Hating Islam

I have been meaning to link to this piece by Siggy – in fact I did link to it, somewhere – but it deserves notice on its own, apart from a roundup of posts.

Siggy hates Islam and explains why:

I have more than a passing knowledge of Arab Muslim history and culture and I am familiar with current Arab politics. I have visited the region a number of times and consider myself well read and au courrant when discussing Arab affairs.
[…]

My hatred for all things Islamic stems from the truth that one of the people I admire most in the world is a Muslim. After 10 plus years, I can say my friend is the singularly most decent, honest and kindest person I know.

My friend believes in God, without equivocation, and my friend is outraged at yoke that must be borne by true Muslim believers because of the disintegration of Islam. […]

When a tyrant or dictator attempts to justify his actions, we can rightly assume that justification is false. Tyrants and dictators do not make moral choices, because moral choices can only lead to the demise of the tyranny.

These words are not empty. I have seen my friend freeze in dread when the news came that a family member was arrested back home. The family member was reported as having bitterly noted that Muslims in a European country were able to start their own business without the backsheesh (under the table bribe money) that was required at home- and that error was compounded because the family member made the remarks in the presence of some university mucky mucks, looking to score the 75 dollar reward for informing.

It took some intervention and well placed backsheesh to smooth things over.

My friend bitterly, if quietly, jokes that Israel doesn’t need the Arab world- it is the Arab and Muslim world that need Israel, because Israel is the mirror that fuels the self hatred, highlights their own ugliness. In fact, that emotion of self hatred runs so deep, that it cripples the Arab and Islamic world from moving forward, and thus better themselves. They are mired in a well designed and crafted images from the past. Like Hitler before them, Arab religious and political leaders by design, want to keep them ‘down on the farm’ by focusing their attention on a past crafted to appeal to a created identity-one that stems from the past.

You’ll want to read the whole provocative piece – and the comments section, too. Then check out Maxed-Out Mama who has a way of finding connecting strands within stories where others do not. She writes of faith, Shari’a and the lost of trust, the clash of civilizations, and yes, Siggy’s piece plays a part. Her post is a bit of a tour de force, and I highly recommend printing it out and reading it with care.