Deeply Confusing

Submitted by Ron Thompson (United States), Feb 14, 2011 at 09:37

"Islam is compatible with democracy but Islamism is not."

What is one example of Islam being compatible with democracy? If this were true, shouldn't there be one example somewhere? In actual fact, the more Islam is part of governance, the more it is "Islamist", with Turkey being the prime example.

Conversely, the less Islam is part of governance, the less "Islamist" is the government being analyzed.

Perhaps the chief reason that Turkey is a growing threat to American, Israeli, and Western interests is the belief among so many in the West that Islam is compatible with democracy, a belief usually associated with those on the left, the same people who consistently blame Israel rather than "Islamists" for the predicament of the Palestinians. Which is why it is so curious to see Daniel Pipes muddying the waters by clinging to this strange idea that Islam and Islamism are like Democracy and Fascism (or Communism) , belief systems that have nothing in common. Perhaps he should consider taking the prime minister of Turkey at his oft-spoken word, "There is only Islam."

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