Cultural Tolerance Must Be Reciprocal
11 Jan, 2008
- The problem is that after we post our program on our web site, listing their names and topics, they seldom show up. I have suggested to my association that some of these scholars may just be promoting themselves in their universities – or going so far as to get travel funding, which is then pocketed. I suggested that when we accept these papers, we require payment of the registration fee before we send out the required visa documentation. One colleague noted that “these scholars” are very thin-skinned about perceived “slights.” But I am also thin-skinned about being used by someone engaged in a scam. Why should their feelings be more important than ours?
This opens the whole issue of reciprocity, which we seem to have forgotten in our desire to be politically sensitive. All so-called International Law (such as the Geneva Conventions) are not enforceable law at all; they are reciprocal agreements between nations. During World War II, the Nazis, British and Americans were all signatories of the Geneva Accords, and because of that, treated their prisoners of war the same way. They each knew that should one side violate the agreement, all bets would be off. The Nazis, Japanese, and the Soviets did not have such an accord, and they treated each others’ prisoners with horrific brutality. Without reciprocity, civility doesn’t work.
What made the British government finally accord religious toleration to the Catholic Church in the 19th Century (after several centuries of bloodletting and then legal restrictions), was the Vatican’s acceptance of mutual respect to Protestants. Until this happened, there was no reciprocity.
When we blame victims of Muslim persecution (such as the British teacher whose class named a teddy bear Mohammad) for being “insensitive” to Muslim feelings, are we also condemning Muslim states for being insensitive to us? When the Danish cartoon scandal broke, instead of criticizing the Danish cartoonists for “offending” Muslims, did anyone note what kind of cartoons are regularly published in Arab newspapers? When Pope Benedict gave an academic lecture with an historic reference to Islam’s violent past, he was met with present-day violence from those “peaceful” Muslims (they found a nun to murder). However, the Pope was criticized in the Western press for being insensitive. Does anyone criticize the sermons from thousands of Muslim pulpits around the world that are much more deliberately hateful?
When Muammar al-Gaddafi recently visited France, he criticized how France is treating Muslim immigrants. Now that is nerve! Those immigrants have schools, health care, apartments, modern amenities – none of which they had in their benighted countries, including Libya. The young men are unhappy and periodically riot because they believe that they are “entitled” to more. Where is Libya’s reciprocity in welcoming immigrants? Ask refugees from Chad!
When the “Arab Street” riots about some Western offense to their feelings or indignity over lack of respect for Islam, where is the reciprocity toward Christians or Jews living in their midst? The Jews have long since been ejected and the Christians are leaving in droves.
When the next incident of Islamic “outrage” over some drummed-up issue hits the press, I hope we remember that respect takes two hands clapping, not one hand hoisting a sword and a loud mouth yelling “Death to the West.”
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Dr. Laina Farhat-Holzman is an historian, lecturer, and author. Born in Rochester, New York, she was married to an Iranian 15 years, lived on and off in Iran, and had two children in that marriage. She maintains her blog: www.globalthink.net. She also writes for the Pajaronian, the Santa Cruz Sentinel and Family Security Matters. She can be contacted at Lfarhat102@aol.com.
Name: Amir
Date: Thursday January 10, 2008
Time: 05:43:44 -0700
Comment
Indeed! And one thing I'd like to add: Muslims do not stop at incivilities toward other religions they actually go so far as refering to all the western females as "sluts" and "whores" and to their males as "sodomites" I wonder why these people are tolerated in the west at all.
Name: Marianne Wolkstein
Date: Thursday January 10, 2008
Time: 11:10:51 -0700
Comment
Did you ever think that these "scholars" are using the letters to get visas to hide in the country and do their dirty deads?
Name: vbv
Date: Friday January 11, 2008
Time: 03:14:57 -0700
Comment
You cannot expect any reciprocal understanding with muslims ,since they aver rather vehemently that all other religions are untrue and backward ,only islam is the way and every human-being should be forcibly converted to islam! They are bent on destroying all other cultures to foist the islamic barbarism! They want to subjugate and humiliate all other cultures and impose arabian barbarism.So , it is futile to try and reach any kind of compromise ,let alone reciprocity. All the non-muslims should unite and eradicate this criminal creed Islam!
Name:
Date: Friday January 11, 2008
Time: 09:36:09 -0700
Comment
we muslims will destroy and kill thats wat we r designed to do! so wat u non muslims need to do is kill us first! come on u got nuclear bombs and we hav none! drop it on us. kill us all.bring it on! u no wat still we will win cause GOD is on our side. u can't do shit! u will all stare as IRAN gets nukes and purifies the earth of all NON muslims. To hell wit non muslims losers!
Name: Constantine the Great
Date: Friday January 11, 2008
Time: 13:50:21 -0700
Comment
The above is a good example of Muslim reciprocal cultural tolerance.
Name: To the muslim guy
Date: Friday January 11, 2008
Time: 14:24:18 -0700
Comment
Mr muslim guy: Guess what there are 200 sects of muslims, each calling the other non muslims. Muslims have killed more muslims than they have killed non muslims. Look at the recent history Just between Khomeini, Saddam, Hafiz Asad, Bashir( of Sudan )wahabbi suicide bombers, King Hussain, they have killed several million muslims. Dont worry you, yoursef are a kafir for some sect of islam. If Iran nukes Israel, Israel will nuke Iran . Between the two nuke attacks, first to go will be arab muslims incuding Mecca, Madina. I dont blame you for your hate towards people who gave you shelter and jobs and let you escape your sharia cesspools. I blame your violent pedophile rapist blood thirsty prophet whom you consider your ideal and role model and the hateful book he wrote for you guys to follow.
Name: Amir
Date: Friday January 11, 2008
Time: 16:01:12 -0700
Comment
I have been a Muslim for most of my life but in he end I renounced Islam and found the truth about Allah and Muhammad. This site is great.
Name: To Laina Farhat
Date: Friday January 11, 2008
Time: 16:50:09 -0700
Comment
Very good article. Kind Regards, Truthseeker
Name: balam
Date: Friday January 11, 2008
Time: 19:13:17 -0700
Comment
IT IS NOT VERY WISE TO INVITE THESE SO CALLED SCHOLARS TO ATTEND SEMINARS IN THE WEST.IT IS LIKE LETTING THE MOST DANGEROUS SNAKES INTO YOUR BEDROOM.HAVE YOU EVER KISSED A COBRA AND GOT A SIMILAR RESPONSE.THE AUTHER OF THIS ARTICLE HAS FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE.SHE SHOULD KNOW BETTER.THE MUSLIMS JUST WISH TO ENTER INTO WEST BY HOOK OR CROOK TO ACT AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF THE HOST COUNTRIES.YOU CAN NOT EXPECT GRATEFULNESS OR LOYALTY FROM A POISONOUS SNAKE.THE MUSLIMS ARE BASICALLY EVIL THROUGH MOHAMMADANISM.MUSLIM ARE ROBOTIC HUMANOIDS,WHO HAVE NO EARS LIKE SNAKES.THE ARE NEVER TO BE TRUSTED BECAUSE LIKE THRIR BELOVED PROPHET THEY HAVE NO MORALS BUT A LOT OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIPOCRACY.IT IS A BEAUTIFUL AND FACTUAL ARTICLE.I HOPE IT HELPS TO OPEN THE EYES OF THE POLITICAL LEADERS IN THE WEST WHO CLAIM ISLAM TO BE THE RELIGION OF PEACE.WHY DONT THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES CONVERT TO THE RELIGION OF PEACE THEN?
Name: Salvation in Islam vs. Salvation in Christianity
Date: Friday January 11, 2008
Time: 21:24:32 -0700
Comment
Salvation in Islam vs. Salvation in Christianity: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aNFAM2dQ-sI
Name:
Date: Saturday January 12, 2008
Time: 14:02:15 -0700
Comment
quran hateful book? wat abt the verses that promote peace and love and brotherhood!do u ever read those? not to mention ur hate for muslims will definitely not make the world a better place. luk at ur own faults first and then judge! take mental therapy on curing hate
Name:
Date: Saturday January 12, 2008
Time: 14:08:25 -0700
Comment
dont blame you for your hate towards people who gave you shelter and jobs and let you escape your sharia --- do u mean ISRAEL did all those things for palestine? americans for iraq, nato for afgan----u really need a reality check! and the moron who said 200 sects of islam?? there r only 2--shia and sunni! an uneducated stupid who can turn 2 to 200 is devoid of a human brain!
Name: Ananda
Date: Saturday January 12, 2008
Time: 21:58:15 -0700
Comment
Reciprocal-Cultural Tolerance (R-CT) would create a massive upheaval across the globe. Saudi CT, worldwide Islamic ummah CT, reciprocated everywhere in the non-Islamic world. We must give credit to Laina for finding a great solution for Islamic ummah, create a worldwide anti-ummah. But, as I said it would be bloody. Ummah vs. anti-ummah would be highly unpleasant. May be that's why the anti-ummah world is desperately seeking a compromise. But compromising with a life threatening virus is shaking hand with death.
Name: Dieter Conrad
Date: Sunday January 13, 2008
Time: 11:35:38 -0700
Comment
I am a European immigrant of 41 years, arrived in 1966 and have always abided by Canada’s laws and traditions that were founded on Christian values and principles. I believe in multiculturism and freedom of religion, however; I draw the line when it comes to the enforcement of unwanted religious or foreign traditions upon traditional Canadians. It is a proven fact that we must abide by the religious dictates and traditions of Muslim countries when visiting or working there for a period of time. No Canadian woman visiting Saudi Arabia and other like countries would dare go in public not wearing a headdress or veil. Heaven forbid that she would indulge in an alcoholic beverage or smoking in such a country unless it is allowed in private. It is my understanding that the practice of wearing veils is not a religious dogma, rather it is a custom or tradition, and traditional Canadians should not be forced into accommodating every foreign tradition imposed upon them. As a retired military officer of the Canadian Armed Forces and also as a retired Secondary School Teacher, I find it strange when traveling abroad that the perception of foreigners of what is truly Canadian happens to be the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in their striking red uniforms and broad rimmed hats. Even that tradition has been altered with the introduction of Sikh headdress in this oldest of law and order organizations. Furthermore, the traditional regimental march of the military clergy, use to be “Onward Christian Soldiers” which has now been discontinued to (accommodate) the Muslim disapproval and demand for change. The military clergy now plays “Ode to Joy” (Beethoven’s 9th symphony). This issue of accommodation is now being hotly debated, especially in Quebec and for once, I’d like to agree and commend La Belle Province for exercising their right to free speech and democracy. That does not make Quebecers racist or intolerant. Their fear is like most Canadians, and most of whom walk on eggs concerning their right to speak out on this issue. We do have lots to worry about. Will we soon have to give up adorning our streets and public places with Christmas decorations? There’s that unacceptable word “Christmas” or “Merry Christmas” that store clerks don’t dare use anymore for fear of losing their jobs. A Canadian publicite (vote) is certainly in order and it has worked very well in other countries, then Democracy solves this issue. I commend Prime Minister, Steven Harper, for the positive direction he is taking regarding veils at polling stations. On a lighter note, here is a quote from Pres Bush: “when in Rom. Do as the Romanians do” end quote.
Name: bobby
Date: Sunday January 13, 2008
Time: 20:56:38 -0700
Comment
Muslims live off of the generosity of the rest of the world, enjoy their hospitality, good-will, acceptance of their faith and freedom etc. If you give them place in your home, they think it is Allah's will to have muslims rule the world, so you cannot expect them to be grateful. In return the islamic countries discriminate and decimate the non-muslim population. All this are as sanctioned in the quran, so the muslims who are force-fed this vile evil book are too brain-washed to realize all this.
Name: Godot
Date: Monday January 14, 2008
Time: 10:35:46 -0700
Comment
Tolerance must be mutual, otherwise it's stupidity. By the way, I wouldn't comment on Qadafi, he is an irrelevant clown.
Name: RS
Date: Tuesday January 15, 2008
Time: 06:54:04 -0700
Comment
exellent! you hit the nail right on the head. Islamic bigotry all arround us. I am an Indian and it in abundance there. Country was split because Minority feared majority ( point to note is that Muslims ruled the same majority, pillared the culture and people in equal maesures) and now clamouring again that they are discriminated.