True representation

Submitted by Erich W (United States), Dec 14, 2010 at 19:08

Michel and Dhimmi No More, I followed Havas's comments and Dhimmi No More's comments in return. I would say that Havas's mindset was very representative of the Turkish popular mind set, in general. The national media has much to do with this. Dhimi No More represents to me many people who have inherited the bitterness of being on the bloody losing end of the Jihad, or who have focused thoroughly upon the evil that the Jihad has spread, since the time of Mohammed. That focus needs to be taken seriously.

One real fact is that however angry an Armenian, or a Greek, or a Serb may be about the past deeds of Turkey, Turkey exists here and now. Most Turks think and feel pretty much like Havas. Dhimi No More's take on who the Turks are is simplistic. In Turkey you meet many who are ethnically Turkish right back to Central Asian roots, and many who are converts to Islam or to Turkishness, from Balkan, Cretan, Circasian, Jewish Kurdish and Arab roots, as well as Syrian, Armenian and Greek. It is the rump remains of a world Empire, and the people are not generally all that self-hating or uneasy in their identity. Another stubborn fact is that as much as Islam has a dark core to it--which is exceedingly dangerous and persistent--Muslims are a large part of the human race with whom we will be interacting all our lives. They are not going to go away or give up their religious identity just because we are angry as we can be at some of the core principals of their religion.

Thankfully some Muslims are more distant from that core than others. We should work with that fact. Ultimately that is Dr. Pipe's point, I think. Firmness and prudence are necessary in the face of a large world religion that is both dangerous and complex, but includes millions who are clueless as to the danger of it. Its here to stay, it seems. As for Turkey, I think Havas is right: it is not likely to go with full Sharia. On the other hand it might continue getting closer to Iran, Syria, Hamas, the Islamic Brotherhood and the Saudis. There is some real momentum in that direction now, and it will be hard to reverse it. The Turks will try to keep their Western connections while strengthening their Islamic and Russian connections.

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