
 |
|
February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
|
| |
Jewish World Review
Sept. 20, 2006
/ 27 Elul, 5766
How not to offend
By
Michael Graham
| 
|
|
|
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Ladies, if you were at a social gathering and met a gentleman who refused to shake your hand because you are a woman, would you be offended? Well, don't be. It's only because he's a Muslim.
And Professor, if you were giving a lecture on World History and one of your students jumped up in the middle of your class and began screaming death threats because you accurately quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor, would you be offended? Please, professor, relax. It's only because that student is a Muslim.
My gay friends, let's say you were at Harvard a few days ago, listening to Iran's "moderate" former president Khatami answering a question about the government execution of homosexuals during his term in office. If you happened to hear Khatami say that executing homosexuals is appropriate in some cultures Well, I hope you weren't offended. It's not because he's homophobic. It's only because he's Muslim.
It's a shame that there are so many misunderstandings in the world today. We Americans turn on cable news and see thousands of Arab Muslims marching in the streets or gunning down nuns over a university lecture, and we tend to think the worst. We generalize about the state of Islam, or we make judgments about the sanity of Arab Muslim culture.
This is simply wrong. We shouldn't be offended by our Muslim brothers. We should understand them.
For example, should the Pope be beheaded for criticizing Islam? That's a silly question almost as silly as "Should a cartoonist be beheaded for drawing Mohammad?" The real question isn't "Why behead the Pope," but rather "Why not?"
OK, so it's not how we would run a culture. But isn't that what tolerance is all about? Respecting the way OTHER people choose to run theirs?
After the Pope's recent insensitivity, the head of the Organization of Islamic Councils the world's largest Muslim organization announced that the Pope should never make any comments of any kind that might anger Muslims. Now, we could get hung up on Western ideals like free speech or open dialogue. Or we could find a way to respect alternative opinions, like the ideal of "beheading people for having opinions Muslims don't like."
Really, isn't it rather close-minded of us to say that countries where women are forced to wear burkhas, or where homosexuals are beaten and imprisoned, are somehow "wrong?"
Our problem is our narrow-minded insistence that Western values are the right ones. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe an anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist theocracy might be a good thing? Hey who are we to judge?
That's why I have so much admiration for American liberals. They are the one group who has thus far managed to avoid knee-jerk judgmentalism when it comes to the modern Muslim world.
Why, the liberal New York Times was the very first American newspaper to condemn Pope Benedict XVI. When the Pope pointed out that Islam was, at one time, spread at the point of a sword, the Times immediately demanded a "deep and persuasive apology" for hurting Islamist feelings. Not because the Pope actually said anything that was in dispute ("Islam says: Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword and in the shadow of the sword! People cannot be made obedient except with the sword!" Ayatollah Khomeini) but because the truth itself was offensive.
Can the truth that hurts the feelings of a bunch of screaming, hate-filled, illiterate thugs really be the truth? Something to think about, isn't it?
Now you might assume that, given the attitude of Islam towards women, gays and academic freedom (Iran's government just fired thousands of professors for being too liberal), the American Left would be leading the outrage parade on behalf of their core constituencies. After all, here in the US, liberals are the first to protest over the number of ladies' rooms in public buildings or the reading of "Heather Has Two Mommies" at the local kindergarten.
And yet, it's liberal academics and editorialists who are attacking the Pope, and when President Khatami came to Harvard, some of his more ardent defenders were liberal Jewish lesbians all of whom would be sitting in Iranian prisons today under his regime.
Ah, but this is why I admire liberals so much. They are prepared abandon their most heartfelt ideals in pursuit of that highest ideal of all, tolerance. And what could be more tolerant that accepting intolerance itself? Why, the more liberals defend homophobic, women-beating nun-killers, the more truly "liberal" they become!
Which leaves these New York Times liberals free to condemn the true enemies to freedom, namely evangelical Christians who peacefully use the democratic process to vote against partial-birth abortion and same-sex marriage!
Now doesn't it all make sense?
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Michael Graham is a talk show host at 96.9 FM TALK in Boston and author of the highly acclaimed "Redneck Nation: How the South Really Won the War." To comment, please click here.
Archives
© 2006, Michael Graham
|
|

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Tony Blankley
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Alan Douglas
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
Marybeth Hicks
David Horowitz
Jeff Jacoby
Renee James
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Ben Stein
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Ben Wattenberg
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
ZeitGeist
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Jimmy Margulies
Rick McKee
Michael Ramirez
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters

Mr. Know-It-All
Dr. Peter Gott
GET A JOB! by Marty Nemko
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
Tech Maven
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|