Passing Thoughts On Hugh's Symposium
I will be as brief as I can. I am tired, but I thought that I should comment on Hugh Hewitt's symposium tonight on his radio show. For those missing this, scroll down; Thomas tried to keep up with the conversation for the hour it was carried as quickly and as accurately as he could. I think he did a pretty good job compared to the transcript up on Radio Blogger.
Hugh's round-table of commentators included Michael Medved, Dennis Prager--both of the Salem Radio Network, and good friends of Hugh's--and Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost. The topic was, of course, the Danish cartoons, and the opinions were wide and varied between the quartet of minds.
There were a couple questions brought up that I would to address. First, how much of Islam is radicalized right now, and what percent could be brought to the radical's camp? I believe that a small portion of Islam is radicalized right now, approximately fifteen-to-twenty percent. Another two or three percent may join their collective camp after this fiasco, and they stand a chance of gaining another thirty-to-forty percent over the course of this war. Eventually, human nature will only allow so much to go so far. To answer the question presented to Hugh, I believe by Dennis Prager, I am sure that a number of "Christian radicals" may have been spawned by the profane displays of art in the New York museum (piss Christ, et al), or a blatant distortion of Christianity, but none can be attributed to an act of violence, save the lone bomber and assassin of abortion clinics.
This episode unfolding across the globe by radical Islam is the part of a propganda stunt by the imams of the radical sect. These cartoons were published back in Septmeber of 2005. We are just now entering our second week of violent protests. In October of 2005 and early January of this year, the diplomatic pressures occurred from Muslim nations. So, why all of a sudden, after more than fourteen weeks, do we suddenly have protests. Syria was the first outbreak, and there are allegations that Assad is helping to incite the outrage to take the focus off of his possible involvement in the death of Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon. Iran is the country escalating the violence, and this past Saturday, they were referred to the United Nations Security Council by the IAEA. Again, more deflection, and these are the points being ignored by the MSM.
Michael Medved made a point that the cartoons are a statement against the political correctness exuded in this war. This I also feel is a true point worth noting. We only need to look at our own media, and how they have reported this situation for confirmation. CNN, when reporting this story pixelated the images so they did not offend anyone. Newspapers and MSM TV outlets have refused to show them. Michaell Malkin pointed out this past weekened that the MSM is calling this whole outburst a "row." To correct that mistake, I cite the dictionary. A "row" is: 'a noisy disturbance or quarrel.' Anyone who has kept an eye on this and the images coming out of this knows that this is hardly a "quarrel." For some, and I can understand their point, this is war. Need we remind people that an attack on an embassy constitutes an act of war?
Dennis Prager made an exceellent point when he pointed to the fact that there is no real difference in the cartoons done by the Danes, and those made by anti-Semitic people ripping the Jews, or those defaming Christianity. He also pointed out there is hypocrisy within their own protest as they refuse to condemn all such slanders; they refuse to condemn those defaming Christianity or Judaism. This is a point I must agree with. A condemnation of one should include a condemnation of all to be truly, intellectually honest.
What I believe was perhaps one of the most foolish moments of the symposium was when Joe Carter brought up an analogy. He stated that a stand in solidarity with the cartoonists was like standing with the guy who insulted his wife after he popped him. First of all, I do not believe these cartoons to be intentionally derogatory. I give the Danes the benefit of the doubt; artistic license, or what have you. And the majority of bloggers that I have read, and the number of people I know of, are not necessairly standing in solidarity with the Danes. They stated that they were doing this to show opposition to the self-censorship that so many news outlets engage in during this war. I trust that. I see it. Over the course of these violent protests we have seen the reluctance of the MSM to address them and put them in context. Remember, it is a quarrel to them. No, we are taking the message of unacceptability to the radicals that are acting the way they are. Thought it was not mentioned on the show until after the symposium, the Ayatollah Sistani has denounced the violence.
I remember the question presented as to who wins out in this. I do not remember the answers (no the transcript is not up yet), but I do remember thinking about this myself. Honestly, right now, it is not the Muslims. They are not winning this because of the backlash arising from the moderates speaking out. It is also not playing well when groups like CAIR and the MCB (Muslim Council of Britain) who rely on a great deal of donations. Moderates will not support either of these organizations as long as the animals are on the loose. Further, it is not garnering any true sympathy worldwide, which is what they need in addition to the money. For them, now, this is a serious PR problem. Could this explode into something further? Anything is possible, but I doubt it will be something that they would desire.
Thomas is correct: We do not want a war with the whole of Islam, nor do they wish to truly deal with the world as a whole. Hopefully, in the days to come, this violence will tone itself down and subside. If it does not, it will only get worse for Muslims. As the violence spreads, governments will react, and it will not be pleasent for them. In closing, Hugh asked them, in his final segment, what should the president say? Were I the president, the first phone call I would make would be to the State Department, and remind them who speaks on behalf of the United States. Then I would reinforce or support of freedoms, such as that of expression, and condemn the violence within the region. The president did call the Danish Prime Minister today to state that he supported their government; a government that has apologized for the offense, as has the newspaper. That is all he has to do.
The Bunny ;)
I will be as brief as I can. I am tired, but I thought that I should comment on Hugh Hewitt's symposium tonight on his radio show. For those missing this, scroll down; Thomas tried to keep up with the conversation for the hour it was carried as quickly and as accurately as he could. I think he did a pretty good job compared to the transcript up on Radio Blogger.
Hugh's round-table of commentators included Michael Medved, Dennis Prager--both of the Salem Radio Network, and good friends of Hugh's--and Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost. The topic was, of course, the Danish cartoons, and the opinions were wide and varied between the quartet of minds.
There were a couple questions brought up that I would to address. First, how much of Islam is radicalized right now, and what percent could be brought to the radical's camp? I believe that a small portion of Islam is radicalized right now, approximately fifteen-to-twenty percent. Another two or three percent may join their collective camp after this fiasco, and they stand a chance of gaining another thirty-to-forty percent over the course of this war. Eventually, human nature will only allow so much to go so far. To answer the question presented to Hugh, I believe by Dennis Prager, I am sure that a number of "Christian radicals" may have been spawned by the profane displays of art in the New York museum (piss Christ, et al), or a blatant distortion of Christianity, but none can be attributed to an act of violence, save the lone bomber and assassin of abortion clinics.
This episode unfolding across the globe by radical Islam is the part of a propganda stunt by the imams of the radical sect. These cartoons were published back in Septmeber of 2005. We are just now entering our second week of violent protests. In October of 2005 and early January of this year, the diplomatic pressures occurred from Muslim nations. So, why all of a sudden, after more than fourteen weeks, do we suddenly have protests. Syria was the first outbreak, and there are allegations that Assad is helping to incite the outrage to take the focus off of his possible involvement in the death of Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon. Iran is the country escalating the violence, and this past Saturday, they were referred to the United Nations Security Council by the IAEA. Again, more deflection, and these are the points being ignored by the MSM.
Michael Medved made a point that the cartoons are a statement against the political correctness exuded in this war. This I also feel is a true point worth noting. We only need to look at our own media, and how they have reported this situation for confirmation. CNN, when reporting this story pixelated the images so they did not offend anyone. Newspapers and MSM TV outlets have refused to show them. Michaell Malkin pointed out this past weekened that the MSM is calling this whole outburst a "row." To correct that mistake, I cite the dictionary. A "row" is: 'a noisy disturbance or quarrel.' Anyone who has kept an eye on this and the images coming out of this knows that this is hardly a "quarrel." For some, and I can understand their point, this is war. Need we remind people that an attack on an embassy constitutes an act of war?
Dennis Prager made an exceellent point when he pointed to the fact that there is no real difference in the cartoons done by the Danes, and those made by anti-Semitic people ripping the Jews, or those defaming Christianity. He also pointed out there is hypocrisy within their own protest as they refuse to condemn all such slanders; they refuse to condemn those defaming Christianity or Judaism. This is a point I must agree with. A condemnation of one should include a condemnation of all to be truly, intellectually honest.
What I believe was perhaps one of the most foolish moments of the symposium was when Joe Carter brought up an analogy. He stated that a stand in solidarity with the cartoonists was like standing with the guy who insulted his wife after he popped him. First of all, I do not believe these cartoons to be intentionally derogatory. I give the Danes the benefit of the doubt; artistic license, or what have you. And the majority of bloggers that I have read, and the number of people I know of, are not necessairly standing in solidarity with the Danes. They stated that they were doing this to show opposition to the self-censorship that so many news outlets engage in during this war. I trust that. I see it. Over the course of these violent protests we have seen the reluctance of the MSM to address them and put them in context. Remember, it is a quarrel to them. No, we are taking the message of unacceptability to the radicals that are acting the way they are. Thought it was not mentioned on the show until after the symposium, the Ayatollah Sistani has denounced the violence.
I remember the question presented as to who wins out in this. I do not remember the answers (no the transcript is not up yet), but I do remember thinking about this myself. Honestly, right now, it is not the Muslims. They are not winning this because of the backlash arising from the moderates speaking out. It is also not playing well when groups like CAIR and the MCB (Muslim Council of Britain) who rely on a great deal of donations. Moderates will not support either of these organizations as long as the animals are on the loose. Further, it is not garnering any true sympathy worldwide, which is what they need in addition to the money. For them, now, this is a serious PR problem. Could this explode into something further? Anything is possible, but I doubt it will be something that they would desire.
Thomas is correct: We do not want a war with the whole of Islam, nor do they wish to truly deal with the world as a whole. Hopefully, in the days to come, this violence will tone itself down and subside. If it does not, it will only get worse for Muslims. As the violence spreads, governments will react, and it will not be pleasent for them. In closing, Hugh asked them, in his final segment, what should the president say? Were I the president, the first phone call I would make would be to the State Department, and remind them who speaks on behalf of the United States. Then I would reinforce or support of freedoms, such as that of expression, and condemn the violence within the region. The president did call the Danish Prime Minister today to state that he supported their government; a government that has apologized for the offense, as has the newspaper. That is all he has to do.
The Bunny ;)
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 11:39 PM
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