Turkish and Pakistani Demagogues Can’t Read
September 15, 2006 · By Tom Cerber
The Pakistani Parliament (yes, that one in that great democracy) passed a resolution condemning what it regards as the pope’s views on Islam (expressed recently in a speech he gave in Regensburg, where he was quoting Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire. Turkish officials are also condemning him.
However, as the BBC (of all places) reports, they never bothered to read the pope’s actual words:
Stressing that they were not his own words, he quoted Emperor Manuel II Paleologos of the Byzantine Empire, the Orthodox Christian empire which had its capital in what is now the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The emperor’s words were, he said: “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”
Benedict said “I quote” twice to stress the words were not his and added that violence was “incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul”.
“The intention here is not one of retrenchment or negative criticism, but of broadening our concept of reason and its application,” he added in the concluding part of his speech.
“Only thus do we become capable of that genuine dialogue of cultures and religions so urgently needed today.”
AP accuses him of being coy.
Decide for yourself. (pdf)
Turkish and Pakistani Demagogues Can’t Read
Quoting with approval is the same as saying it oneself so the Pope can’t distance himself from the comment. That said, the reaction of the blogosphere is one of approval. It is time a leader led rather than tring to be all things to all people.
Well, the Pope is not a politician. He’s the leader of the Catholic Church. The speach was made in an academic setting, the purpose of the quote to make the point that faith and violence are not compatible.
Clearly some Muslims strongly disagree, and enough to fire bomb a few churches in the West Bank to register their displeasure. What a bunch of stupid thugs! By their actions they highlight Pope Benedict’s message, showing the Byzantine Emporer’s point to remain relevant.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....pe_muslims
http://hallsofmacadamia.blogsp.....-pope.html
Of course, they also just voted to keep on giving rapists a get out of jail free card.
In Pakistan, rape is dealt with under Islamic laws known as the Hudood Ordinances. These criminalise all sex outside marriage.
So, under Hudood, if a rape victim fails to present four male witnesses to the crime, she herself could face punishment.