Comments on: The unacknowledged controversy over Bernard Lewis

By: Bikhair

Bikhair — Thu, 04 May 2006 18:09:08 +0000

Umar,

I dont get the question? Your bloggies miss you brother. Go back home!

By: Umar Lee

Umar Lee — Wed, 03 May 2006 18:22:39 +0000

can you tell me how Lewis has a more valid opinion than a Muslim cabbie in Cairo?

By: raashid

raashid — Wed, 03 May 2006 07:54:06 +0000

Obviously I’m not sure about the reasons for Turkish anti-Israel and anti-Americanism, I’m merely going on discussions I had on a recent visit to Istanbul. Despite much talk of a “Clash of Civilizations”, I think Huntingdon’s conclsion was lost on most people. That is, irrespective of ideological adherence or sincerity, people naturally gravitate towards those more similar to themselves. Hence, a Turkey which is the most Westernized Muslim country, can have a populace that was vehemently opposed to attacking Iraq, it seems to me because it was seen as an aggression agaiast fellow Muslims, even though they’d have no problem with similar aggression against their own (or Iraq’s) Kurds. “Nobody can hit my brother but me…” Bikhair - I agree that Robert Spencer’s gangs or moronic, but their point that they can’t impose a system to Western liking in the Muslim world without eradicating Islam comprehensively (some call it “reforming”).

By: Bikhair

Bikhair — Wed, 03 May 2006 04:40:14 +0000

Raashid,

Robert Spencers crowd is as stupid as he is. This guys only claim to knowledge is having read Reliance of the Travellor than projects all Muslim behavior based on that book. What a retard.

By: George Carty

George Carty — Tue, 02 May 2006 15:29:32 +0000

Even there, the popular sentiment is opposed to both the US and Israel - just watch “The Valley of the Wolves Iraq” movie.

The Soviet Union was anti-American and anti-Zionist for most of its existence. Are you sure that Islam is the root of Turkish anti-Americanism?

As the likes of Robert Spencer’s Jihadwatch crowd will tell you, the best the West can hope for is a state that enforces a secular system over an unwilling people indefinitely - a la Turkey.

Is it a good idea to go on the attack against such people, by reminding them that forced conversion of Muslims has never ever worked?

By: raashid

raashid — Tue, 02 May 2006 14:36:20 +0000

I think it’s a myth to suggest even Turkish society has truly been secularized. Even there, the popular sentiment is opposed to both the US and Israel - just watch “The Valley of the Wolves Iraq” movie. I think the more sensible Western scholars are increasingly becoming aware that Muslim societies can’t truly be moulded to their liking as long as they have Islam. As the likes of Robert Spencer’s Jihadwatch crowd will tell you, the best the West can hope for is a state that enforces a secular system over an unwilling people indefinitely - a la Turkey.

By: George Carty

George Carty — Tue, 02 May 2006 13:42:28 +0000

It was the nationalist legitimacy which Kemal Ataturk gained from his successful defence of Turkey against the Greek invasion which made it possible for him to secularize Turkey.

No man who could in any way be perceived as a Western puppet could pull off a similar feat.