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Sept. 19, 2006 Whether it's a cartoon in Denmark, muslim girls electrocuting themselves in Paris, or the pope quoting a 14th-15th century emperor that almost no one has ever heard of, Muslims have shown they have a propensity for rage and violence, if nothing else. Muslims the world over are throwing a temper tantrum because Benedict XVI quoted a Humanist Byzantine Emperor, talk about touchy. Apparently it is ok for Muslims to blow up trains, buses, skyscrapers, and any other aspect of civilized society they can think to blow up, but don't bring up Emperor Manuel II Paleologos, the insult is obviously too fresh in their minds and they can't help but lash out. A little history lesson so everyone can know what all the fuss is about. Manuel II Paleologos ruled from 1391-1425, a patron to Byzantine Humanists during the last Byzantine Renaissance. Manuel did not rule much of an empire. By the time he took power, Byzantium had been at war with muslims since the 7th century. An empire that once stretched from Spain to Syria now only controlled Constaninople, and an enclave in southern Greece. Muslims had wrested the middle east and north Africa in the 7th century and Asia Minor and the Balkans began to fall in the 13th century with the sacking of Constantinople in 1204 AD. The empire wasn't exactly in the best of shape, adn faced with seven centuries of violent jihad the Emperor came to the conclusion that Islam was a violent religion spread by the sword. Silly him. Now, fast forward six hundred years and apparently the Turks can still get worked up into a fury if reminded of a conversation between a long dead emperor and a long dead Persian scholar. Manuel must have hit the nail right on the head or there wouldn't have been such a reaction. (That or they don't like to be reminded of the Empire's existence. It contradicts Turkish propaganda that the Turks are indigenous to Turkey.) We endlessly hear about the need for a dialouge between Islam and the west. Here's how that dialouge has been going on since the 7th century. The West: Let's talk so we can learn from one another, but could you stop sacking our cities, raping our women and selling our people into slavery, please? Islam: DIE INFIDEL! That's pretty much how it has been going on ever since. (I know, the crusades and colonialism and all that.. but please. When you weigh over a thousand years of slaughter vs. 150 years of french colonialism the scales aren't even close to even.) Muslims can dehumanize non believers by calling them apes and pigs, but the Pope can't quote a Byzantine emperor who made a viable point about Islam? So much for dialouge. This is a war of civilizations, for the life of western civilization. We won't win by trying to talk them to death. Less dialouge please, we've seen where that's gotten us. ------------ About the author: Craig Chamberlain has written more than 100 articles for Useless-Knowledge.com. Email: craig_chamberlain@hotmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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