Should we Defend Western Civilization?

We should vigorously defend western ideals.

We should not allow, nor should Europe, Islamic men to beat their women nor squelch freedom of speech because it is part of their religion. Sorry, take that back to your country. Western Homie don't play that game.
 
Excellent article. For some reason, many on the left equate culture and ethnicity, and assume that any attempt to denigrate a cultural practice, no matter how offensive, is tantamount to racism. This simply is not true.

Race and ethnicity are immutable characteristics, but culture can, and occasionally should be changed.

I think this problem is more pronounced in Europe than the US. As the writer suggests, he (like many Americans) is comfortable with different music, foods, clothing, language but does not see any reason to tolerate those aspects of a culture (or civilziation as he puts it) that are inconsistent with our values. I agree.
 
The author mentions Islamic women wearing burqas:
The burqa is not only a sign of female oppression, it is an instrument of it. It is a direct affront to any concept of freedom, equal rights, or personal dignity. In the West, allowing women to wear burqas in daily life is not being culturally sensitive. It is a betrayal of all that is good in Western civilization.

Maybe I’m picking a semantic nit but if there’s a cultural/religious requirement to dress women against their will then I can see a possible human rights issue. But what if they choose to wear it? Physical abuse is a non-starter, but clothing? I just don’t follow that particular objection.
 
Dionysus,

I see the burqua as a clear instrument and symbol of subjugation. However, as an American I would not go as far as the writer to actually ban it.
 
I agree, and I can’t imagine a woman choosing to wear one but who knows for sure.

I’ve seen some disturbing videos of Islamic/Sharia crowds participating in public stonings, and I sometimes wonder if they’re not so brainwashed on that **** that they actually develop an appetite for it.
 
Western civilization, so called, committed suicide in the summer of 1914 and was not much to write home about before then, though it had flashes of brilliance. The one common theme of western civilization was christianity, not tolerance or the other virtues often cited by the ignorant as its standards.

What we should be defending, and this is consistent with the intent of the author of the article, is liberty. The right of men to be free of the tentacles of others, be it the state, a bronze age religion, or other men claiming them as chattels.

western civilization got house trained regarding human rights after a long period of barbaric institutions began getting destroyed, starting with the hegemony of my church of choice. Next came slavery. Right now the subjugation of women is getting its overdue axe to the head.

What we find noxious about islam is its arbitrary authoritarianism. If people want to idolize some religious zealot driven mad by sandstorms that is ok by me but don't use their "truth" to tyrannize others.

If we can agree that the modern totem of western civilization is individual liberty, sign me up. Otherwise, I will take a pass on fighting for anybody except as a lesser evil.
 
huisache,

I'll accept that liberty is the cornerstone of Western Civilization, but since 1914, I think you could also throw in expanding civil rights, free speech/press, acceptance of science and technological advancement, democractic secularism, and (until about the mid 1990s), free market capitalism.
 
No as in "not a good thing" or "not something that is part of Western Civilization"?

I see secular democratic governments as an alternative to theocracies, but I'd be interested in hearing an alternative view.

I also see secular democracies as largely being tolerant of religious pluralities and permitting religious freedom to a far greater degree than a government that is an organ of the church.
 
I agree with your last statement but lately we've had in this country a hostile style of secularism that has a goal of squashing everything related to Christianity out of this country. The line has been crossed and our freedom to practice Christianity must be defended. Other religions must be tolerated but not feared. We have to be able to call out and stop radical Islamic practices when they're plain for anyone to see (as in Ft Hood). How sad is it when Political Correctness costs us innocent lives?
 
Dude... nuns wear Burkas. They are wearing them in the damn nativity scene. Its not a symbol of oppression. Give me a break already.

Most muslim women CHOOSE to wear them. Its a symbol of modesty, not oppression. Stop it already.
 
What about Ft. Hood was a radical Islamic thing? If Im not mistaken some nut in Norway murdered 90 something children and he wasnt a Muslim....

Islam does not preach murder of innocent people. Nut jobs do.
 
If a woman is beaten, for any reason that I can think of, then it is unacceptable. But for people to project that onto every woman whose Muslim being oppressed and beaten is silly.

The majority of Muslim women will tell you that being covered up is not oppressive. If some feel it is, then they should be allowed to dress as they please.

Newsflash: A lot of American Muslim women do dress as they please.

Hijab is much more of a cultural phenomenon than a religious dictate. Its what men and women have been wearing long before Islam even showed up. Islam inherited it because it is well, inherently modest. You live in the desert with the sun and sand and see how long it takes before you start dressing that way, especially 1800 years ago.
 
That article reminds me of this sequence in the movie Amadeus -

Mozart: It's a beautiful story, your grace, full of true German virtues!

Emperor: Tell us, Mozart, what are some of these "German virtues?"

Mozart: Love, sire.

Italian court composer: Oh, love! Well, in Italy we know nothing of love!

Most of the values this guy talks about seem to me to be human ideals, not simply Western ideals.
 
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