[HRCPda7R]

MANIFESTO:

Together facing the new totalitarianism

After having overcome fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism, the world now faces a new totalitarian global threat: Islamism.

We, writers, journalists, intellectuals, call for resistance to religious totalitarianism and for the promotion of freedom, equal opportunity and secular values for all.

The recent events, which occurred after the publication of drawings of Muhammed in European newspapers, have revealed the necessity of the struggle for these universal values. This struggle will not be won by arms, but in the ideological field. It is not a clash of civilisations nor an antagonism of West and East that we are witnessing, but a global struggle that confronts democrats and theocrats.

Like all totalitarianisms, Islamism is nurtured by fears and frustrations. The hate preachers bet on these feelings in order to form battalions destined to impose a liberticidal and unegalitarian world. But we clearly and firmly state: nothing, not even despair, justifies the choice of obscurantism, totalitarianism and hatred. Islamism is a reactionary ideology which kills equality, freedom and secularism wherever it is present. Its success can only lead to a world of domination: man’s domination of woman, the Islamists’ domination of all the others. To counter this, we must assure universal rights to oppressed or discriminated people.

We reject « cultural relativism », which consists in accepting that men and women of Muslim culture should be deprived of the right to equality, freedom and secular values in the name of respect for cultures and traditions. We refuse to renounce our critical spirit out of fear of being accused of "Islamophobia", an unfortunate concept which confuses criticism of Islam as a religion with stigmatisation of its believers.

We plead for the universality of freedom of expression, so that a critical spirit may be exercised on all continents, against all abuses and all dogmas.

We appeal to democrats and free spirits of all countries that our century should be one of Enlightenment, not of obscurantism.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Chahla Chafiq
Caroline Fourest
Bernard-Henri Lévy
Irshad Manji
Mehdi Mozaffari
Maryam Namazie
Taslima Nasreen
Salman Rushdie
Antoine Sfeir
Philippe Val
Ibn Warraq

[Zebrabitch]

A KIND OF GODLINESS
Pictures from Today’s News, February 28, 2006

I. Soldiers in the Front Line

[Riprincattiva]

II. Holy Man

[kennyguitar]

III. The Hope of Glory

[priceyicey]

IV. Meat







V. Reward

[stunnyravytal]

Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Chahla Chafiq
Caroline Fourest
Bernard-Henri Lévy
Irshad Manji
Mehdi Mozaffari
Maryam Namazie
Taslima Nasreen
Salman Rushdie
Antoine Sfeir
Philippe Val
Ibn Warraq Mr Rushdie can give the others advice on how to live with an execution fatwa hanging over your head.

[pipitous]

There's a sense in which we all have one. Twenty-seven hundred and something folks in the WTC had that fatwa called in.

[UTHZzJ6f]

Quotations from Rushdie

"I don't think there is a need for an entity like God in my life." -- From an interview with David Frost.

"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist." -- From The Swedish "Censorship" Homepage

"I do not envy people who think they have a complete explanation of the world, for the simple reason that they are obviously wrong." --From an interview with David Frost (PBS)

[Yinekol]

"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist." Just because one has the liberty to offend does not mean that it should be deployed in unwise situations. A liberal society is held together by conventions of civility, tact, and politesse.

[mArVHDO6]

^ Goes without saying. Like the freedom to bear arms, it needs to be exercised judiciously.

Wish some of that judiciousness would rub off on folks in the Middle East. We're not perfect, but we're not rabid.

[werkeeque]

this post scares me. its time the moderate moslems made themselves heard - if not the future for the non islamic world looks very bleak indeed.

[Annyllop21]

this post scares me. its time the moderate moslems made themselves heard - if not the future for the non islamic world looks very bleak indeed.

Are you islamic, dragonslayer?

[dogdesign]

I hate those who stereotype Islam. Not all Muslim's are extremists, even those who are are not like Osama Bin Laden and such.

I've personally studied Islam (apart from other religions as well), and it's wrong to stereotype any religion. If you ever travel to the Middle East (traveled to Oman, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain) you'll understand more about Islam, and that it truly is a peaceful religion (despite Saudi law).

[bugagasikaga]

I hate those who stereotype Islam.

It's extremist to hate anybody.

That's what's so disturbing about those pictures. All that hate ...

Sunnis hate Shiites, Shiites hate Sunnis, they unite only to hate yet others: Danish cartoonists, popes ...

The thread that unites is hate. The thread that divides is hate.

You'd think folks would get tired of standing on principle, kick back a little, and live out their lives. You only get to do it once.

It's not like all that death and hate makes folks happy. And I can't believe God is such a jerk that it pleases him. They could just cut it out.

There's more than a little foolishness on display.

.

[shenacatro]

I disagree. Islam is a very extreme religion in this modern world. A practicinng muslim, by religious nature, is an extremist. I'm a pretty liberal guy, but I think Islam is at complete odds with western civilization. I say shut the door on Islamic immigration.

Let the flaming begin.

[Blaxastij]

if not the future for the non islamic world looks very bleak indeed.

I think it's the future of the Islamic world that looks bleak. These people aren't getting anywhere.

By Islamic world, I mean the theocratic variety. Places like Tunisia are doing fine. Lebanon could, if they would just leave it alone.

[sciectotacype17]

Places like Tunisia are doing fine.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...3/ai_109220707

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Tunisia

Interesting that they ban Hijab. Just like France. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab

.

[MeatteCen]

Christianity, as practiced by some, reeks with hate and violence. Has for millenia.
The value, or nature, of Christianity in our modern society could also be debated.These generalities are troublesome to me. Why not close the door on all religious fanatics?
Ablarc, I'm curious, have you done any traveling to moderate Islamic countries?

[cookiemonster]

I can't argue with your points.

[StarsWorld]

Ablarc, I'm curious, have you done any traveling to moderate Islamic countries?

Only Islamic countries I've been to are Egypt, Yemen, Iran, Lebanon, Turkey and Bosnia, though I guess that's over half the moderates.

Christianity, as practiced by some, reeks with hate and violence. Has for millenia. Wouldn't go near this issue with you; can't have a discussion with one who's ex cathedra.

The value, or nature, of Christianity in our modern society could also be debated. Indeed it could, but not with an ideologue.

Why not close the door on all religious fanatics? You'd need to have people making decisions about who is or isn't one of these. Wouldn't want to find you in this role. .

[You're a bit of an extremist yourself, you know (that's alright, don't change; you might give up too many good things about yourself at the same time!). ]




Btw, if you want exposure to the opinions of liberal Islamic moderates, read the first post in this thread.