Noble arab brothers and sisters (strong language)
Gary Kremen
> Ken, surely you are aware that Saudi Arabia, the traditional center of
> Arabic and Islamic culture, has long been one of America's strongest
> allies. During the most dangerous periods in recent history, the
> Saudis were a moderating force!
What unmitigated bullshit. The only reason we are allies with the arabs,
and Saudi Arabia in particular, is their oil. Since the world economy
is and will be for many years, be petroleum-based and the Arabs possess
it, we have good geo-political reasons for an alliance. Its not like we
have common ideals and beliefs (as in democracy, etc.).
Saudi Arabia is not the traditional center of arabic and islamic
culture. The center of arabic and islamic culture has changed many times
in the past and will most likely change again. Usually, in a given time
period, the arab entity bitching the loudest is the center of arab and
islamic "culture". Lets briefly discuss this so-called culture. Which
part of arab and islamic culture to discuss? The part that cuts off the
ears and noses of petty criminals or the part that treats their women
as shit?
Yes, of course they are a moderating force. Compared to Quaddaffi's
Libya or Komanhi's Iran (among others) Saudi Arabians are a moderating
force. Compared to almost any other ally... During other dangerous
periods in recent history (WW II) they were a moderating force - to the
Nazis - who the Saudis supported feverishly)
> You may not like the terrorist techniques employed by certain groups
> that just happen to be part of the Arabic culture. Fine -- neither do I
> -- we agree. Do you similarly hate any group because you disapprove of
> the actions of a few? That is called prejudice -- an ugly, hateful, and
> malignant evil that is the very cause of the problems of today. And YOU
> are spreading it around.
These methods are an intergal part of any islamic culture. Just read the
Koran. (FLAME). We are not talking about the actions of a few; we are
talking about the actions and beliefs of the majority.
> Western culture has for too long held a contemptuous attitude for our
> noble Arabic brothers and sisters. You are brainwashed by the stupidity
> of our ancestors.
Noble brothers and sisters? Give us all a break!!!
--
Name: Gary Kremen
Address 1: kre...@aerospace.ARPA
Address 2: {sdcdcf,trwba,randvax}!aero!kremen
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SEVENER
> What unmitigated bullshit. The only reason we are allies with the arabs,
> and Saudi Arabia in particular, is their oil. Since the world economy
> is and will be for many years, be petroleum-based and the Arabs possess
> it, we have good geo-political reasons for an alliance. Its not like we
> have common ideals and beliefs (as in democracy, etc.).
>
> Saudi Arabia is not the traditional center of arabic and islamic
> culture. The center of arabic and islamic culture has changed many times
> in the past and will most likely change again. Usually, in a given time
> period, the arab entity bitching the loudest is the center of arab and
> islamic "culture". Lets briefly discuss this so-called culture. Which
> part of arab and islamic culture to discuss? The part that cuts off the
> ears and noses of petty criminals or the part that treats their women
> as shit?
> Name: Gary Kremen
> Address 1: kre...@aerospace.ARPA
The hate and prejudice spewed forth upon Arabs by Gary Kremen
is both dangerous and tragic. It is typical for such stereotyping
to characterize all memmbers of the hated group as the same-they
are *all* equally worthless and all members of the group are assigned
the blame for the actions of a few.
I personally know Moslems from the Mideast who do not support the
oppression of women in many Arab countries, nor the imposition of
archaic laws about severing limbs for criminal punishment, nor
other repressive actions by Arab governments. It is narrowminded
prejudice to imply that all Arans or all Moslems support either
these actions or that interpretation of the Koran.
Currently some members (note I say *some*) of the Moral Majority in our
own country are supporting book-burning, state assassination of
criminals (80% of whom just happen somehow to be black), the
apartheid regime in South Africa, and censorship. In the past
*some* Christians have supported the Inquisition, witch-burnings,
slavery, war and colonialism: all in the supposed name of Christ and
the Bible. Does this mean all Christians supported these things?
Certainly not. Does this mean such meanhearted and hateful interpretations
of the Bible are the only ones possible? Certainly not.
Nor does it mean that all Christians are destructive of culture.
What holds for white Christians holds just as strongly for Arab
Moslems. In fact the Christian West regained ancient knowledge
and writers after the Dark Ages from the Arabs who had translated
and preserved Aristotle, Galen and countless other Greek and Roman
thinkers, scholars and writers. Moreover it was the Arabs who
first developed the mathematical concepts of zero and *al-gebra* .
The Arabs also have written some of the world's most beautiful
poetry, may have contributed the guitar to Western music and
have been very constructive in many fields of culture.
Let us be clear to criticize only those responsible for malicious
acts such as terrorism and let us turn the light of criticism first
upon ourselves before condemning others for actions they have
neither fomented nor supported.
One will note that almost every Arab government condemned the Achille Lauro
hijacking.
tim sevener whuxn!orb
T Wheeler
today I agree with someone I usually disagree with. Sevener
is absolutly right in his assesment of hatred. His article
was well said. One point to the previous poster who said
that Saudi Arabia had not always been the center of the
Moslem religion. You had better go back to History 101
and read a little further. Mecca has never moved from
its present spot. That spot currently resides within the
territory governed by the Saudi family. Mecca was once governed
by another family from that region, but they were ousted
by the Saudis. (They became the rulers of the present
day Jordan). The arabic cultural center has moved all
over the middle east. The religious center has always
been in Mecca.
T. C. Wheeler