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October 26, 2006
The Dark Ages - Again!
"Who would have thought centuries after the Enlightenment that sophisticated Europeans — in fear of radical Islamists — would be afraid to write a novel, put on an opera, draw a cartoon, film a documentary or have their pope discuss comparative theology?
"The astonishing fact is not just that millions of women worldwide in 2006 are still veiled from head-to-toe, trapped in arranged marriages, subject to polygamy, honor killings and forced circumcision, or are without the right to vote or appear alone in public. What is more baffling is that in the West, liberal Europeans are often wary of protecting female citizens from the excesses of Sharia law — sometimes even fearful of asking women to unveil their faces for purposes of simple identification and official conversation.
"Who these days is shocked that Israel is hated by Arab nations and threatened with annihilation by radical Iran? Instead, the surprise is that even in places like Paris or Seattle, Jews are singled out and killed for the apparent crime of being Jewish."
To read Victor Davis Hanson's entire article, please click here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Mordechai Schiller
People must remember that great civilizations are often destroyed not by greater civilizations, but by barbarians, for the elite who lead great civilizations have invariably forgotten what makes them great; they have also forgotten what true evil is. Thus they fall prey to intellectual decadence. Witness the chattering classes in America who furiously, uselessly debate whether these Islamic barbarians should be labeled "Islamo fascists." This is a perfect example of a culture that can very well sow the seeds of its own destruction. RJA
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at October 26, 2006 10:31 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
The culture that "forgets", since many elites never knew in the first place (studied, tested, acquired) what made the civilization great. Robert Bork has a phrase for this, he calls it "dwindling moral capital." (It's also a benefit of having this generation of American soldiers deployed in the field -- testing, acquiring, etc. our great values.)
Posted by: Jeremiah at October 26, 2006 01:00 PM
Jeremiah:
Great phrase: "dwindling moral capital." Nails it. Thanks so much.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 26, 2006 03:58 PM
If Judge Bork is a particularly religious individual he doesn't demonstrate it in Slouching Towards Gomorrah, but there he clearly demonstrates religion's irreplaceable value for American society. Yeah, the phrase leapt off the page....
Posted by: Jeremiah at October 26, 2006 05:47 PM
I've actually met Judge Bork many times. He's very smart, but suffers from the disease of needing to show how much smarter he is than everyone else all the time... and while it is often true in his case, it's probably the #1 reason why he never made it onto the Supreme Court. His conservatism plus his lordly behavior was too much for the Dem-controlled Senate at the time.
As to religion, I would say Bork is a member of whatever creed worships cigarettes; I have never seen a person smoke more in one sitting. I'm still coughing.
Posted by: Jake at October 27, 2006 07:50 AM
VDH is such a pleasure to read. Actually, re: the whole German/Mozart opera fiasco, there's a glimmer of hope. It seems that the opera house is going to proceed with the production after all.
Posted by: Tamara at October 27, 2006 12:29 PM
Interesting details, Jake. I know the type (believe it or not) and, having read his book, don't grudge him being stuffy (or smoky) in person. And if he's judgmental, well ... he's a judge.
Back to topic: I'd venture that the arguments he puts forward in that book are essential to grasping what it is about Western laws and customs that not only guarantee women freedom to not wear a veil, but also to comport themselves without license. Anyone who wants to engage sharia with Western law should study Slouching Towards Gomorrah.
Posted by: Jeremiah at October 27, 2006 12:57 PM
He's actually pretty funny in his own way. I mean the dry wit he used to lambaste Harriet Miers last year was actually laugh-out-loud funny in my eyes. He's just too snide for his own good. Something tells me he could have benefitted from a few more co-ed classes or a more sensitive wife!
Posted by: Jake at October 27, 2006 01:21 PM