Should the Pope apologize??

[EEYOREMAMA]

I don't think that's what's burnin'

Okay Uncle Remus, think this is gonna be another long night?

Personally, I don't think there should be any apology. I think something needs to be done about the state of the world right now. It's hard telling kids how much they have to look forward to, when the entire planet is going to H__L in a handbasket.

If we don't find a way of dealing with this messy world, we won't be disboarding much longer. It is such a mess out there and we better start taking better care of all we value: our families, friends, community and the lovely world we are stomping on.

Change begins in our own backyards. I don't want to preach; I want to have a better world for my children to grow up in. I'm a little scared for them right now.

 

[monkeyboy]

Maybe mount a new Crusade?

 

[lyeag]

Many were offended by the Pope's rude and uninformed remarks, including the Prime Minister of Turkey. I'm certain you've seen the news today, Charade, if you've heard of the story in the first place. Ratzinger called Muhammad “evil and inhuman".

Of course there are those who are looking for ANY excuse to further their own violent agenda, but does that mean that the rest of the world's Muslims don't deserve an apology?

Have you actually read the entire speech?

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=46474

 

[lyeag]

Maybe mount a new Crusade?

Well, there are some extreme Arab voices claiming his remarks may lead to war.

 

[Holly]

Have you actually read the entire speech?

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=46474

Yes, I did, and I don't see why an apology was out of line.

 

[DawnCt1]

Maybe mount a new Crusade?

So the onus again is on the "west" to pacify the savages as they burn churches,and burn the pope in effigy. I don't think the Pope was far from the mark, do you??? What happened to "faith and reason"? Where are the Imams calling for peace in the name of Islam. Rather silent, don't you think?

 

[LukenDC]

I think that it's a bit harsh to label all Muslim protesters as "savages." I certainly do not regard the non-violent ones that way.

That said, the Pope does not need to apologize. Muslims must recognize that they are in no place to complain when they severely limit freedom of religion (there is no freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia), discriminate against non-Muslims and often Muslims who do not conform to the majority sect, and actively teach hatred of "infidels" in their schools. In light of these severe human rights violations, Muslim fury over the Danish cartoons and Pope's comments seem misguided and hypocritical.

I am also tired of Muslims complaining of historic "mistreatment" at the hands of Westerners. Certainly the West has committed its share of injustices over the centuries, but the Muslims are not blameless. They began several wars against Christian powers, won Islamic converts through conquest, and had an active trade in "infidel" slaves. Twice the Muslim Ottoman Empire laid seige to Vienna and engaged in many military campaigns throughout Eastern Europe.

 

[DawnCt1]

Well, there are some extreme Arab voices claiming his remarks may lead to war.

This could be bigger than the cartoons!

 

[AKLRULZ]

Well, there are some extreme Arab voices claiming his remarks may lead to war.

"The religion of peace".

 

[lyeag]

Yes, I did, and I don't see why an apology was out of line.

I think the statement he has already put forth show his regret at his choice of quotes. I don't think the Pope needs to go out and grovel to groups who feel insulted.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

No, he shouldn't apologize. Why should he? And let me ask, when are the Muslims going to apologize for all the acts of violence being commited by other Muslims?

 

[Uncle Remus]

Okay Uncle Remus, think this is gonna be another long night?

Darlin', I thought about you earlier when I saw the Who's Our Favorite Diser thread. I wanted to put you in there coz you host such wonderful gatherin's with fabulous hors d'oeuvres and drinks. I figured if I put you, I'd have to start a list so I just couldn't, afraid I'd leave someone out and hurt their feelin's. So where's the treats tonight?

 

[EEYOREMAMA]

Darlin', I thought about you earlier when I saw the Who's Our Favorite Diser thread. I wanted to put you in there coz you host such wonderful gatherin's with fabulous hors d'oeuvres and drinks. I figured if I put you, I'd have to start a list so I just couldn't, afraid I'd leave someone out and hurt their feelin's. So where's the treats tonight?

That's so sweet Uncle Remus. I just ran out for a quick snack. Hope this is enough. Looks like we may just be getting started.

 

[Charade]

Many were offended by the Pope's rude and uninformed remarks, including the Prime Minister of Turkey. I'm certain you've seen the news today, Charade, if you've heard of the story in the first place. Ratzinger called Muhammad “evil and inhuman".

Of course there are those who are looking for ANY excuse to further their own violent agenda, but does that mean that the rest of the world's Muslims don't deserve an apology?

Uninformed??? How so?

And HE didn't call Muhammad "evil and inhuman", he was qouting a professor from around 1402.

This is the Pope's actual words were: Italic words Pope, bold words Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus quote.

But naturally the emperor also knew the instructions, developed later and recorded in the Qur’an, concerning holy war. Without descending to details, such as the difference in treatment accorded to those who have the “Book” and the “infidels,” he turns to his interlocutor somewhat brusquely with the central question on the relationship between religion and violence in general, in these words:

Show me just what Mohammed 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.
The emperor goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul.

 

[eclectics]

This could be bigger than the cartoons!

In all seriousness Dawn, don't you find it the least bit ironic that by fueling this fire you are doing, and/or advocating, the exact same thing you are criticizing the Muslims for? I don't presume to have the answers to this but inciting violence to fight violence rarely achieves it's goals. As usual, just imho.

 

[lyeag]

In all seriousness Dawn, don't you find it the least bit ironic that by fueling this fire you are doing, and/or advocating, the exact same thing you are criticizing the Muslims for? I don't presume to have the answers to this but inciting violence to fight violence rarely achieves it's goals. As usual, just imho.

I can't see how a discussion on if the Pope should apologize is the same as the actions of those, rioting, burning churches and threats of worse. If I am understanding you, you seem to be saying that we shouldn't discuss this at all because it makes us as bad as them?

 

[Charade]

In all seriousness Dawn, don't you find it the least bit ironic that by fueling this fire you are doing, and/or advocating, the exact same thing you are criticizing the Muslims for? I don't presume to have the answers to this but inciting violence to fight violence rarely achieves it's goals. As usual, just imho.

what fire? Someone said something they didn't like and THEY huffed and puffed and started violent protests. Gee, I'd hate to see what they do when they're REALLY angry. Oh wait, we've already seen that. It happened 5 years ago last week.

 

[eclectics]

I can't see how a discussion on if the Pope should apologize is the same as the actions of those, rioting, burning churches and threats of worse. If I am understanding you, you seem to be saying that we shouldn't discuss this at all because it makes us as bad as them?

No. Not what I meant at all. Dawn isn't going to incite a group of Christians to burn down a Mosque, at least I hope not. It's the general acceptance of those that do have that feeling that I find wrong. I'm not against discussion. We should, in general, find better ways to address this besides all this talk about "wiping out a religion" that I keep hearing. Sounds pretty volatile to me.

 

[Uncle Remus]

That's so sweet Uncle Remus. I just ran out for a quick snack. Hope this is enough. Looks like we may just be getting started.

See? MAMA makes it all better

 

[JerseyJanice]

Many were offended by the Pope's rude and uninformed remarks, including the Prime Minister of Turkey. I'm certain you've seen the news today, Charade, if you've heard of the story in the first place. Ratzinger called Muhammad “evil and inhuman".

Of course there are those who are looking for ANY excuse to further their own violent agenda, but does that mean that the rest of the world's Muslims don't deserve an apology?

"Uninformed remarks" like this are why some Muslims firebombed some Christian churches today.

Ratzinger DID NOT call Muhammad [sic] anything; all he did was quote someone ELSE from history.

Pope Benedict's choice of quotes is something he obviously regrets. It triggered firebombings afterall--but let's not misconstrue the situation any further by saying these are teachings of his or something like that.

What has the Muslim community all PO'ed (as if the radicals within that group weren't already mighty PO'ed) is a quote--not an actual proclamation from the Pope.