Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald
Yes, "they hate us for our freedom".  |
The President of Iran, whom anyone subjective would consider a radical in the Muslim world, in his letter the other day, basically urged Bush, as a Christian man, to give up and recognize that democracy was a failed concept, that the only true form of government and the one that would eventually prevail throughout the world, including America, was religious based, where everyone would be focussed into a narrow band of beliefs.
The last words from his text:
Liberalism and Western style democracy have not been able to help realize the ideals of humanity. Today these two concepts have failed.
Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the liberal democratic systems.
We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point – that is the Almighty God. Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems. My question for you is : Do you not want to join them?
Mr President,
Whether we like it or not, the world is gravitating towards faith in the Almighty and justice and the will of God will prevail over all things.
Vasalam Ala Man Ataba'al hoda
Mahmood Ahmadi-Najad President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
His comments were consistent with others among the more radical fringes of Muslim culture.
So, yes, it would be fair to say the more radical elements within that cultural group "hate us for our freedom," or certainly consider its export a threat.
That's from his own words.
Its not the only thing going on, obviously, but its interesting that he would end his letter with that as his main point.
The irony is, of course, that he's basically admitting that his own election was a complete sham and largely irrelevant given more Liberal candidates were barred from running against him. Was he afraid of them?
As for ordinary Muslims, which I would separate from the President of Iran, we can clearly see in Afghanistan and Iraq that Muslims not only understand the concept of democracy, but actively embraced it in spite of threats to their lives.
Where democracy is struggling in those regions is not on the concept of democracy but rather on a more basic premise - culturally immature people used to settling differences with a gun or some other threat are instead more than a little flummoxed by having to sit in a room and negotiate compromises and concensus. What we would consider ordinary is new to them.
Everybody has to grow up sometime.
Cowperson