Paul Rons
2008-02-22 10:27:31 UTC
The West to the World: Accept Our Values or Die
By Abid Mustafa, Middle East Online. Posted February 21, 2008.
The forceful imposition of Western values is far more of a threat to world
peace than Muslim nations gaining WMD.
Whenever western governments mention weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and
Muslims in the same breath, the western media immediately breaks into a wild
frenzy warning its people that a catastrophic event of epic proportions is
about to unfold.
Old European fables of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword are reinvented
to convey the impression that Muslims are extremely dangerous, highly
irresponsible and pay scant regard to human life. Hence the mantra of
disarming Muslim countries of WMD has become the rallying cry of the West
directed against the Muslim world.
In some cases the arguments are extended to justify the West's ongoing
policy of regime change in Syria, Iran and perhaps Pakistan. However, a
close study of Islamic rule in the past contradicts the popular western myth
that Muslims are bloodthirsty people anxious to wipe out the rest of mankind
in the name of Islam.
The same however, cannot be said about the West. The West armed with its
secular doctrine and materialistic world-view proceeded to exploit, plunder
and colonize vast populations in order to control resources and maximize
wealth.
In pursuit of these newfound riches the West succeeded in destroying
civilizations such as the Incas, American Indians, Aztecs, and Aborigines.
Those who survived colonization were forcibly converted to Christianity,
stripped of their heritage and sold into bondage to western companies. For
the indigenous people of Africa, India, Asia, the Middle East and others,
the promises of freedom quickly evaporated and were replaced by colonial
rule. Rather than show remorse towards such atrocities the West could only
gloat at its achievements.
Technologies such as cannons, pistols, steam engines, machine guns,
airplanes, mustard gas etc only hastened the acquisition of colonies and the
exploitation of their people. Resistance offered by the natives towards
their colonial masters was met by brute force -- often resulting in the
destruction of entire communities. When the West was not destroying the
natives they were too busy annihilating each other in a desperate bid to
cling on to their precious colonies. World Wars I and II are prime examples
of the destructive nature of western values.
This is a description of the Old World where countries like England, France,
and Germany built empires and accumulated immense wealth on the death and
destruction of millions of innocent people. Is the New World (America
leading the West) any different today?
Take the example of the New World and its relationship with Afghanistan and
Iraq. Liberation has become occupation; democracy has given way to colonial
rule, devastation is termed precision bombing and the slaughter of innocent
Muslims is described as collateral damage. Meanwhile, American and British
oil companies are queuing up to exploit the oil wells of Iraq and transport
the energy reserves of the Caspian Sea to Europe via Afghanistan.
The Islamic Khilafah in the past never treated mankind in such a barbaric
fashion. Neither did the Khilafah spread Islam by force nor destroy
civilizations. When Islam spread to Egypt, many Coptic Christians did not
embrace Islam and today they still number approximately 7 million. Likewise,
when India was opened up to Islam the inhabitants were not coerced into
accepting Islam. India today has a population of more than 750 million
Hindus.
Compare this to extermination of Muslim and Jews in the courts of the
Spanish Inquisitors during the much-coveted European renaissance. Those Jews
that survived this Spanish holocaust, were warmly welcomed by the Ottoman
Caliphate. In Islamic Spain they flourished and became important members of
Islamic society.
Today the world has more to fear from the destructive nature of western
values than WMD. In the past these values were enforced upon nations either
through direct colonial rule or through tyrannical regimes loyal to the
West. Presently, the greatest danger facing mankind is the constant threat
of the West imposing its values on the rest of the world through WMD.
By Abid Mustafa, Middle East Online. Posted February 21, 2008.
The forceful imposition of Western values is far more of a threat to world
peace than Muslim nations gaining WMD.
Whenever western governments mention weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and
Muslims in the same breath, the western media immediately breaks into a wild
frenzy warning its people that a catastrophic event of epic proportions is
about to unfold.
Old European fables of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword are reinvented
to convey the impression that Muslims are extremely dangerous, highly
irresponsible and pay scant regard to human life. Hence the mantra of
disarming Muslim countries of WMD has become the rallying cry of the West
directed against the Muslim world.
In some cases the arguments are extended to justify the West's ongoing
policy of regime change in Syria, Iran and perhaps Pakistan. However, a
close study of Islamic rule in the past contradicts the popular western myth
that Muslims are bloodthirsty people anxious to wipe out the rest of mankind
in the name of Islam.
The same however, cannot be said about the West. The West armed with its
secular doctrine and materialistic world-view proceeded to exploit, plunder
and colonize vast populations in order to control resources and maximize
wealth.
In pursuit of these newfound riches the West succeeded in destroying
civilizations such as the Incas, American Indians, Aztecs, and Aborigines.
Those who survived colonization were forcibly converted to Christianity,
stripped of their heritage and sold into bondage to western companies. For
the indigenous people of Africa, India, Asia, the Middle East and others,
the promises of freedom quickly evaporated and were replaced by colonial
rule. Rather than show remorse towards such atrocities the West could only
gloat at its achievements.
Technologies such as cannons, pistols, steam engines, machine guns,
airplanes, mustard gas etc only hastened the acquisition of colonies and the
exploitation of their people. Resistance offered by the natives towards
their colonial masters was met by brute force -- often resulting in the
destruction of entire communities. When the West was not destroying the
natives they were too busy annihilating each other in a desperate bid to
cling on to their precious colonies. World Wars I and II are prime examples
of the destructive nature of western values.
This is a description of the Old World where countries like England, France,
and Germany built empires and accumulated immense wealth on the death and
destruction of millions of innocent people. Is the New World (America
leading the West) any different today?
Take the example of the New World and its relationship with Afghanistan and
Iraq. Liberation has become occupation; democracy has given way to colonial
rule, devastation is termed precision bombing and the slaughter of innocent
Muslims is described as collateral damage. Meanwhile, American and British
oil companies are queuing up to exploit the oil wells of Iraq and transport
the energy reserves of the Caspian Sea to Europe via Afghanistan.
The Islamic Khilafah in the past never treated mankind in such a barbaric
fashion. Neither did the Khilafah spread Islam by force nor destroy
civilizations. When Islam spread to Egypt, many Coptic Christians did not
embrace Islam and today they still number approximately 7 million. Likewise,
when India was opened up to Islam the inhabitants were not coerced into
accepting Islam. India today has a population of more than 750 million
Hindus.
Compare this to extermination of Muslim and Jews in the courts of the
Spanish Inquisitors during the much-coveted European renaissance. Those Jews
that survived this Spanish holocaust, were warmly welcomed by the Ottoman
Caliphate. In Islamic Spain they flourished and became important members of
Islamic society.
Today the world has more to fear from the destructive nature of western
values than WMD. In the past these values were enforced upon nations either
through direct colonial rule or through tyrannical regimes loyal to the
West. Presently, the greatest danger facing mankind is the constant threat
of the West imposing its values on the rest of the world through WMD.