Holocaust Education

Comments

1. 

   January 20, 2005

   Eric

   genizing of Islam into a brand of religiously-inspired supremacy is extremely concerning both for Muslim nations who wish to move towards democracy, and those democracies regularily dennounced by extremists. Within a individual country the majority may want democracy, but the globalised Islamic community may not wish to let them go. What is happening in Iraq may be a sign of times to come in other countries.
   In the 1930s we saw one totalitarian idealogy exploit radio and film to great effect, we are seeing another exploit today’s new global medium with equal vigour. Of course it is a more de-centralised activity free of the constraints of a central authority, but that is as much a strength as a weakness.

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2. 

   January 21, 2005

   Ian

   The myopia of western nations to see Islam as a political system is what contributes to the spread.
   Western nations strive to separate religion and state, whereas Islam moves in the opposite direction, this is admitted as an aim by Islam itself by religious texts, it is no secret conspiracy.
   Liberal western leaders, many of whom are religious themselves, consider religion to be a personal view and something to be supported rather than condemned. Whilst they can openly vilify a political opponant, they are reluctant to criticise others in their religious beliefs. This allows extremist views to go unchallenged when dressed up as religion.
   A lot of Islamic extremists exploit this weakness, anytime a Islamic political stance is challenged it immediately is accused of being an attack on personal religious beliefs, Imams often pose themselves as religious leaders rather than political ones (remember in Islam they are one and the same).
   A good example of this is the recent debate about the Mayor of London meeting with Dr Qaradawi, who he regards as a religious leader when he is no such thing. Livingstone was first out the gate to oppose Bush visiting London back in 2003, which was done on political grounds, but somehow the rules change when an Imam appears.

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