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Yesterday Daniel Pipes spoke at an event presented by Pepperdine University's School of Public Policy.
A few quotes (from my handwritten notes - not expected to be verbatim):
Our goal must be nothing other than the modernizing of Islam. No other enemy is as far reaching [as that of the radical Islamists] - that was the message of 9-11. We must overhaul the Muslim world as we did Germany and Russia - we changed them.
...We must defeat them - that is, convince them that their goal is hopeless - as we did the Fascists in 1945 - as we did the Marxist-Leninists in 1991.
...We have the power. There is no great power that faces us.
...A key battlefield is the battle of the op-eds. It's a matter of our understanding, as a political culture, that we have a deep and committed enemy.
...Radical Islam's roots go to the 1920's. That is not to say there is a moderate Islam. Such a thing does not yet exist. But we can help it develop.
During the Q&A, Pipes discussed his views on the future of Europe. He stated that it appeared to him that there were two alternatives - Europe would be Islamized, or there would be civil war there to prevent Islamization and protect European culture. He anticipated that within 10-15 years, it would begin to become evident which way Europe is headed.
#1
#2Great post, Olah. One of the most surprising things for me from Pipes' comments was this:
That is not to say there is a moderate Islam. Such a thing does not yet exist.
Pipes is well known for his formulation, "Radical Islam is the problem; moderate Islam is the solution." (He repeated this formulation at the event blogged in this article.) So I found it surprising that even Pipes is now waying that "there is no moderate Islam."
#3Well, Daniel Pipes is a brave man. G-d knows how much flak and criticism he's going to get. And, there in lies the problem. It's what I called being PC to the point where we are actually endangering our own lives. People are so concerned with being Politically Correct and do everything not to hurt some-one else's feelings that they're willing to put their own life and other people's lives in danger to ensure that those philosophies remain intact. Like, for instance, having 90 year old grandmothers strip searched at airports, so no-one cries "RACIAL PROFILING!" While that 90 year old is being strip searched, the next Mohammad Atta is walking through without being stopped because the quota of Arab or Middle Eastern looking men in their 20s-late 30s has already been reached for the day. You know what, sir, Israel has learned this lesson the hard way. There is a reason Ben Gurion International Airport is rated as the SAFEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD. Yes, we profile, and we've saved thousands upon thousands of lives because of it. Daniel Pipes is an Israeli in disguise, if you don't mind my saying so. I hope the Zionist Conspiracy Theory nuts get wind of this sentence. He's unafraid, and hopefully his courage will wake others up to follow his lead and do the same. Thanks for letting me voice my opinions. I really appreciate it. You are one of the few, my friend.
-OC
#4You're very welcome, Olah. Thank you for your good words and for your excellent posts here.
Unfortunately, unlike the case was with Germany and Russia, the post-modernist way of thinking now dominates Western society and culture. Because of this, even hearing the concept of "modernizing Islam" is offensive to the post-modernist culture. "Why should we try to 'modernize' Islam? We're no better, and we have no right to tell them how to live. We should try to have compassion for their causes, realize our role in their actions, and change ourselves before we try to change anyone less."
In a culture that has no sense or concept of personal responsibility or causes that exist above the self, self interests and self indulgences, attempting to modernize Islam can never work. In that sense, the concept of "changing self" is valid. America and the West, as a whole, needs a complete attitude adjustment in how it views the threats the world is now facing. As Bernard Lewis put it, to paraphrase, "I lived through Hitler, as a young man. But, I was more optimistic about the outcome than than I am about the outcome now against Radical Islam." Unless, the West is willing to stand up and say, "This is wrong. There are no equivocations. This is fascism and Medieval Mysogony reincarnated. We must face it, and destroy", Radical Islam and the forces of evil will continue to take over all that is good and pure about Western culture. I believe if that 10-15 years will be too late. I truly believe we are in a 1930s moment. We could have stopped Hitler before war started in September of 1939, but we didn't, because the West ignored the threat and believed that it somehow dissipate on its own. If we're going to learn anything from history, how can it not be that point? Are we once again wait until it's too late, and sacrifice the lives of million all in the sake of peace and diplomacy at all costs but war, pluralism, and multi-culturalism??? Ah, there's the rub. Those peaceniks that say no war at any cost are the ones that are responsible for bringing war at higher costs. Think about how we came to Iraq, and you'll see how that is true.
-OC