69 million page views

The Language of God

Reader comment on item: Assessing Obama's Cairo Speech
in response to reader comment: Proud to be a Kafir, and things

Submitted by Salah Ali (Norway), Jun 16, 2009 at 06:23

You are either kidding, ignoring or ignorant of Iraq's history. There are 10.000 archaeological sites in my country and all witness to 7 successive world civilizations which gave humanity: writing, the wheel and the legal system. Shifts in the political situation do not entail or subsume shifts in cultural heritage or in the ethnicity of the people if they continue their uninterrupted existence in the land. The Arabs of Iraq are Semitic and the cultural characteristics: world-view, anthropological attributes and the type of imagination that exists for instance in al-Mutanabbi's poetry and the pre-Islamic Odes is the same as the type of imagination of Asurnaserpal II describing his conquest of the Near East, Shulgi's poem or Tamooz Ode. The imagery in Gilgamesh's epic is the same as the images I use in my poetry and in most Arab poetry. You reminded me of King Jeho (which in Arabic means "donkey") kneeling before Shalmenser III son of Ashurnaserpal II. Then, came the great faith of Islam which was and still is the most resilient of all faiths and cultures as it founded new-world view, new cities, new architectural style and new world capitals in Damascus, Cordova, Istanbul and Baghdad. In the time, you insolently and stupidly mentioned my country as an isolated and peripheral outpost of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq had witnessed a cultural, literary and commercial revival. You can read Percy Kemp's thesis on Mosul during the Jalilis' period to quote only one reference. Moreover, in the time the Ottomans controlled the Fertile Crescent, most Eastern Europe and the Balkans were under an outskirt to the Islam capital of Istanbul. Do not forget that it was Mohammed II who liberated Istanbul from the yoke of Christendom and restored it to Islam. The Ottomans are our coreligionists and we in Iraq do prefer to strengthen ties with modern and increasingly divorced from Secularism Turkey. The more the Turks distance themselves from West, the better for us. We are crossing fingers that Islam will prevail soon in Turkey and the few perverts like Ataturk would wake up from the delusion of joining an infidel and a morally fast-dying Europe. You said "Without the leadership of T.E. Lawrence during World War I, much of Arabia would have remained part of an Ottoman Empire in decline." U here again another signpost of your ignorance, if you mean the Hollywood Lawrence, you are justifies since you are talking of movies but if you mean the historical Lawrence you are absolutely wrong. Have you read the Seven pillars of Wisdom, or have you searched into the reasons behind stealing the hand-written version of the book while Lawrence was exchanging trains between Reading and Oxford. Lawrence only succeeded in winning the Arabians of Hijaz (the later kings of the Fertile Crescent) only after a promise of independence. It was the British who had done down both Lawrence and the Arabs. But cultures never die. If you confound politics with the cultural memory and cultural identity, you are far and wide off the point.

The West and Israel are conglomerations of pirates and thieves. You conquer and derive legitimacy from aggression "History proves that there is a price for everything, the price of your liberation from the Ottomans was the de facto colonization of both France and Britain". Who liberated whom? What you call the revolutions of Algeria, Egypt and Iraq? And where had the sacrifices of 1000.000 martyrs in Algeria only gone if we were liberated by the West? Your ignorance persists every letter in your comment you say "However there were also benefits. It fact it was the European Christian missionaries that introduced both lithography, and printing to Lebanon in 19th century". It is a historical fact that Europe adopted woodblock printing from the Moslem World, initially for fabric since the technique of metal block printing was also unknown in Europe. Moreover movable type printing was introduced from China, not from Europe. However, it was not the X-missionaries that introduced lithograph printing to the Arab world. It was Napoleon who brought a press to Egypt and supplied it with Arabic letters, not of course for civic objectives but for political one for Napoleon believed strongly in propaganda. But ironically the new tools only helped dissemination of printed material to the general public and helped the nationalist revival in the Arab World. Ironically too, it was Eastern Christians who began hard-line Nationalist parties such as the Baath Party in Syria and Iraq and the hard-line Palestinian movement headed by George Habash. We are credited by civilizing the world: The very invention of writing is an Iraqi gift to mankind and my ancestors were writing cuneiforms on mud and stone when all European capitals were jungles.

As for your last statement. I am free to choose where I live. I am not forcing myself. The wealth Europe enjoys is a result of a history of exploitation and colonization of the East. The foreigners here in Europe are only given a little portion of their own money! Jews are thieves and you are an intruder. In fact, everybody is an intruder since Islam is the centre of the Universe and a Moslem wherever he exists is his country proper be it Europe be it the Middle East. The whole world is a gift given by God to us. If you are a Moslem, then you are the same like us and can enjoy the whole Earth as your temporal and spatial transitional domain The difference is between fine-minds like mine and a mind full of rubbish that ignores the religion of God that is Islam, and the language of God that is Arabic.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (113) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
start to be president [103 words]lynn andersonSep 25, 2009 17:44162111
Iran & Obama [144 words]Miriam 'downunder'Jun 29, 2009 09:02158189
Cairo speech [60 words]FredJun 16, 2009 19:58157502
1President Oboma is doing the best anyone could expect [62 words]Deborah EllsworthJun 20, 2009 03:58157502
1President Oboma is doing the best anyone could expect [96 words]SkipnotSep 22, 2009 23:37157502
Kashmir based Prominent Columnist Tarique A Bhat writes on Obama Speech [959 words]Abd al AliJun 16, 2009 05:39157461
What the other side thinks of Obama's speech [38 words]KafiristJun 14, 2009 12:46157335
netanyahu should offer a point-by-point rebuttal to obama's distortions in his address [6 words]georgeJun 13, 2009 11:35157289
How to Destroy America (Hint) Obama Knows [248 words]K J HullJun 11, 2009 16:17157193
My Message to the WORLD ! [375 words]Lou from Queens, NYC, USAJun 11, 2009 14:49157191
Seven Million Muslims [232 words]old guyJun 11, 2009 12:52157187
For Old Guy [119 words]Peter HerzJun 15, 2009 22:17157187
Islamic fellow traveler [61 words]donvanJun 25, 2009 07:56157187
Other Wrongs [107 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Peter HerzJun 10, 2009 15:29157143
My dear Peter Heiz [91 words]Faiyaz(Darjeeling)Oct 17, 2009 04:21157143
For Faiyaz on the deity of Jesus Christ [482 words]Peter HerzOct 19, 2009 06:03157143
Obama's role [130 words]donvanJun 10, 2009 07:10157125
Allah says: Those Jews Condemned Themselves to Slaughter [225 words]BronsonJun 9, 2009 23:04157101
Tired of this substandard demographic argument [214 words]Skeptical ElephantJun 9, 2009 22:08157099
My lifetime personal guarantee... [18 words]PavaJun 9, 2009 13:50157075
defending Obama for the time being [217 words]G. VishvasJun 9, 2009 11:40157072
Obama's naive and ignorant speech in Cairo! [328 words]romJun 9, 2009 05:03157063
What was truly wrong in Obama's speech [346 words]GunjanJun 9, 2009 01:02157051
The Real Danger in Obama's Numbers: They're Real [156 words]JoeJun 8, 2009 17:57157038
Obama's Cairo speech [308 words]Gloria StewartJun 8, 2009 15:15157026
Hints of Stockholm syndrome [337 words]B.N.GururajJun 8, 2009 09:03157001
Concerning Israeli settlements [825 words]Stephen BererJun 8, 2009 00:06156991
The "Truth" [472 words]AsherJun 7, 2009 17:40156970
Obamas Cairo speech [152 words]Isaac FlaksJun 7, 2009 12:25156953
" Salute !" [403 words]MsMJun 7, 2009 08:07156936
A Warn From a Future Socialist Nation to United States [144 words]Ismael Pio EliasJun 7, 2009 00:57156918
Muslim involvement [104 words]BronsonJun 8, 2009 00:17156918
LIked what you said, Ismael [193 words]CarlaJun 8, 2009 02:45156918
Obama's manifesto for Muslims [1311 words]GunjanJun 6, 2009 22:04156914
A sense of loss that we must overcome. [313 words]abhiJun 6, 2009 11:28156896
ASK YOURSELF ! [51 words]MSMJun 6, 2009 08:55156890
Obama! Cheers! [51 words]FelixJun 6, 2009 03:02156878
Islam is the greatest threat to democracy and freedom since the Nazis [263 words]IrishwolfeJun 5, 2009 19:03156863
Excellent Speech [169 words]John JoyceJun 5, 2009 18:34156859
Sorry Mr. Obama, We Should Be Afraid, Very Afraid [353 words]Geno M.Jun 5, 2009 16:57156857
Geno - Plan B is obvious!!! [94 words]JaladhiJun 7, 2009 06:27156857
Muslim ummah [125 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
KamranJun 5, 2009 16:10156853
Amazing insight shown by Kamran. [46 words]gunjanJun 9, 2009 01:08156853
Assessing Obama's Cairo speech [98 words]DebbieJun 5, 2009 11:01156830
History repeating itself off the coast of Somalia ! [139 words]Lou from Queens, NYC, USAJun 5, 2009 10:53156829
Where did all those Muslims come from? [135 words]VernJun 5, 2009 10:48156828
Obama's fight against terrorism? [145 words]B N GururajJun 5, 2009 10:17156826
Obamas Cairo speech [174 words]IsaacJun 5, 2009 09:16156821
OH!! OBAMA!!! [14 words]TRUTH_FINDERJun 5, 2009 07:19156812
Re: Obama Repeats Historically Baseless Myths [113 words]Aymenn JawadJun 5, 2009 03:32156806
Assessing Obama's Cairo speech [145 words]Bob KopsteinJun 5, 2009 00:59156794
sugaring words in ways appealing to Islamists [46 words]eJun 5, 2009 00:41156790
How many Nobel Prizes? [21 words]JoeSettlerJun 4, 2009 23:38156787
Same old same old [116 words]Rebecca MouldsJun 4, 2009 23:08156784
Hossein Obama [26 words]Bibi LapuréeJun 4, 2009 21:58156783
7 Million Muslim Americans [43 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Bob McGovernJun 4, 2009 20:56156778
# 51 through # 57 [109 words]YnnatchkahJun 8, 2009 02:53156778
Telling the Truth--Unlike Mr. Obama [886 words]prof. paul eidelbergJun 4, 2009 19:29156771
Actions speak [55 words]BronsonJun 5, 2009 02:34156771
Hoping it will all go away... [104 words]Mark GJun 5, 2009 13:39156771
ASTRAY ! [36 words]msmJun 6, 2009 08:49156771
Well, he is a Muslim [32 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDJun 7, 2009 11:48156771
Obama Kairo visit and speech [174 words]Janusz KowalikJun 4, 2009 17:35156765
Obama, the Arab League, the KGB and Rodney King [400 words]K P Price, Ph.D.Jun 4, 2009 17:09156763
You're Kidding [296 words]K. AhmedJun 5, 2009 09:55156763
Obama knows not of what he speaks [25 words]H. FoxJun 4, 2009 16:43156760
Question [13 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Jere SchlossbergJun 4, 2009 16:30156758
Chief of Staff [11 words]Jere SchlossbergJun 27, 2009 12:28156758
You've 'Let Him Off Easy'. RESPECT??? 5 or 6 Times In The Past 20 Yrs Americans Fought & Died For Muslims, Against Christians. [698 words]marianaJun 4, 2009 16:01156756
Wow - I could not have said it better myself !!! [113 words]mariaJun 5, 2009 10:01156756
CONSTRUCTION RESTRICTED, DESTRUCTION IGNORED. [63 words]Chaim R-BJun 4, 2009 14:50156749
Giveaway? Obama gave away Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem. Tells Jews where they can live [196 words]DrRJPJun 4, 2009 14:42156747
Hopeful [195 words]K.AhmedJun 5, 2009 11:35156747
Dear Hopeful: it's never a good idea to start off with an ad hominim argument [1037 words]DrRJPJun 7, 2009 18:12156747
What's Possible [711 words]K.H. AhmedJun 9, 2009 10:20156747
The Barbary Pirates and the Treaty of Tripoli [42 words]JoeSettlerJun 4, 2009 14:26156745
Obama and The Second Coming [603 words]Salah AliJun 4, 2009 14:23156743
The Disneyland of Salah Ali [547 words]Lou from Queens,NYC,USAJun 12, 2009 12:11156743
Hooligans and killers are shameless [2138 words]Salah AliJun 13, 2009 10:04156743
Proud to be a Kafir, and things [244 words]Lou from Queens, NYC,USAJun 15, 2009 12:13156743
The Language of God [944 words]Salah AliJun 16, 2009 06:23156743
Cairo Speech [392 words]Kyle GosnellJun 4, 2009 13:53156739
Please count this Muslim OUT of this demographic equation... [23 words]Wana88Jun 4, 2009 13:39156738
MLK Obama [42 words]yonatan silvermanJun 4, 2009 12:58156730
Manufacturing history [120 words]PauliJun 4, 2009 12:56156728
OBAMA;S SPEECH IN CAIRO [140 words]JACQUES HADIDAJun 4, 2009 12:51156726
For Those Jews Who Voted For Obama [56 words]Stuart KaufmanJun 4, 2009 12:49156725
Foolish Hope? [86 words]John W. McGinleyJun 4, 2009 12:35156722
Very Polishing Words [51 words]P V ARIELJun 4, 2009 12:29156721
Obama's Speech [42 words]Jack ShattuckJun 4, 2009 12:25156720
A few dumb things in Obama's speech [125 words]Romesh ChanderJun 4, 2009 12:14156719
Missing the point about Hijab [148 words]GunjanJun 8, 2009 12:18156719
Reply to Gunjan -- Restrictions on Hijab [199 words]Romesh ChanderJun 8, 2009 22:11156719
Choose to wear the hijab [167 words]BronsonJun 9, 2009 01:15156719
How long? [15 words]Sam DeakinsJun 4, 2009 12:04156717
1muslim contributions to mankind [63 words]paul mortonJun 4, 2009 12:03156716
re: muslim contributions to mankind [120 words]peaceJun 4, 2009 18:34156716
re: muslim contributions to mankind [46 words]practical thoughtJun 4, 2009 19:02156716
xenophobes [172 words]K.H. AhmedJun 5, 2009 08:21156716
Muslim Scientists [33 words]DaveJun 5, 2009 15:11156716
Muslim scientific contributions? What contributions? [102 words]Romesh ChanderJun 7, 2009 19:26156716
Adding to Romesh's argument on muslim scientists. [107 words]GunjanJun 12, 2009 03:13156716
Muslim innovations? [464 words]Solomon StavrovJun 4, 2009 11:59156715
Muslim Innovations? What have they got to do with Muslims or Islam? [168 words]Romesh ChanderJun 4, 2009 18:45156715
Getting arabs and muslims to be honest [174 words]G.VishvasJun 6, 2009 11:19156715
correction... [205 words]TajJun 10, 2009 18:39156715
Re: Muslim innovations? [395 words]JaggerJul 3, 2009 11:23156715
Holocaust-Nakba [311 words]Solomon StavrovJun 4, 2009 11:53156714
An old Jewish Saying [97 words]K.H. AhmedJun 5, 2009 09:35156714
"Sugaring Words" [12 words]DavidJun 4, 2009 11:38156712
Okay [42 words]K.H. AhmedJun 5, 2009 09:37156712
OK is not enough! [262 words]DavidJun 8, 2009 11:40156712
The Problem [212 words]K. AhmedJun 9, 2009 10:47156712

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)