The beginning of the end of Western civilization

Posted: November 23, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern


By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Western civilization – life as we know it – is under attack, and
indeed has even reached a very dangerous point. Some may even think it
is a point of no return.
Not just because in recent months Muslim groups around the world
insisted that the pope apologize for merely quoting someone else. No,
not just because the prime minister of Denmark had to grovel to the
Muslim nations for a cartoon that appeared in a Danish newspaper, over
which he had no control whatsoever. No, not even just because
President Bush rushed into a Muslim mosque in Washington, D.C., after
Sept. 11, 2001, declaring that Islam is a religion of peace.

These are merely modern-day indications that Islam's 1,400-year-old
method of attempting to reign and rule by intimidation and fear are
reaching new heights. Throughout their history, the followers of Islam
have attempted to practice the very core of their religious worldview
– namely, to see to it that their religion, which they view as
superior to all other religions, overwhelms the followers of all other
religions.

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In days gone by when they had no political or military (terrorist)
voice, they were biding their time. But now, as is confirmed daily in
our newscasts, we know that they command numerous foot soldiers and
cells in Europe and North America. Surely, they feel that their day
has come. The day of successfully intimidating and gaining more
concessions, and thus more ground toward realizing their
1,400-year-old dream of world domination, is within their reach.

How can we know this? After extensive time examining self-confessed
radical or revolutionary Islamic groups, I've discovered a root of
resentment deeper than that of mere opposition to colonialism.

To most of these people, the Crusades were not just events in history
that took place nearly eight or nine hundred years ago; instead, the
Crusades signify a perpetual desire on the part of the Christian West
to dominate them and prove their religion inferior. Thus, it is
essential to explore even beyond the Crusades to comprehend fully the
undercurrents of today's Islamic resurgence. Current Islamic thought
as expressed in al-Jihad is a stream flowing out of a peculiar
interpretation of Islam.

Even a casual observer must be asking, "Why do they 'violently and
murderously' object to others pointing out the violent nature of the
founding of their religion?"

Well, this is just the point. When you deem your religion to be
superior, you can torture, maim and kill your enemy, whom you view as
inferior, without a need for explanation. On the other hand, those who
are viewed as inferior by them dare not even be associated with the
slightest bit of criticism of them.

Alas, the beginning of the end of Western civilization as we know it
did not begin with modern-day examples of bullying into submission
those whom I mentioned above. But rather, if you ask any of the
reliable leaders in the Middle East, as I have, they will tell you it
began during the Carter administration.

When Muslims held Americans hostage in Tehran, Iran, for nearly a year
and a half, and the most powerful nation in the world (the "Great
Satan") acted impotently, there were a million hurrahs rising from
Morocco to Indonesia. As they say in the Middle East, "The cow is down
and what is needed are more butchers with sharp knives."

There is no escape from this historical disaster. Reagan and George W.
tried to reset the clock, but sadly it appears too late. I am no
politician and I do have a genuine love for the Muslim people, but the
facts are stubborn and will not go away.

Short of unity among the Western leaders to speak the truth with moral
clarity – a miracle that even those of us who believe in miracles
doubt greatly – there can be no future for Western civilization as we
know it.

There is one dim hope, however. Our only hope it is that the moderate
leaders of Arab nations can lead the charge against religious
imperialism with courage and without fear. Only then will the Western
leaders rise in unity from the graves of apathy and support these
leaders in their endeavor in order to resuscitate Western civilization
as we know it.