I remember as a small boy going from door to door in our village collecting
money for a missionary ship, the John Williams. It was taking God to the
heathen of the East Indies, a distant realm to which the Good Lord, despite
His all-seeing wisdom, had carelessly (and I thought excitingly) denied His
presence. It never occurred to me that the natives might adhere to some
other faith. I saw them waiting eagerly on the beach for the Bible to be
carried ashore, wondering only why the Royal Mail was so slow.
Last week a 29-page letter to the Pope was issued from a galaxy of 138 Muslim
leaders designed to refute any such exclusive creed. It pleaded for better
understanding between Christians and Muslims, based on a shared monotheism
and the affinity between the Bible and the Koran. Both contained
commandments to love a single god and to love one’s neighbour. The archaic
language boiled down to hoping that the two religions might respect each
other because “the future of the world depends on peace between Muslims and
Christians”.
The letter is certainly an advance on the first missive to Nicephorus, a
9th-century prince of Rome, from Harun al-Rashid, a Muslim caliph.
Addressing “thou Roman dog”, Rashid wrote, “I have read thy letter, O thou son
of an unbelieving mother. Thou shalt not hear, thou shalt behold, my reply.”
He proceeded to massacre half Byzantium.
Rashid’s successors are more circumspect. They implicitly rebut George Bush’s
“He who is not with us is against us” speech after 9/11. “Islam is not
against the Christians,” the letter declares, “so long as they do not wage
war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive
them out of their homes.” Nor is this debate “simply a matter for polite
ecumenical dialogue between leaders”. The “eternal souls” of those who
“relish conflict and destruction” are at stake, not to mention “the survival
of the world”.
Coming at the end of Ramadan, the letter is impressive. The signatories
embrace a global range of grand muftis, imams, sheikhs and scholars from all
denominations of Islam, with a wide span of theological influence. The
appeal to religious tolerance at a time of tension between Islam and the
West is welcome. But what the letter means needs deconstruction.
Religious leaders like to claim headlines by subjecting politics to a downpour
of platitude. The letter makes no mention of (monotheistic) Jews, let alone
Hindus and Buddhists. It merely invites the Pope, the Archbishop of
Canterbury and others to acknowledge what the archbishop calls “their common
scriptural foundations . . . as a basis for justice and peace in the world”.
Two religions that embrace “half of humanity” should stand together or, by
implication, there will be war.
Such an implication is grandiose, dangerous and wrong. It implies that the
Muslim world has a politico-military power that is in some sense equal and
opposite to that of Christianity. This elevates the so-called jihadist
tendency within Islam to a status that it does not have and should never
think it has. It suggests Islam has sufficient power to confront and
possibly undermine the West. It implies a balance of power parallel with a
balance of theological interpretation.
Such an implication feeds a no less dangerous paranoia in the West. By stating
that the “survival of the world” might turn on a struggle between Islam and
Christianity, the letter reinforces the militarist fantasies of
neoconservatives who see the world as just such a struggle. It is a paranoia
which, since 9/11, has driven the “war on terror” and fomented the tension
and antagonism to the West to which the scholars’ letter is so vacuous a
response.
The chief threat to world security at present lies in the capacity of tiny
groups of political Islamists to goad the West into a rolling military
retaliation. Extremists on each side feed off the others’ frenzied scenarios
so as to garner money and political support for their respective armies of
the night. Each sees the other as a cosmic menace and abandons communal
tolerance and peaceful diplomacy to counter it. The authors of this letter
would be better employed vetting their own blood-curdling mullahs and
madrasahs than in writing platitudes to the Pope.
I am proud to be a cheerleader for western values. I see the West - proxy for
the letter’s “Christians” - as powerful without precedent. The
American-European economic and political axis is unconquerable. For all its
occasional and manifold lapses, capitalist democracy has been tested and not
found wanting. Other societies such as Russia, China and India all measure
themselves against the West’s success and seek in varying degrees to emulate
it. To this extent Francis Fukuyama was right to call the end of the cold
war “the end of history”.
The Muslim world is more detached. Its religious habits scare nervous
westerners into seeing it as a shrouded, black-clad menace. It is a less
ordered society and more capable of perpetrating, or at least excusing,
outrages against western targets. But these outrages are of frustration
rather than conquest. While they can kill people and destroy property, they
do not “threaten the West”, let alone undermine western values. If any
Muslim state were rash enough to declare a war of aggression against Europe
or America, of which there is no sign, it would be beaten.
There is no Saladin or Tamerlane riding out of the desert to subject the West
to a new caliphate. There is rather a job for the police, local and
international, one at which they seem reasonably competent. America and
Britain, for example, have each seen just one successful attack by Muslim
terrorists in the past decade. While other attacks have been forestalled, we
would be mad to see them as constituting a war of civilisations and
religions.
There may be young Muslims and their teachers with a vested interest in
talking up such a war. There are those in the West with the same interest,
such as the booming armaments and security industries with their think tanks
and lobbyists.
Such vested interests need to be exposed as such. To portray Islam as a whole
as a concerted threat to western security, and to imply that the West’s
democratic institutions and freedoms are not proof against that threat, is
absurd and close to treason. Then to demand that western freedoms be
dismantled and stored away for the duration of a “war on terror” is to wave
the flag of surrender.
This defeatism led the American Congress to allow its president to authorise
torture and detention without trial in what Senator Robert Byrd called “the
slow unravelling of the people’s liberties”. It enabled a British Home
Office to curb free speech and habeas corpus. It arms police, fortifies
buildings and impedes the free movement of citizens. It makes every
Christian suspicious of every Muslim.
This poison has not been generated by the teaching of Sayyid Qutb and his
Al-Qaeda fanatics, but in the overreaction to them. After sowing their
mayhem they, and not Afghanistan and Iraq, should have been targeted and
eliminated. The belligerence and ineptitude of western policy over the past
decade has turned nobodies into heroes of the Muslim world. The most
incompetent period of western diplomacy since the 1930s has left the West
hated and cities everywhere at the mercy of any Muslim misfit with a sack of
explosive.
When Thomas Paine told America that “we have it in our power to begin the
world over again”, he meant by example, not military conquest. His
utopianism was a brave, confident and open-hearted one. That of his
successors is sinking into the opposite, a fearful, besieged,
security-obsessed wimpishness, in which Muslims rightly feel threatened by
the arbitrary violence of the American right.
It is ironic that defeat in the cold war should have led Russia to the
exuberant self-confidence of Vladimir Putin’s Moscow, while victory has
plunged the West into a loss of nerve. In both Washington and London are
leaders who have so little confidence in democracy as to regard it as
vulnerable to a few madmen, and who have so little respect for democracy’s
freedoms as to suspend them at the bang of a bomb.
I believe in the robustness of the democracies created in the West over the
past half-century. I am not sure that our leaders do.
simon.jenkins@sunday-times.co.uk
You ar wrong Mr Chui. Not conservative perversity, but liberal ineptitude of its perception of human rights. People of colour can do no wrong. Its the white man with their skills and their willingness to develop the world that are the monsters. The tragedy of Africa, notably Zimbabwe, is the product of its near non existent morals on human freedoms.
Liberalism is so ensconced with its directionless policies on fundamental human rights to the point that it even denies the right of the parent to raise his/her family in the manner she/he deems fit.!! Same applies to religious bodies. The London Tube bombings are the direct result of this so called liberal ineptitude. There is no democracy . They pass laws dictating to me how to run and manage my tiny little country pub in the heart of the British country side. That's Liberal democracy which we are forced to accept.
Bruce B, Sutton, UK
No doubt, the perception that Islam is a great foe of "Western Civilization" has been culled, over-invoked, and generally exaggerated to incite fear and justify war. But, that cat's pretty much out of the bag, and this letter--an attempt to nullify the raging hatred, however widespread and however true, will no far less harm than it will good. What can you do about an unwarranted apology, for example, dismiss it because there was no harm done in the first place? Wouldn't it be better to respond to the letter with reciprocal magnanimity, seeking even more common ground, reflecting the visions of peace, and inviting more cooperation. If some people weren't already wearing those glasses, they might see the world through them now; and if some always had glasses on to begin with, well, they'll, just be looking through clearer lenses knowing that the whole world (or at least half of it) agrees.
jake, Vail, CO
Mr. Jenkins is half correct in a walking backwards sort of way. The threat to the West is twofold, first multiculturalism and run amok secularism has destroyed the nourishing root of Judeo-Christian morality from whence the West draws its strength. So once weakened Islam like an opportunistic infection can bring down this once mighty oak.
It is delusional to look at the empty husk of our dying Democracies and think they are anything as robust as they were even 50 years ago. Too many writers like Oriana Fallacia, Robert Spencer and a host of others have been crying for the West to wake up, while men like Mr. Jenkins sing lullabies.
Paul T, Phoenix, USA Arizona
Well done Mr.Jenkins... an almost simplistic and clear view point. Your peers should be compelled to follow your lead...
paul, san antonio, Texas
An interesting observation. So long as man identifies with the various 'isms' meant as utopian solutions to mankind's problems, thinking their brand better than another's, which is a common human trait, these threats will not go away. Conversely, they will increase to the point of no return - covert and open warfare, to which only a unified political and religious consensus can avoid.
Unfortunately, it may mean that the incredibly diverse cultural and ethnic identifications allied to these same utopian impossibilities have to be smashed in order to knock some sense into the collective indentities so hostile to each other.
Until such a time, the folly of mankind's zealous
identification with thinking in terms of being a Christian or Muslim, black or white, atheist or believer and so on, will forever aggravate public sentiment. Creatures in the animal kingdom also identify strongly as such, which causes grotesque behavior befitting their kind. Why should humans do the same?
Christopher Rodgers, Johannesberg, South Africa
There's always some nitwit, some appeaser around to say "We're not really involved in a global conflict." We had Jimmie Carter to refer to the West's "inordinate fear of Communism," and now we have Simon Jenkins to pour his fatuous platitudes all over the Moslem jihad. That proves how cosmopolitan, how broadminded he is -- he never takes offense when visiously attacked.
I guess there's no need to worry about Islam. "Jihad" is a peaceful word that just means "struggle" -- just like "Mein Kampf."
Larry Eubank, Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A.
This is a reply to Jake of the UK. Saladin did not capture Egypt and did not force the Egyptians to convert to Islam. When Saladin ruled Egypt, Islam had already entered Egypt 500-600 years before then. He was ruling Egypt on behalf of the Caliph. Upon the death of the Caliph, Saladin became the Sultan of Egypt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saladin). Islam entered Egypt then when Arabs went to free the Egyptians from the suffer they experienced under the Byzantine Empire.
Islam, as in any other organized religion, calls people to believe. But, in the Koran, it is clearly stated not to force and there are many invitations for people to "think" and work their minds.
There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God is All Hearing and Knowing. (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/002.qmt.html#002.256)
AM, Pasadena, USA
The Temple of Love – The World Peace Religion http://www.thetempleoflove.com makes peace among and unites Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Everyone else by tying them together with their common threads and resolving all of their differences once and for all as the first step towards world peace.
Karen, Los Angeles,
Jacob,
I can't let you get away with "The Christian Right in North America feels it is their duty to kill doctors who perform abortions." While you are certainly entitled to your opinion, this is utter rubbish. The Christian right has NEVER condoned killing anybody. In fact this has very rarely occured at all. And when it has very tragically occured, it is condemed immediately.
Lets keep the arguments honest here...
Jeff, Dallas,
A very fine article indeed, notably picking out the foundational assumption that Islam a world power itself, an assumption that is wholly at odds with western critical freedoms, now being muzzled by threats and a false idea of offence. We must retain our right to criticise what is morally, historically, socially and politically baneful. That freedom of thought is what the West rose from, along with Christian morality.
So, I can say to AM of the USA above that Islam is rooted in crusdading, jihad, how did Saladin's tribe capture Arabia and Egypt etc and forcibly convert the peoples? The picture of Arabia as somehow always and naturally Muslim is a fallacy. Christian crusades are unchristian, Muslim jihad is of the very religion itself, historically.
Jake, Witney, UK
well i have been reading all ur says ....am not stunned.. but rather thinking how u guyz are soo in to your world ... is time u think other poeple with different point of view and different idology exist with in the planet or the world map we know today .. more over u guyz talk about how strong u are (you guyz as in westren) it doesnt matter does it as we muslims believe power is with god or even any other believing soul should believe the same be it christian or muslim or any other faith.but even trying to understand the 21 centuary and how ppl dont care about relegion and god then i guess still history teaches as the power doesnt belong to any nation, in time it shall change may be after some decades the precident of china will be the new georg bush, u neva know..and america or west is powerfull with the will of the almighty GOD..wether muslims call him allah or other nations call with different name ....and he shall decide who is to be vigtorious...
people just think human peace.
ahmed, pune, india
Excellent piece. Suffice it to say, the radicals within any religion pose a threat to the society as a whole. The Christian Right in North America feels it is their duty to kill doctors who perform abortions. I'm Catholic. I,still,haven't found that addenda to the fifth commandment. Whether a Muslim, Christian or Jew, we can,easily,become the target of fear and supposition when those who proclaim to speak on our behalf cause harm. Thank you for this posting.
Jacob, Montreal, Canada
Some may think that the future brings instability because of the Muslim and Anglo-Catholic divide.
I would urge you to look more closely at the ever opening divide between government and people, specifically in Europe, as the real threat to democracy.
Minnie Ovens, LA, CA,USA
Francis Fukuyama took the idea of "the end of history" from "1066 and all that", at the end of which history came to a full stop (in 1918). It wasn't true then, and it isn't true now.
Clothilde SImon, Leeds,
What the article does not address is the expanding fifth column within western countries. It is large enough and sufficiently alienated from Western values to pose a threat, as it patently is doing. Being at the moment at least outnumbered nationally certainly does not mean there isn't a threat.
Ilmarinen, Jyväskylä, Finland
it's all academic to debate the issue about the enemy and the west (europe) - fact of the matter is the damage to europe through uncontrolled immigration and acceptance of islam as a facet of multiculturalism has already been done and that damage is terminal.
simply put - europe is finished.
tim c, sydney, aus
It is an unfair and naïve to associate Tamerlane to Saladin. Tamerlane is warlord how threatened and invaded Europe and other parts of the world. Saladin is leader who justly fought the Christian European Crusades and saved the Middle East for all faiths from the Crusades.
AM, USA,
Jenkins says that it is the belligerence and ineptitude of the West over the past decade that has left it at the mercy of any islamic misfit with a sack of explosives. This doesn't make sense. If he is indeed correct in saying the threat to the west is only from 'misfits', then he is saying the rest of the recipients of western belligerance are not significantly alarmed by the said belligerence. Either the belligerence is overstated by the misfits (including jenkins) or the vast majority of the the recipients of western belligerence (the non-misfits) are ......what? masochists?
Maybe there is a way out of this..and that is that misfits are misfits because it is THEY who over-react. And they are significant because in our modern world misfits CAN be threat to any western city ......and not because of a bag of explosives. The trade towers could have survived a bag of explosives. Unless that bag was a small nuclear device.
BillB, olympia, wa
Those who do not live in America have no idea what it is like here these days. Most Americans don't give a hoot about their liberties. Most polls show them willing to relinquish them for security. Even before 9/11k, the American spirit of liberty was in serious decline. The average American is so stressed out trying to survive that he doesn't give much thought to anything else, while those of the so-called "Gilded Age" care only about how much they can ostentatiously spend. As for "western civilization" itself, Gandhi called it an oxymoron. As long as the wealthy nations care only about indulging themselves while countless others live in squalor and despair, we of the so-called "west" should do well to take a hard look at ourselves. To quote Robert Burns, "The greatest gift that God can gee us, is to see outselves as others see us."
Richard Cummings, Sag Harbor, NY, USA
Mr. Jenkins is correct. The biggest threat to west is from within. The threat is liberalism. It is sad to watch the USA follow the same path as Western Europe. With the help of Clinton, Gore and other left wing nutcases we will soon be a castrated superpower both economically and militarily. The seperation of church(christianity) and state will worsen. While Islam becomes it's own law as it has in Europe. If the liberals win in 2008 we are doomed. If that's the case, is there room down in Australia or New Zealand for me and my brood?
Chris, Fort Collins, USA
Muslims have never had the Magna Carta experience from which we benefitted so much. With no division of church and state, a blind adherence to ancient texts and a culture of authoritarian rule, rife with human rights abuses, all political and social anxieties can rest there. Rather than be moralistic, we should cultivate peaceful relations, human rights and a culture of respect. It is doubtful that any literate person will ascribe truth to ancient reigious texts 100 years from now. Educated populations will resolve these issues automatically.
IN the menatime we must consider the dangers and counter illogical reasoning and recruitment campaigns of uneducated and disaffected with intelligent challenges, and opportunities for education and skills training.
Emma H., Ottawa, CAN
While I think this in an interesting point-of-view, Mr. Jenkins fails to note that the US & UK leaders he derides have the responsibility to protect their countrymen from these Islamofascits. No doubt Mr. Jenins condemns many of the tools that have allowed both countries to prevent many attacks since 2001.
I travel by air in the US often and I am glad to be searched and welcome more intensive (and intrusive) methods if it ensures I will return safely to my family. Does that mean I'm willing to suspend all civil liberties and/or make the US President a new Cesaer (as Mr Smith seems to think) ? Of course not. But certainly recognizing that these murderers are out there and supported by states in several cases (have you ever heard of Iran or Syria Mr. Jenkins - they are not "small groups of individuals) is a resonable thing for Western governments to do, despite those who just want to pretend it will all go away if only we ignore it.
james donald, St. Paul, MN
One may actually be induced to believe that it is empirical observation and refutation, not simply speculative reason that animates Mr. Jenkins' views. But he does not know the "American right" any more than he knows the Muslim "extremists." He has no more insight into the "extremism" of Bush's cabinet and military planners than is offered in an 19th century Marxist caricature of imperialism.
Following the single largest foreign attack on US soil, he proposes maintaining the status quo. We're all supposed to endure decades of terror like the UK suffered from the IRA. Forgive us our neoconservative hubris to think that after 30 years of attacks on American interests,we could change the landscape of the Middle East by going on the offensive with our greatest army and vast cash. We're not all Chamberlains. Some of us are Churchills. Some of us still think that Iraq could've played out differently, and didn't wish defeat for our troops. I cannot say the same for the pacifist wing.
bobby, Los Angeles, USA
A narow secular view of the world exists where religion is restricted to private worship and should not enter the public sphere while others accept the separation but want to see religious values and spirituality penetrate the society to counter the hedonistic,materialistic, self centered modern culture. Naturally, how it is done may raise some questions especially when it enters the political realm or restricts the rights of others.
Islam has no separation between religion and society or politics. Believers may have as their goal the Islamization or Christianization of the world and do it by example and a free competition of ideas without threats or violence and allow freedom of choice to accept or reject what is being offered, then peace can reign If the Western world considers its values and way of life to be superior to all others and wants to impose its political,economic and social values then the clash of civilizations can become violent. Peaceful interaction is needed
Ameer Raschid, Bodrum, Turkey
I enjoyed the sentiments in regards to statist overreaction to terror -- there really is no arguing that.
But in regards to Islam -- to judge its "benevolence" -- one needs to to look no further than its requirement of death for apostasy, and its treatment of Christians (especially those who evangelize).
W Nelson, Soldotna, Alaska
The Bush/Blair policies, fraud war on Iraq, the propaganda of terror hype, fomentation of hate, fear, patriotic feeding frenzy to control the hearts and minds of the misled and gullible,;the status quo of conservative perversity of inequality, rights only of their kind; the indifference of the west for all except the white Europeans and Americans; the siege mentality , the use, abuse and exploitation of the migrants far ought weight the religious differences of the Christians and the Muslims.
Then again, organized religion be it Christian or Islamic is in itself a disaster that has inflicted an unprecedented harm then good. Overall, Bush/Blair polices are the real impetus for destruction of both UK and US from within at a fast track and Islamists of bin Laden variety has no need to attack US or UK.
Iraq war in itself has created million more radicals to carry out their cause.
Chui, Atlanta ,, USA
Neo-cons often point out how backward and poor the Muslim world is by comparison with the free democratic West. Neo-cons also want us to shudder at the ambition of some Muslims to conquer the West and rule the world. Do they think we're too stupid to notice the contradiction? Apparently so.
Lesley Davies, Manchester,
You are right about Islam,and advocates of jihad,as who lives in islam dominated culture , i see everywhere poverty ,biogotery,and stupidity , there is no match to western democracy ,donot be frightened as have said by madmen ,the majority of muslims if allowed will voluntarily like to settle the west .Even those in oil- rich countries for the tolerant and free western society , Bush and Blair are right it is high time some have stood up for the blackmail of fanatics. Were are all hostages to this stupidity of Mullaha and imams,parroting age -old fallacies.
Mohamed Gees, Hargeysa, Somaliland
Simon Jenkins is correct to say that Islam in general is not the main threat to the west.
The main threat is the prospect of Islamic suicide bombers releasing a chemical, biological or nuclear attack on our major cities, with material supplied by a malign Islamic nation.
Just as it was in 2003.
arnoldo, Coventry,
I agree with John in Glasgow and Ben in New Zealand. No, there is no Saladin or Tamerlane who's going to come and subject the West to a new caliphate. There's instead an army of Muslims who have migrated to the West and who, as a result of a lot of confused thinking on the part of a lot of people in power, are allowed to retain their lifestyles instead of being forced to integrate into the West. Add to that the demographic problem, and I just can't see the West surviving.
JFP, Ohio, USA
How wrong you are, Mr. Jenkins. This is definitely a war between Chriistianity and Islam. But, most of it will not be fought with weapons.
Even now, Ithe birth rate of Muslims in Europe far exceeds that of the current white majority. By the turn of next century, you will all be living under Sharia law and Europe will have become Eurablia.
Wake up, Europe!
Norman Stern, Naples Florida, USA
"Our leaders would suspend the freedoms of democracy at the bang of a bomb"
You can bet the farm they have a plan "good to go", and are just waiting for the right opportunity. The big question is, will they get sick of waiting and get a little more hands on. Or perhaps this has already happened. Care to comment George, Tony? Thought not.
Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Mr. Jenkins writes "The most incompetent period of western diplomacy since the 1930s has left the West hated and cities everywhere at the mercy of any Muslim misfit with a sack of explosive. "
This comment will no doubt bring a warm smile to the lips of future "misfits" looking for reasons to justify the murder of infidels. Why bother relying on the Koran or the words of mullahs and clerics, within and without the U.K. , when self-flagellating British scholars are so expressly enraptured by guilt and uncertainty.
A. G., Oakland, California
So the paranoid neoconservatives overreact and rout the Taliban from Afghanistan and the result is that women are finally seen as human beings, girls are allowed to attend school, the evil Americans demonstrate their paranoid western values by building hospitals, schools, highways and infrastructure. God help us!! Now if the evil George Bush has his way in Iraq, the Kurds will live in peace, the Sunni's and Shia will be "forced" to build a country to gether. Oh my the hopelessness of it all. Please someone find a liberal to get it all back to the good old days
Mark Pennington, Oak Park, USA, California
At once pompous and laughable. The American neocons as the bugbears has grown excruciatingly tedious.
John Reagan, Santa Monica, USA
Simon, you're ignoring the mandate held by many Muslims in the world (not just extremists) that Islam must govern the world. The entire world. Secular democracy is the enemy.
If you don't believe me, ask Muslims. Ask a lot of Muslims. Ask specific questions and don't be fooled by vague answers.
Read the letter again carefully. Does it renounce the goal of global Islamic rule? No, it doesn't. The peace that it seeks is useful in that it will create, in the minds of the signatories, a better climate for establishing greater Islamic adherence, with
the overarching goal of establishing Islamic supremacy.
Do your homework, because you haven't done it yet.
Victor Purinton, Stoneham, MA
if you were to live long enough say till 2050 then i'd love to read your view again..only if God made me live till then
Mohammad, London, UK
The threat is within the West. It's the self absorption, lack of childbearing, naivete about Islamofascism, and European over-immigration that is the threat. The threat is the failure of the West to believe sufficiently in the justice of its cause. The failure to understand that freedom is precious and that economic or military power is not sufficient against enemies who are dedicated and fanatical. Czarist Russia was overthrown by a small number of Bolsheviks in 1917. Western Europe could face an analagous threat from nuclear terrorism by Islamofascism. Demographically, societies can't survive without offspring. Morally, societies can't survive without a clear sense of right and wrong. Wake up Europe!
TJ, So Cal, USA
Fundamental religious conservatism is being forced just as actively in the United States as it is in Saudia Arabia, Iran or any other Muslim country in the middle east. The veneer covering it in this country is what we call "political correctness" . If you dig deep into the vitrol being slung around on the internet blogs, you will find that correctness is fast evaporating in the US with fear and loathing now rising to a scream. I expect that primal scream has been around since Cain and Able... and millions have suffered for it.
Part of it also MAY be the fact that civilized people everywhere are sick and tired to their bones of being exploited by organized religions, governments and corporations. Releasing fear as the only wheapon left in their arsenal...it can not be recalled once planted and scorches everything. Our only defense is enlightened education and communication, and I support any group on either side trying to enhance that effort. So should you.
Benny, Midwest, USA,
the moslem countries do not need to attack europe. As President Gadiffi suggest in the past they can inherit it as the brits french or germans fail to reproduce in similar numbers. many young europeans have chosen a hedonistic likestyle to reproduction - having kids in the UK is something our underclass only seem to be good at.
john, glasgow, uk
Excellent article. As Sir Simon correctly says both Washington and London are led by authoritarian leaders with little or no faith in democracy. Bush is a Facist in all but name. Brown is simply authoritarian but from a Presbyterian bossy standpoint rather than an evil one. Fortunately, despite attempts to undermine their constitutions, these values remain and the voters still have the power to kick them out in the not too distant future. It cannot happen soon enough!
oldasiahand, Manila, Philippines
All opinions expressed by Simon Jenkins regarding the connection and relative affect between religion and social matters should be viewed with caution. This Thursday he was interviwed on the BBC Today programme and stated that the the firm friendship between the Anglican Bishop of Liverpool and the Catholic Archbishop was of no value because it did not dicourage the religious hostility between Everton and Liverpool football supporters. Such at any time never existed. Frank Dunne, Liverpool.
Frank Dunne , Liverpool, Merseyside
George Bush allows american muslims to demonstrate in public, stomp on the American flag and shout "We're all Hezbollah now!" and Mr Jenkins' conclusion is that human rights are being violated.
ABSOLUTE NONSENSE!
If British expats in the Middle East behaved like this they would be sent packing and the British Embassy staff would just look the other way. You need to get out more often Mr Jenkins!
R Smith, Manama, Bahrain
The most important implication of this article (which I largely agree with) is that this conflict is fueled by extremists on both sides. While I'm no tinfoil-hat wearing sort, I do believe that at the very least here in the United States, there is a variety of economic and political factors that generate a willingness on the part of our politicians to engage in open-ended, permanent warfare.
Perhaps it's an existential post-Cold War crisis that drives military-humpers absolutely crazy looking for something to use all that ammunition on. I recall the paper from some conservative think-tank (I believe it was the one Kristol belongs to) advocating the nuking of Iraq and the dissolution of Congress to establish an empire just as Julius Cesaer did.
These people have as much to do with democratic values as Al-Qaeda has to do with peace in Islam. Such warped perceptions on institutions of common good should be quickly dissavowed by all so-called "peers" before they legitimize.
J. Smith, Syracuse, NY
I agree Ben in NZ and am thankful that I live a long way away from Europe where, from the outside looking in, you can see the erosion [no longer gradual] of a Western way of life by the weak politicians. Sarkozy in France appears to be strong and resolute about continuing the Frenchness of his country, alas in Britain the politicians are a group of appeasers who have forgotten their heritage. Many new neighbours have arrived this year from the UK............they all say the same thing 'the UK is not the UK any more - the battle has already been lost to the fundamentalist zealots of Islam.
Tony, Perth, West Australia
If M Wilson thinks that the Northern European countries best method of making a stand against religious lunacy is by inviting lots of religious lunatics (which is exactly what it has been doing for the last 50 years) then he/she is entitled to those opinions.
All I can say is that I am glad that I live 12,000 miles away from these opinions.
Ben in New Zealand, Auckland, NZ
All of these religious leaders have not given a single thought to the fact that they may be wrong. God does not exist and never has. It has been the slight of hand and tongue that created the notion of a religious almighty being. It is all a load of crap. The USA have been conned more than anyone in the western world and until they come to their senses by logical debate in the universities and colleges where, hopefully, there are some modern thinkers, the stalwart north European countries will have to remain the bastion against relious lunacy.
m wilson, bidache, france