A Moral Posture

In the past I’ve suggested that Islam is based on primitive concepts among them are the primacy of shame and humiliation. During the 19^th century, the British, proud of their culture, were critics of Islamic customs. Britain led the world abolitionist movement by banning the slave trade from the seas. Under British colonial influence Arabs also rid themselves of the slave trade – not by creating vibrant abolitionist societies – but by slowly and shamefully capitulating to the British.

The esteem of the West was infectious. Ataturk, seeking to become Western, brutally suppressed Islam and eliminated the Caliphate. His means were clearly anything but liberal but he wished to gain the fruits of the liberal order – even if by near-totalitarian means. This is the only example of a sustained transformation of a major Islamic society. The Shah of Iran followed his example but failed when his domestic secular enemies (the Communists) foolishly joined forces with Islamists … and the Communists became the first casualty after the revolution.

Today, the West is the primary cheerleader for the ideology of Islam. It is nearly impossible to criticize Islam. To vilify this ideology results in banishment from the public debate. While the Islamic revival is driven by internal forces, it gets a boost when praised by Western leaders – often the same leaders that will vilify their own culture. What would happen if we reverse that process? What would happen if we proudly trumpeted our superior culture and vilified the savage culture of Islam?

Let’s ask an astute ex-Muslim. Ali Sina, of Faith Freedom International, notes:

If a lot of us become involved and spread this message so everyone can see the ugliness of Islam, we will succeed. Muslims will leave Islam when everyone denounces it. How do I know that? It is because I know the Muslim mind. Muslims are desperate for others’ approval. See how they quote this or that celebrity who praises Islam and how they lobby for recognition of Islam by politicians and governments? No one else does that. No other religious group needs such approvals to feel good about their religion. Muslims are very insecure of their faith. This can be witnessed in their reaction to criticism. Muslims are the only group that go in a frenzied hysteria, riot, burn houses of worship and kill innocent people if someone somewhere says something not so flattering about Muhammad. These insecurities are the signs of their vulnerability. Once the "useful idiots" stop praising Islam, it would be like cutting their narcissistic supplies. Their pride and arrogance will whither and eventually they will leave Islam. Believe me, they will!

So, forget about the Muslims, you target the “useful idiots”. When these useful idiots and appeasers stop praising Islam, Muslims will atrophy and vanish. Educate and if necessary put the useful idiots to shame to grab their attention.

Exactly! Honor and shame are important – and they should be – but in Arab culture there is an intense over-emphasis, often in crude ways, which are typical of those who internally feel the shame of a spiritual impoverishment. If we honestly expressed our moral indignation instead of clinging to moral relativism, if we acted like they were ill-suited to enter civilized society, and if we condemned the daily Islamic atrocities as a sign of a barbaric religious ideology, Mr. Sina is right -- Islam will become marginalized as it was, to a large extent, in the 19^th century.

We, of course, are doing the opposite. They are not brain-dead and, as I mentioned below; they have inferred what many Americans are quietly thinking. But imagine if we all expressed those thoughts. Never under estimate the power of a moral posture. It's time we affirm our greatness and act accordingly.