister, Hafez Al-Assad proclaimed, "Our forces are now entirely ready not only to repulse the aggression, but to initiate the act of liberation itself, and to explode the Zionist presence in the Arab homeland. The Syrian army, with its finger on the trigger, is united....I, as a military man, believe that the time has come to enter into a battle of annihilation."
He exhorted Syrian soldiers to,
"strike the enemy's [civilian] settlements, turn them into dust, pave Arab roads with the skulls of Jews."
On May 27, 1967, Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser proclaimed,
"Our basic objective will be the destruction of Israel. The Arab people want to fight."
No, they mean the destruction of Israel as in a battle of annihilation against the Jews where they plan to pave the roads with Jewish skulls and explode the Jewish presence. Their words.
On June 4, 1967, Iraq joined the military alliance with Jordan, Egypt, and Syria. To mark the occasion, Iraqi President Abdur Rahman Aref announced,
"Our goal is clear - to wipe Israel off the map."
The Prime Minister of Iraq predicted,
"There would be practically no Jewish survivors."
Very few survivors. Which would include women and children. In other words, not a Nakba. A Holocaust. In the event, things turned out very differently. If you lose a war that you started, you should not complain but accept the best terms you can get. The best terms were offered but the losers would not even sit in the same room and negotiate. Do such people deserve any sympathy?
Islam as politics
Too many people still think that Islam is just another religion. It is not. Islam is primarily a political programme whose aim is to spread totalitarian theocratic rule under Sharia Law. A significant feature of Islam is its antisemitism, which was present from the outset. Once Sharia Law is in place, Jews and Christians become Dhimmis and subject to the ruinous Jizya tax, humiliating regulations and other restrictions - it is forbidden to repair or enlarge places of worship and all external signs must be removed. Islamic antisemitism has theological roots and from the earliest times Muslim authors were producing texts similar in style and tone to Nazi propaganda. The animosity, which is found amongst around 90% of all Muslims, has nothing whatsoever to do with Israel. Jew killing is regarded as pleasing to Allah.
It is a mystery why members of the liberal-left get so angry and throw accusations of racism when this is pointed out. The Islamic programme contracts everything that left-wing liberals claim to hold dear.
One possible reason is that most left-wing liberals are atheists and do not understand the language of religious discourse. Being a Catholic, other religions often come up in discussion and one needs to read around on the subject to be able to hold one's own in a conversation. I also did a dissertation on religious education, the topic being whether it was possible for a follower of no religion to teach the subject. The conclusion was that such a person would be able to describe ceremonials and customs but would have difficulty in putting across their meanings and significance. Religious language is metaphoric and often poetic. It is necessary to be a follower of one religion in order even to begin to understand what is being talked about
Of course individual Muslims should not be demonised, but the nature of Islam itself leaves individual peaceful Muslims in a quandary, rather like ordinary Germans under the Nazi regime. Some were against the Nazis, some were active, and then there were the little old ladies who looked on approvingly at what the Brownshirts were doing.
Any particular Muslim may be radicalised or may not, but nobody knows who is radicalised and who is not because they do not come colour-coded. One test is to see if the bottoms of their trousers are rolled-up. But even if they are not, their children or grandchildren may read the religious texts and decide to take them seriously. Assimilation by intermarriage does take place but experience in Britain is that it tends not to happen as marriage takes place within the extended family and often with first cousins.
All this needs to be borne in mind when deciding what policies governments should adopt when faced with the possibility of a large influx of Muslims.
It is a mystery why members of the liberal-left get so angry and throw accusations of racism when this is pointed out. The Islamic programme contracts everything that left-wing liberals claim to hold dear.
One possible reason is that most left-wing liberals are atheists and do not understand the language of religious discourse. Being a Catholic, other religions often come up in discussion and one needs to read around on the subject to be able to hold one's own in a conversation. I also did a dissertation on religious education, the topic being whether it was possible for a follower of no religion to teach the subject. The conclusion was that such a person would be able to describe ceremonials and customs but would have difficulty in putting across their meanings and significance. Religious language is metaphoric and often poetic. It is necessary to be a follower of one religion in order even to begin to understand what is being talked about
Of course individual Muslims should not be demonised, but the nature of Islam itself leaves individual peaceful Muslims in a quandary, rather like ordinary Germans under the Nazi regime. Some were against the Nazis, some were active, and then there were the little old ladies who looked on approvingly at what the Brownshirts were doing.
Any particular Muslim may be radicalised or may not, but nobody knows who is radicalised and who is not because they do not come colour-coded. One test is to see if the bottoms of their trousers are rolled-up. But even if they are not, their children or grandchildren may read the religious texts and decide to take them seriously. Assimilation by intermarriage does take place but experience in Britain is that it tends not to happen as marriage takes place within the extended family and often with first cousins.
All this needs to be borne in mind when deciding what policies governments should adopt when faced with the possibility of a large influx of Muslims.
The milder Muslim countries
Indonesia and Malaysia are sometimes quoted as examples of moderately Islamic countries. They are indeed better than most.Indonesia only part of the Muslim hegemony relatively recently, and reluctantly, when it was invaded by armies with the express purpose of spreading Islam. Only Bali is now Hindu. That has been the target of numerous bombings. Indonesia's invasion of East Timor was, characteristically, followed by a mass slaughter of Christians, estimates range from between 200,000 and a million.
Indonesia is only relatively mildly Islam because sharia law was rolled back under the Dutch. It is now returning in force, with sharia police in more and more places.
The other milder Muslim country, Malaysia, is also the way it is as part of the post-colonial legacy. Their radical Muslims are busy causing trouble in neighbouring Thailand.
Indonesia is only relatively mildly Islam because sharia law was rolled back under the Dutch. It is now returning in force, with sharia police in more and more places.
The other milder Muslim country, Malaysia, is also the way it is as part of the post-colonial legacy. Their radical Muslims are busy causing trouble in neighbouring Thailand.
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