Quote:
Originally posted by Memnoch:
I'd be interested to hear of *honest* reactions to this article, in Britain's Guardian newspaper.
Western society superior to Islam, says Berlusconi
By John Hooper and Kate Connolly in Berlin
Italy's Prime Minister, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, has gone out of his way to stress what every other leader backing America's "war on terrorism" is desperate to deny - that the looming conflict is, at bottom, a clash of civilisations.
Three times during a lightning visit to Berlin on Wednesday, Mr Berlusconi enthusiastically proclaimed views that will appal Western leaders and confirm the worst suspicions of many Muslims. He boasted of the "supremacy" and "superiority" of Western civilisation and called on Europe to recognise its "common Christian roots".
Mr Berlusconi, who has been under pressure over the handling of protests at this year's G8 summit in Genoa, also claimed a link between Islamist terrorism and the anti-globalisation movement. There was a "strange unanimity" between them, and both were enemies of Western civilisation.
Standing beside German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, at a joint press conference, he declared that he and his host considered that the September11 attacks "are attacks not only on the United States but on our civilisation, of which we are proud bearers, conscious of the supremacy of our civilisation".
He had earlier told Italian journalists: "We should be conscious of the superiority of our civilisation, which consists of a value system that has given people widespread prosperity in those countries that embrace it, and guarantees respect for human rights and religion." As if to rub salt in the wound, he added: "This respect certainly does not exist in the Islamic countries."
Mr Berlusconi began his eventful day with a surprise breakfast with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who is also visiting Germany. The Prime Minister emerged to tell reporters that "Europe must revive on the basis of common Christian roots".
That remark will not only dismay ethnic minority leaders, but will also be deeply offensive to Albanians, Bosnians, Kosovans and other European Muslims.
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I think it's a bit of a shame that there's been such a knee jerk reation to this article. Rather than dismissing this opinion totally out of hand, is it not better to look at the situation honestly, and seperate the truth from the bias?
The reality, however much it may grate on us, is that western civilisation is based on Judeo-Christian principles. To deny this is to have ones head in the sand.
However, "based on" does not mean "is". This is not a clash of religions. Western civilisations has developed many aspects that now contradict the Christian and Jewish ideas from which they were birthed.
Similarly Islamic countries are based on Islamic principles to varying degrees. We are led to believe the Taliban has taken interpretations of Islamic law in a bizarre and extreme direction.
At the root though are two cultures with vastly different values, beliefs, and importantly perceptions on how the world is and should be.
Does this make us uncomfortable to admit this?
If we replace Berscolini's "superiority" with "difference" we have a more palatable, balanced and honest appraisal without one eyed support of ones own system.
"We should be conscious of the difference of our civilisation, which consists of a value system that has given people widespread prosperity in those countries that embrace it, and guarantees respect for human rights and religion."
The Taliban and Saddam hardly champion human rights. When I was in Dubai, I saw extreme wealth alongside extreme poverty. (Hmmmm sounds like a rampant capitalist nation I know). A lot hinges on Berscolinis definition of superiority. If he means military power, wealth, medicinal advances, invention, manufacturing, literacy rate, level of education, life expectancy, diversity and quality of food, citizens access to technology and entertainment, volume of artistic creations and subsequent exploitation of them plus the attainment of space flight, deep sea exploration and breast enhancement, then he would indeed be right. In every case the west outstrips the Islamic world.
The question is how do
we define superior? Are all these advances to the benefit of human existence? Have we evolved or devolved? Has the automobile/coal burning ruined the atmosphere? Yes. Has the fax/email/microwave given us more time in the day? No. The opposite. Is our quality of life superior to an Islamic spice merchant in Cairo who has the love of a spouse and children, brothers, sisters and and cousins supporting him?
An honest question needs an honest answer.
Rather than avoiding honesty, I think the point Berscolini makes about a clash of ideals/civilisation is very valid. To presume all of us hold the same values is ridiculous. To insist it is dangerous and repressive.
I believe his equation of Christianity and the west to be in error, but regarding roots of the value systems in place he has a point.
Do I think his comments are wise given the current circumstances?
No. Certainly not.
However, they present a view. They create some interesting thoughts about the situation. Let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Truth can appear disguised in lies and surrounded by bias.
Sometimes the truth is not attractive to us.
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I am the walrus!.... er, no hang on....
A fair dinkum laughing Hyena!