Perspicacity and Islam

Read this on Islam:

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia [aka, rabies] in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities . . . But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytising faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."

So who said this?

And when?

The frightening fact is that the quote is from The River War by Winston S. Churchill, written in 1899 about the Sudan campaign. It appears in today's piece by Mark Steyn decrying the measure known as "Blunkett's Law" -- a proposed UK law that would prohibit speech that is insulting or offensive to a specific religion. Under that law, any statement that is not positive about a given religion (read: Islam) can be censured.

Worst of all, many of the conditions Churchill described in the Muslim world exist today. Look at the constituent parts of that quote.

"A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity."

Two words: Saudi princes. Two more: Saddam Hussein.

"The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men."

In other words: the subjugation of women creates slavery (Saudi Arabia) and the tolerance for enslaving others (Sudan).

"But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it."

Example 1 = Palestinian Authority; Example 2 = "Muslim Democracy" is an oxymoron in every Muslim country except Turkey, and hopefully Iraq.

"Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytising faith."

Proof here: go to the MEMRI.org website and read the translations of the Friday prayer sermons.

It has been 105 years since Churchill made his observations. Too many ring true today.