Is is clear that we are caught in the midst of long term confrontation between world views that have no possibility of reconciliation viewed from the perspective of the proponents of each world view. The views may be encapsulated as:
- The truth has been revealed to me and you will believe it or suffer somehow (Islam, Christianity)
- I have my beliefs, leave me alone (Judaism, Buddhism, Shinto, Tao, Hindu, Agnostic, Atheist, and Animist)
- Do what I say, who asked your opinion anyway (the political leadership of most members of the United Nations)
Bernard Lewis has a cogent discussion of the issues here:
http://podcast.thestar.com/audio/thestar-2006-05-05-70165.mp3
This 35 minute presentation is worth listening to especially if you are interested in feminist issues.
However, his comments towards the end quoting historical views of Muslims regarding women do not support his case. Many similar comments from all world views could be quoted.
If you have listened to this, you will not be surprised to find that some folk don't agree with him. For example:
M. Shahid Alam: Bernard Lewis: Scholarship or Sophistry?
and from a perspective that is not quite as partisan
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2004/0411.hirsh.html
What do you think?
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1 comment:
Hi, Clive,
Lewis' best and most cogent point is that the subjugation of women could be the weakest link in the Muslim megalomanic idealogy. I would not have characterized Osama as "articulate and sincere" (a "raving lunatic" might be better suited). Lewis' sweeping generalizations (we in the US have "no awareness of history" vs. Islam, where they have an "intense awareness..." (of their history) are way too broad a brushstroke for me! The suicide bombers are not doing their dastardly deeds out of an awareness of history - it's more out of an intense desire to kill Westeners and Jews and anyone who supports them. Hatred, not history, is on their minds! Muslim megalomania sounds to me like "libenstraum"... Regards, Diane
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