September 18, 2006

Muslims are Outraged that the Pope Criticized Islam - But They Critize Christianity All the Time

Muslims are outraged at the Pope for expressing criticism of Islam. But it has long been common for Islamic imams to, not just criticise, but to utterly condemn Judeo-Christian religion. From Memri.org, here's a summary of Friday sermons from Saudi mosques, from 2002 - long before the Pope's recent remarks:

• Part I - 'The Christians and the Jews are "Infidels," "Enemies of Allah"'
• Part II - 'Jews - The Descendants of Pigs and Apes'
• Part III - 'It is Impossible to Make Peace With the Jews'
• Part IV - 'Muslims Must Educate Their Children to Jihad… and to Hatred of Jews and Christians'
• Part V - 'The Palestinian Struggle Must be An Islamic Jihad'
• Part VI - 'Muslim Women's Rights are a Western Ploy to Destroy Islam'

Daniel Pipes documents that it is common in Islam to refer to Christians by the very derogatory term, "kafir," or infidel. 

So Muslims think it's perfectly okay for them to criticize Judeo-Christian religions. But it's not okay for the Pope to critize Islam.

This is the behavior of the dictator and the bully. Islam is going to have to evolve and adapt to the 21st century.

Improved GWB Communications to Voters = Improved Poll Results for Republicans

So GWB delivers a major speech to the nation -- and poll ratings for Republicans jump. Amazing!

Mr. Zogby credited the Republican Party's sudden political turnaround to "the president's focus on the war on terrorism, a rebound among his own base," and the Democrats' failure to lay out a clear plan of their own on "how are we're going to get out of Iraq and what they would do about terrorism that's better than the Republicans."

Since Karl Rove was asked to concentrate on November '06 election strategies, GWB's communications to the public have improved. These improved poll ratings for Republicans appear to be in large part due to GWB's improved communiations to the voters.