Pope Faces Crisis as Muslim Outcry Grows - New York Times

Pope Faces Crisis as Muslim Outcry Grows - New York Times:

When the truth is spoken, it seems Muslims rebel. If this report is correct about the Pope's words, Muslims are overreacting, as they usually do when their jihadist reality is called into question...7 centuries ago. The pope has merely quoted a historical (Christian) figure as part of a speech. Whether Benedict endorses the 14th century statement is unclear. He has since apologized, but done so in the correct way by implying that his words were taken out of context. The fact that they weren't his words at all will be lost in the uproar inflamed by the radical enemies (RATs and their sympathizers) we face in Islam.

That Muslim leaders who should know better continue to erupt and mouth-off demonstrates the irrational conflict Western civilization faces. Until and unless we and the 'moderate Muslims' recognize that we are at war with the radical Islamists, we can expect all of this to escalate. Americans and others in the West should be very careful not to go on the defense here. If we're smart, we'll stand and say what we mean ( spreading Islam by war/jihad is unacceptable, as is spreading any religion by the sword) as Germany's leader has done in defending the context of the pope's remarks. Other Western leaders would be well advised to do the same.

The media, always ripe to report the antics of the Muslim mob, cannot be relied upon to get this story right. They much prefer to play up the emotionalism of the Muslim 'street,' thus playing into the hands of the PR-savvy jihadists. For example, why hasn't the media begun an honest, continuing dialogue about whether Mohammed endorsed the spread of Islam by war? Certainly Jesus never promoted this.

History is replete with the problems of politicians and secular leaders acting incorrectly in the name of religion. Out problem today is that Islamic radicals believe that the words of Mohammed mean exactly that violence is a proper means to spread Islam. We must fight that notion with utmost vehemence on all fronts.

Muslim energies would be better spent resisting and neutralizing the jihadists within their ranks...unless, of course they sympathize with the radical Islamic jihadists.

"In a major speech at Regensburg University, where Benedict had taught theology, the pope delivered a long, scholarly address on reason and faith in the West. But he began his speech by recounting a conversation between the 14th century Byzantine Christian emperor, Manuel Paleologos II, and a Persian scholar on the truths of Christianity and Islam.

"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war,'' the pope said. 'He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached. '"