Ignorance and the Clash of Civilizations

Muslims in Egypt from all shades of the theological spectrum are speaking out against al-Qaeda in Iraq’s anti-Christian declaration: “But instead of turning against Christians, calls to protect them echoed from throughout Egypt’s Islamic community. “‘This is something to be rejected and strongly denounced, and it serves none but those who want to spark discord and target national unity,’ the head of Al-Azhar University, Ahmed al-Tayeb, said. “Pope Schnouda III, the head of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, used his weekly address in Cairo on Wednesday to praise Al-Azhar and the ‘sympathy’ Christians have received from Egyptian newspapers, intellectuals and the…

I’ve been watching the subtle anti-Semitism directed against Sen. Barack Obama. First there’s the constant reference to his name that he shares with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barack, and now he is being tied to a rabbi, a cousin of his wife’s. We’re now understanding how deep this anti-Semitism runs with the revelation that Gov. Sarah Palin did a little religion baiting in her last race and believes all Jews should be converted. We wouldn’t stand for this attack on a people if they were Muslim or Christian, and we shouldn’t stand for it when it directed to Jews.…