Comments on: Depressing Times

By: Bruce Wilson - Florida

Bruce Wilson - Florida — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:20:24 +0000

Thank you Mr. Hanson for this superbly written eulogy. It is very sad and depressing that Ms. Fallaci and her timely warning to the world seem to have passed from us virtually unnoticed. Like you, I’m sure that a time is coming when the world will be suddenly shocked into awareness and wonder why no one sounded the alarm.

By: Dave Begley - Omaha

Dave Begley - Omaha — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:35:55 +0000

Another view on the Pope and worth reading. Dan Henninger in the WSJ.

Link below.

His point: The Pope is serious about talks between Muslims and Christians about stopping all this nutty violence. Faith and reason.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110008979

By: Monkeytango

Monkeytango — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 22:18:20 +0000

Although not a Catholic, I support the Pope to the hilt. He’s not stupid and must have had at least some awareness of the Islamic hornet’s nest that his comments would stir up. As well as shining a light on the Muslim world (with none too-flattering results) the over-reaction led bemused onlookers such as myself to check the historical facts he was referring to. Although most people in the UK (where I am) remain silent in the face of a craven, garbage-spewing media, there’s certainly been a subtle shift in terms of public feelings towards Islam. Those old arguments about ‘it’s only a minority of trouble-makers’, or ‘we need more dialogue wih them’ seem less convincing by the day (witness that grotesque protest outside Westminster Cathedral a few days ago). Although England is yet to wake from its collective stupor, at least some of us have realised what’s happened to this country. Whether the West has the backbone to fight for our civilisation is another matter…

By: Mister Ghost

Mister Ghost — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 19:40:16 +0000

Thanks to VDH for his nice thoughts on Oriana Fallaci. I included it my tribute:

Remembering Oriana Fallaci – The Largest Tribute In The Blogosphere

By: gs

gs — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 23:55:45 +0000

Today's Vatican press releases do not encourage me. Ratzinger said

...I quoted some words from a Christian-Muslim dialogue from the 14th century in which the Christian - the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus - presented to his Muslim interlocutor, in a manner we find incomprehensibly brusque, the problem of the relationship between faith and violence.

So the emperor was "incomprehensibly brusque" during a "Christian-Muslim dialogue" which took place...a few years before 1453? In contrast, the Vatican Secretary Secretary of State's telegram of condolence might be viewed as papal brusqueness toward his own people--but definitely not toward Islam. From Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue:

...The alternative route to terrorism and violence is dialogue, and this involves the recognition of differences.

Two comments. First, to talk about 'dialogue' when presented with violence, rage and intimidation is not necessarily an 'alternative route to terrorism and violence'; on the contrary, it could well be the royal road to the unwanted destination. Second, the enemy has no difficulty whatever about "recognition of differences"; the deliberate blindness lies on our side. I've quickly developed concerns about the pope: his age, his background, and perhaps his ethnicity. Age: even given an ascetic lifestyle, 79 is an advanced age for steering a global institution through major turbulence. Background: Ratzinger's academic and theological roots may leave him ill-prepared to deal with Islamists' posturing emotionalism and cynical propagandizing. Ethnicity: surely the time is long past for civlization's spokesmen to express an element of righteous anger, but is the West yet ready to listen to righteous, even martial, anger in a German accent? (Initially I wondered if Ratzinger was hinting that the Germans could do penance for the Holocaust by leading Europe's defense against Islamism.)

By: stu williamson

stu williamson — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 05:49:45 +0000

The Pope did not “blunder”. He knew exactly what he was saying – had given it intensive thought and had it vetted by Vatican press and public relations specialists. His response was just as asurely carefully scripted ahead of time. He did not apologize: he simpy said he was “sorry for the reactions”, even though he most assuredly expected them. He did not say “I should not have used that quotation.” He said that it did not express his personal thoughts, but gave no clue as to what those present thoughts might be. He delivered a clear message, and got the response he anticipated, from people who got his message.

This Pope is a wise statesman, who is unafraid to make clear his position without using overtly challenging language. “I am sorry if I upset you.” Too bad that we have no leaders as forthright – except in Australia.

By: syn

syn — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 23:34:07 +0000

I’m wondering if Hitchens can explain how one can be racist when speaking of religion. If criticism made a religion constitutes racism then those who have been flaming Christian/Judeo religion have a lot of apologising for their racist and inflamantory remarks.

By: drydock

drydock — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 19:09:30 +0000

Hitchens said Fallaci is an example of how not to write about Islam. While her earlier years may be something to admire, Hitchens knows her later writings were filled with inflamantory racism. But I guess that’s what the posters here admire– she said what they don’t have the balls to say.

By: B. Beyamenu

B. Beyamenu — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:04:23 +0000

9/11 has come and gone, butthe question still stands:Who benefits from Terrorism? It’s obvious that nothing much will change until the World’s perspective on the problem changes.We’ll never get back to the civilized world (peaceful intercourse, developing economies, flourishing airlines and ever increasing international tourism)we all remember so fondly, until those who benefit from Terrorism are incapacitated.As you well know it’s neither the Palestinians/Iraqis, Afghans nor the Lebanese who benefit from Terrorist activities.What is going on is not hatred of Moslems for Jews/Americans/Israelis and vice versa. People don’t hate people. All people have the same aspirations – peace, a roof over their head and food on the table.It is uninspired Leaders who, because of their agenda, indoctrinate people with hatred for their fellowmen.The Despots of the Middle East, abetted by the Fundamentalist Imams, who finance the teaching of hatred in the Mosque and the Madrass and the training and arming Of deluded Youth (whom they disfranchise, exploit and intimidate), are intent on sacrificing the last Palestinian “Freedom Fighter” and the last Iraqi “Paradise Seeker” to ensure the perpetuation of their own regimes.This is a battle of Despots against Democracy that commenced with the appearance of Israel’s fledgling Democracy in the Middle East.Expose the Despots and their heinous exploitation of their own subjects and curtail their financing of Terrorism and you bring an end to a sad chapter in World History.

By: Retief

Retief — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:05:37 +0000

What?!? What kind of Christian is this who tells us that the souls of confirmed atheists get eternally saved? Because God likes her politics? That don’t make no sense.