response to Mr. Powell: Some ideas are essential if we are too live peacefully

Submitted by Bob Greene (United States), Dec 16, 2003 at 23:02

In response to Mr. Powell's post I have to take issue with several points.

First the idea that people are inherently good and only bad leaders, instititions etc are the problem is most certainly not universal. In fact it is the one fault lines between so caled liberals and so called conservatives at least in the United States. While liberals reject any notion of original sin or man's inherent debase nature conservatices at those with some traditional leanings reject this idealistic view that people are inherently good and if the people revolt it is de facto just.

As to your second and third points. these are necessary albeit not sufficient conditions for civil society. The alternative must be conflict. If I accept that you can target the innocent or have a "right to conquest" I have just committed suicide, giving you the right to determone whether I will continue to exist. so in that sense they are universal. These are the minimum conditions for civil society. Since few in the west will accede to their own destruction or will willingly convert to Islam. Muslims must accept the postions implied in Dr. Pipe's test else war will result. The West is not going to commit suicide nor convert en masse, therefore Islam must adapt or die.

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