Islam

Nothing Less Than a Reform Movement

Salman Rushdie: “The deeper alienations that lead to terrorism may have their roots in these young men's objections to events in Iraq or elsewhere, but the closed communities of some traditional Western Muslims are places in which young men's alienations can easily deepen. What is needed is a move beyond tradition -- nothing less than a reform movement to bring the core concepts of Islam into the modern age, a Muslim Reformation to combat not only the jihadist ideologues but also the dusty, stifling seminaries of the traditionalists, throwing open the windows to let in much-needed fresh air.”

Long article about the French politics of banning the 'veil' in public schools
Integrating the Northern African immigrants has challenged not just France but much of Western Europe.

War on Militant Islam, not Terrorism?

Daniel Pipes: “This evasion has consequences, for an enemy who cannot be named cannot be defeated. Only when 'war on terrorism' becomes 'war on militant Islam' can the war actually be won.”

Dubya, as the author points out, and which goes unacknowledged by many who believe it's Christianity vs. Islam all over again, quite insistent that it is a war on terrorism that the United States is fighting. While this in principle is appropriate, in practice it is a war against militant Islam. At the moment at least. (Calling Saddam Hussein a militant Islamist would be mistaken, since his government is closer to secular socialist, although this has changed in recent years.)

What the author conveniently forgets, however, is that militant Islam is not the only threat to the United States, its government and it's people. Right-wing, home-grown terrorists, like the late Timothy McVeigh (who some conservatives believe was not a true Christian [link dead]) can be just as deadly.