The United Nations as the Sharia police
From the Globe and Mail:
In Cairo, Bishop Karsten Nissen, of Denmark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, met with Grand Imam Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi of al-Azhar University, the world's highest Sunni Muslim seat of learning.
Mr. Tantawi said the Danish prime minister must apologize for the drawings and further demanded the world's religious leaders meet to write a law that "condemns insulting any religion, including the Holy Scriptures and the prophets."
He said the United Nations should impose the law on all countries.
I have to expect that the Grand Imam is not as much of a fool as his statement suggests. The United Nations can't impose anything. Members states can incorporate UN resolutions and charters into their legal codes, but even then only if they are consistent with their constitutions. If they don't like the UN ruling, they can ignore it, or simply leave the organization. The UN doesn't have an effective enforcement body.
The only time the UN went to war was in Korea, and then only because the Soviet Union boycotted the Security Council vote over a different issue -- the exclusion of communist China from the UN. That allowed the Western bloc to use the UN to go to war with the Soviets against the North Korean invasion. That mistake has never been repeated, and the UN has essentially been in stalemate. At best, such as in Iraq in 1991, the UN simply authorized what was already going to happen with or without its support.
So what does the Grand Imam think is going to happen? The UN will never pass a binding resolution via the Security Council on the issue of cartoons. The General Assembly can try, but with all the ultra-left transnational progressive NGOs slumming at Turtle Bay, it is unlikely that a resolution in support of religious conservatives will see the light of day.
And even if such a resolution passed in the General Assembly, so what? Nothing would change.
Well, one thing would. The Islamists would have succeeded at turning the UN into an organ for promoting their agenda. Today it's cartoons, tomorrow the sale of pork, next week burkas for everyone. That might be the final straw for some Western nations to drop the UN altogether.
Maybe that would not be such a bad thing.
Who knows? If that were the outcome, the Grand Imam might get support for his silly idea from some unexpected quarters.
Skew my story on Skewz.com
Rate political news for their bias, read related stories, and leave your own skewed commentary
Search for more opinions from Canadian bloggers on these related keywords
Sphere presents related news articles and blog posts
Sphere It!
Comments
Steve,
Here's what a 24 year old Winston Churchill observed about Islam in 1899:
"Sir Winston Churchill (The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green | 1899
"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism[72 virgins, I'm assuming] deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity.
The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome."
It seems to this American that, even 107 years later, not much has changed.
The Clash of Civilizations that people have wrung their hands and fretted over has begun.
Posted by: Steve N at February 19, 2006 11:22 AM
The freedom to challenge the superstitions, rules and beliefs of established religions has been a cornerstone of Western secular society from the ancient Greeks through Galileo and Darwin. If we cannot express scepticism and even ridicule concerning the dogma and control of powerful ideologies such as religion, we are on a slippery slope to the suppression of individual freedom.
I strongly support the Danish cartoonists and the Western Report. These cartoons should be, and no doubt will be printed in school textbooks for many years to come as this incident will be remembered as a turning point. It is when the Western world realized that it needed to defend its most fundamental values against the forces of obscurantism, violent fanaticism and intolerance.
Posted by: Steve K at February 19, 2006 02:03 PM
Steve L,
Thankyou for posting Sir Winton Churchill. This man is one of my ALL time favorite leaders. His view's and thought's are still so profound in today's crazy world.
Posted by: MaryM at February 19, 2006 02:42 PM
The old saying of "nothing new under the sun" comes to mind
...maybe we need a Churchill to say "we will never surrender" to Islamofascists. While Bush is a bit like that, he only hobbles along with about 50% of support.
(Ezra Levant isn't, so don't even try to compare.)
Posted by: tomax at February 19, 2006 03:02 PM
Just so readers, or even Ezra himself, doesn't think I'm anti-Western Standard, anti-Ezra, or anti-whatever...
I believe Ezra is a very bright man, and VERY cunning in business. Not easy to run a magazine publication and succeed without government bailouts like some the Art/Leftist toilet paper magazines I see around on shelves.
So kudo's to him for that.
What I disagree is this "fight for freedom of speech" retort he's railing about with the Islamic cartoons.
Again, this is a shrewd business maneuver - and definately one needs that in today's crowded infomania magazine fest, but not at the expense of integrity.
cheers
tom
Posted by: tomax at February 19, 2006 03:15 PM
I am a Christian but do not believe in man--it is man that corrupts religious belief for their own ends. Do we need reminding of the Spanish Inquisition, the burning of witches, the 'God told me to invade Iraq' occurrances to believe otherwise? As for the freedom to question established religion--Darwin did not have an easy time of it--they are still denying his philosophy in some American schools.
It is hypocritical to hold up our way of life as pure while denouncing the behaviour of the Islamic rabble today. No, they are defeating their own religion by behaving in this manner, but who fomented this despicable behaviour and for what end? This has all the smell of orchestration about it and therefore is another example of man's inhumanity to man rather than the fault of a God.
I feel this 'uprising' has more to do with the coming attack on Iran than anything else. To have anyone invoke the UN as an arbitrator is ridiculous and any thinking person knows this. The UN is loaded with useless political hacks that have not succeeded in their own governments. They have no power other than to spend our tax dollars, and therefore are useless in world affairs. The Imam and and Mr. Tantawi cannot possibly be so naieve to think that the UN would or could do anything. This is more game playing--but it is a deadly game--and we lose.
Posted by: George at February 19, 2006 03:32 PM
Apparently Toronto will have a Muslim protest march against the cartoons. Such hyprocrites! Why not protest the lack of action done by Muslims killing Muslims in Darfur?
Naw, doesn't make the 6 o'clock news.
Check the Religious Policeman's blog on this at
http://muttawa.blogspot.com/
Worse yet is the marriage of 13 year old girls to older men or cousins.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/archives/000972.php
Sorry for ranting, but this cartoon protest is the biggest screwup in modern times.
What I do hope and pray is the eyes of the people of the world, and the Muslim's themselves will see they hypocrisy of all this and change for the better.
Also that our political correct dunderhead leaders will see their wrongs also, meaning not be afraid to allow the police to do their jobs and arrest these sickos and deportation.
Major deportation.
Posted by: tomax at February 19, 2006 03:57 PM
When will our more vocal brothers and sisters on the left realize that Islamists want them dead for the very things that they hold most dear? And if they do come to this realization, what will they do about it? Rely on the UN for protection?
Posted by: Halfwise Halfwit at February 19, 2006 04:01 PM
The UN rended itself irrelevent years ago through it's culture of corruption. Oil for Food should have been called Funds for Saddam. If the UN were foolish enough to pass such as resolution, it might accelerate their way along the path of the League of Nations.
Posted by: Mac at February 19, 2006 04:11 PM
tomax et al,
The thugs that wish to "Talibanize" all of us in the West believe in the following:
Jihad - the holy war. Ever since Mohammed called upon his followers to sack and pillage the cities of Yathrib and Mecca, Muslims have been leading wars against the "infidels". According to the Koran, Allah DEMANDS the blood of those who dare to fight back:
"The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution or crucifixion" (Surah 5:33)
Furthermore, the death of a non-Muslim is not considered a crime: No Muslim should be killed for killing a kafir (infidel). (Vol 9:50), and any Muslim killed in the jihad is guarenteed rewards, either in this life or the next:
The person who participates in Jihad in Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward or treasure (if he survives) or will be admitted to paradise (if he is killed). (Vol 1:35)
It should be clear that the suicide bombers of Sept. 11th believed that they would be sent to paradise, their station in Heaven improved with each "American dog" they killed.
7. Fatwa - the sacred edict. According to Islamicist laws, those who are higly educated in the Koran can issue edicts which all followers of the faith must obey. Osama bin Laden, terrorist Number One, and the "conscience of Islam", is one such cleric, and his fatwas are widely followed throughout the Arab world. A fatwa is to be followed by all Muslims, no matter who issues it.
Just today(2/19/2006) an Iranian cleric issued a fatwa that stated the Koran DOES NOT prohibit the use of NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
Anything unclear about THOSE intentions?
Hitler's name has been thrown around way too much in political contexts but I see very little difference in practical terms between his vision of a "thousand year Reich" and the intentions of these Islamofascists.
Posted by: Steve N at February 19, 2006 04:44 PM
Steve, "The thugs that wish to 'Talibanize' all of us in the West believe in the following" and
"Anything unclear about THOSE intentions"
Can we say this is a textbook example of "cult" mentality?
So how does one break this cult, hire Mormons?
Posted by: tomax at February 19, 2006 05:24 PM
Steve suggested...*might be the final straw for some Western nations to drop the UN altogether.*
Bolton, US ambassador to the UN is threatening to do exacty that.
What a refreshing idea. Clear out the UN Building and send them packing to Gibralter or Geneva where they will feel comfortable while sponging $Billions and fending off the Oil for Food scandal.
Install the UDN authority. United Democratic Nations. Made up of working democracies who can function promptly and efficiently.
The old hamstrung UN has been slow on decisions in Africa where delay is costing lives. The UN is hopelessly slow and a new UDN would be disigned in a manner to avoid now obvious organizational errors.
There is an entry at Wikipedia.org / United_Democratic_Nations. TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at February 19, 2006 05:30 PM
This is where I get mixed up in terminology. Who is which and what is who and which is where.
United Democratic Nations (good)
vs
Democrats in the US (bad)
Republic of China (bad)
vs
Republicans in the US (good)
Then to really muddy the water we got the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Huh?
;-)
Posted by: tomax at February 19, 2006 05:45 PM
Oh, then we got this:
Belinda (Conservative) crossing to Liberals(bad)
vs
Emerson (Liberal) crossing to Conservatives(good)
Google "crossed to conservative" and you get a page full of Belinda. (bad)
Do a Google on "tom mclaughlin" and you get
me (good).
Oh shut up.
Posted by: tomax at February 19, 2006 05:49 PM
So you're not the reincarnation of the right handed pitcher who debuted with the Louisville Eclipse on July 17, 1883? How disappointing...
Posted by: Mac at February 19, 2006 07:03 PM
no, but 'Animal' from Sesasame Street is my uncle...
Posted by: tomax at February 19, 2006 07:21 PM
Animal was actually on the Muppet Show, not Sesame Street... but he was one of my favorites! I knew there was a reason I liked you!!
Posted by: Mac at February 19, 2006 07:33 PM
The thin-skinned bully brigade raves on.
Posted by: Agent Orange at February 19, 2006 08:41 PM
Wise words from D.J. Drummond @ PoliPundit
The Jihadists are insane. Seriously. Not in a clinical sense, necessarily, but in any pragmatic review of the facts their cause must be regarded as uniquely ill-suited to their goals. Yet, the statements by such men as Iran’s Presidentr Ahmadinejad carry the evidence that they mean to win. And the election of terrorist groups like Hamas to leadership of the Palestinian Authority also play that same two-edged game, running against reason by supporting leaders they know the world at large will not respect, but putting the hopes of millions behind such thugs all the same. We should be uneasy when facing such evidence of insanity, especially knowing the history of such behavior.
Fortunately, there is also a bright side to such madness. The Jihadists have essentially locked in the philosophy and methods of Fascism, which makes them predictable to a degree, and which reminds me of a fatal flaw in their plans.
Rage.
Rage is a powerful emotion, and the Nazis rode it. They used it to gain seats in the German government, then to blame the Communists for the Reichstag fire, then to support preparations for the invasions of Austria, then Czechoslovakia (we only want ‘living room’, promised Der FruitLoop ) and finally Poland before the West came to its belated sense. Rage whipped the troops into a frenzy, especially the Stormtroopers (yes Virginia, there were Stormtroopers before ‘Star Wars’), and the ‘blitzkrieg’.
But rage runs out, and is ultimately no match for a hard resolve. The Nazis could not finish the job in Russia, and never even crossed the English Channel to roll the dice against Churchill. And this was no one-time blunder. Long ago, the early Muslims raged across the Middle East and into Europe, finally being stopped at Poitiers in 732. Yes folks, Europe was saved from the Jihadists in 732 by the French army.
Rage also ran out for the Hun, whose armies were unstoppable until they simply tired of always fighting, and stopped to enjoy what they had. Contentment drains rage, as does doubt. Many empires have slowed down and stopped because their subjects began to doubt the purpose of their conquest. Even Rome could not spur the legions in simply because there was more land and more people out there.
Also, as I have noted before, Islam has a serious problem with its Jihad. In the seventh and eighth centuries, the Jihadists enjoyed a culture which was as technologically advanced as any on the globe, and a religious doctrine which was comparatively honest. Not so now, where the Jihadists face weaponry and orders of battle against which they literally cannot prevail without hope of Divine intervention. That divine intervention is less likely than they believe, because the Jihadists’ version of Sharia is corrupt, manipulated by Mullahs in every situation where it serves them to change the practice. Stoning a woman to death for showing her face may feed the rage of some of the men, but others will wonder where the Mercy and Compassion of Allah, so often written of in the Quran, is to be found, where even a minor indiscretion is brutally treated, and where the powerful can replace traditional law with personal interpretations. This is one reason why so few Muslims ran to support the Taliban in Afghanistan, or to prop up Saddam’s regime; these men were apostates in actual fact, and to my mind many Muslims view a Jihad of conquest in much the same light. Not that many will protest in the street about it, but there is not the support for the campaign that the Jihadists envision, and so if they move to take over other nations, the Jihadists will certainly overstep their mark. As heavy as the price will be to stop such men, it is nonetheless a comfort to know this fact.
Posted by: Steve N. at February 19, 2006 10:08 PM
Churchill was right, except for the "raising fearless warriors" part.
Posted by: at February 19, 2006 10:25 PM
Churchill himself crossed the floor twice as I vaguely recall from some distant clouded memory.
He was impatient. Like me. I can't wait either. I own two microwaves and always have them going in tandem.
Hot cereal and soup in one and coffee in the other. Breakfast or lunch.... two minutes maximum. Beat that Macdonalds.
Oh yeah, guys like Iran's head honcho get to the top by informing everyone they need a signature from that *your realatives and kids are at the end of my men's gun muzzle. Sign here!*
Live by the bullet and eventually die by it. Only one brave soul is required. TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at February 19, 2006 10:51 PM
Some people speak because they like the sound of their own voice... I think the "grand" imam is one of those people. The requirement of relevance in the request is irrelevant... so long as people will print what he is saying.
Posted by: Tovya at February 20, 2006 12:09 AM
Oh my gosh, you're right Animal was on the Muppets. I feel so abused...
Then again the Cookie Monster is another distant relative, see my "instinct posting".
But I always wondered about Bert and Ernie. He was never the same after the accident...
Posted by: tomax at February 20, 2006 12:48 AM
Ever notice that the guitar player, Floyd, was pink? My favorite minor character was "Crazy Harry" who was usually around when things needed blown up... although in the Muppet Movie, he got to play with electricity.
Cookie Monster was a great character... hard to resist his pure joy in simple pleasure. I could never understand what it was that Big Bird brought to the show. Pluck him, I say!!
Sesame Street went downhill quickly when it became politically correct. Tickle this, Elmo!!
We'd better be careful or Agent Orange will accuse us Bully Brigaders of being thin-skinned and raving again. Anyone have a recipe for troll stew?
Posted by: Mac at February 20, 2006 01:25 AM
-"No Blood for Oil"- Kojo & Kofi: Unbelievable U.N. stories--
Posted by: backhoe at February 20, 2006 06:17 AM
Ya, A law banning all insults to all religions... Sure why not? For starters, we'll have a lot of new airtime on TV to fill... I figure about 1/4 to 1/2 that's on now is in someway offensive to Christians... Also, would all these nutjob Islamic hotheads have to shut up? spewing their hatred of the infidels is surely insulting.
Posted by: Curtis at February 20, 2006 01:02 PM
Troll Stew...Take several know-it-all bloggers and sear in the juices over very high heat. Add thyme and salt then simmer over low heat until toughness disappears.
Serve with a side of humble pie.
Posted by: Liberal Ron at February 20, 2006 01:35 PM
Thin-skinned bullies = those endeavouring to impose their laws/views/demands on other countries (e.g., the Grand Imam and those seething about cartoons).
Posted by: Agent Orange at February 20, 2006 01:54 PM
Wile E. Coyote = Islamists
Roadrunner = Christians
Posted by: Liberal Ron at February 20, 2006 02:18 PM
We see video on CNN showing rampaging Muslims around the world. In Europe, the Middle East, the Pacific Rim ... Muslim Mobs spreading mayhem.  It seems that these mighty mad Muslims are rioting and firing their ever-present AK-47s into the air because of cartoons. This latest epidemic of Muslim outrage comes to us because some newspapers in Norway and Denmark published some cartoons depicting Mohammed.
Muslim outrage huh. OK ... let's do a little historical review.
Just some lowlights:
[1] Muslims fly commercial airliners into buildings in New York City. No Muslim outrage.
[2] Muslim officials block the exit where school girls are trying to escape a burning building because their faces were exposed. No Muslim outrage. *****************************************************
[3] Muslims cut off the heads of three teenaged girls on their way to school in Indonesia. A Christian school. No Muslim outrage.
[4] Muslims murder teachers trying to teach Muslim children in Iraq. No Muslim outrage.
[5] Muslims murder over 80 tourists with car bombs outside cafes and hotels in Egypt. No Muslim outrage.
[6] A Muslim attacks a missionary children's school in India. Kills six. No Muslim outrage.*******************************************************
[7] Muslims slaughter hundreds of children and teachers in Beslan, Russia. Muslims shoot children in the back. No Muslim outrage.
***********************************************************************
[8] Let's go way back. Muslims kidnap and kill athletes at the Munich Summer Olympics. No Muslim outrage.
[9] Muslims fire rocket-propelled grenades into schools full of children in Israel. No Muslim outrage.
[10] Muslims murder more than 50 commuters in attacks on London subways and busses. Over 700 are injured. No Muslim outrage.
[11] Muslims massacre dozens of innocents at a Passover Seder. No Muslim outrage.
[12] Muslims murder innocent vacationers in Bali. No Muslim outrage.
[13] Muslim newspapers publish anti-Semitic cartoons. No Muslim outrage
[14] Muslims are involved, on one side or the other, in almost every one of the 125+ shooting wars around the world. No Muslim outrage.
[15] Muslims beat the charred bodies of Western civilians with their shoes, then hang them from a bridge. No Muslim outrage.
[16] Newspapers in Denmark and Norway publish cartoons depicting Mohammed. Muslims are outraged.
[17]
Dead children. Dead tourists. Dead teachers. Dead doctors and nurses. Death, destruction and mayhem around the world at the hands of Muslims .. no Muslim outrage ...
Is this really about cartoons?
They're rampaging and burning flags.
They're looking for non-Muslims to kidnap. They're threatening innkeepers and generally raising holy Muslim hell not because of any outrage over a cartoon.
They're outraged because it is part of the Islamic jihadist culture to be outraged. You don't really need a
reason. You just need an excuse. Wandering around, destroying property, murdering children, firing guns into the air and feigning outrage over the slightest perceived insult is to a jihadist what tailgating is to a Steeler's fan.
I know and understand that these bloodthirsty murderers do not represent the majority of the world's Muslims.
When, though, does the majority become outraged? When do they take to the streets to
express their outrage at the radicals who are making their religion the object of worldwide hatred and ridicule?
Islamic writer Salman Rushdie wrote of these silent Muslims in a New York Times article three years ago.
"As their ancient, deeply civilized culture of love, art and philosophical reflection is hijacked by paranoiacs, racists, liars, male supremacists, tyrants, fanatics and violence junkies, why is the majority not screaming?"
Indeed. Why not?
Kurt Westergaard, Cartoonist **************************************** Kurt Westergaard is the cartoonist who drew Mohammed with a bomb in his turban. He has gone into hiding, but has now expressed his opinion for the Muslims who have forced him to do so. - REG  TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at February 20, 2006 02:19 PM
O.K. Guy`s cut out the smart alec remarks get serious for a change and tell it like it is.
"This is MY country Canada and I am sick and tired of Other people and races coming to My country and bringing their problems here" freedom of religion or what ever.
So in plain language," Go back to YOUR country and take Your problems with you and while your at it," STAY THERE" GET IT!
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS GARBAGE BEING BROUGHT INTO OUR COUNTRY
p.s. You can search The Bible from cover to cover and you will NOT find any mention of THEIR MOHHAMED ANYWHERE, PERIOD!
Posted by: Jack ( Lofty ) Waters at February 20, 2006 02:22 PM
The majority can't scream. Just like Germany in 1939. If anyone in the majority screamed it would be their last. The peaceful have been hijacked by the weapon-totting maniacs.
Bush could go down as the saviour of the western world if only he could wipe that smirk off his face.
Posted by: Liberal Ron at February 20, 2006 02:33 PM
Lofty...I agree with you and I've said it before... If you don't like Western Christian ways you are free to leave and go back to where ever it is you came from.
We should start deporting them. Then maybe the peaceful Muslims will show outrage at their barbaric cousins.
Posted by: Liberal Ron at February 20, 2006 03:58 PM
20 years ago, I noticed the potential for friction between ethnic groups who hold colourful and fun parades in Vancouver and Vancouver South.
My letters to the editor of the Vancouver Province were to the effect that if there were any acting out of any group against another due to hate in their home country, they should be promptly deported to that country.
I was afraid that, for example, a Sikh driven car could drive by and machine gun an Indian parade or vice-versa during a Sikh parade.
Thankfully, that never happened, but an airliner carrying over 300 people did go down off Ireland. Another airliner in Japan suffered a blast before it was airborne.
Innocent Canadian lives are of no worth to those who act out their foreign based wars.
Seems reasonable to deport those who write or act out foreign based agression to the foreign base country of that agression. TG
Posted by: TonyGuitar at February 20, 2006 04:31 PM
 
|
|
