--- In [email protected], "larry.potter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Here's the same transcript on video: http://tinyurl.com/ze772 > > > [ i respect Wafa and think she is the best thing that happen to Islam > in the recent decade. She is a true free thinker. JMHO ] > > > 2/21/2006 Clip No. 1050 > > Arab-American Psychiatrist Wafa Sultan: There is No Clash of > Civilizations but a Clash between the Mentality of the Middle Ages > and That of the 21st Century > > Following are excerpts from an interview with Arab-American > psychiatrist Wafa Sultan. The interview was aired on Al-Jazeera TV > on February 21, 2006 > > . > Wafa Sultan: The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a > clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations. It is a clash > between two opposites, between two eras. It is a clash between a > mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that > belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between civilization and > backwardness, between the civilized and the primitive, between > barbarity and rationality. It is a clash between freedom and > oppression, between democracy and dictatorship. It is a clash > between human rights, on the one hand, and the violation of these > rights, on other hand. It is a clash between those who treat women > like beasts, and those who treat them like human beings. What we see > today is not a clash of civilizations. Civilizations do not clash, > but compete. > > [...] > > Host: I understand from your words that what is happening today is a > clash between the culture of the West, and the backwardness and > ignorance of the Muslims? > > Wafa Sultan: Yes, that is what I mean. > > [...] > > Host: Who came up with the concept of a clash of civilizations? Was > it not Samuel Huntington? It was not Bin Laden. I would like to > discuss this issue, if you don't mind... > > Wafa Sultan: The Muslims are the ones who began using this > expression. The Muslims are the ones who began the clash of > civilizations. The Prophet of Islam said: "I was ordered to fight > the people until they believe in Allah and His Messenger." When the > Muslims divided the people into Muslims and non-Muslims, and called > to fight the others until they believe in what they themselves > believe, they started this clash, and began this war. In order to > stop this war, they must reexamine their Islamic books and > curricula, which are full of calls for takfir and fighting the > infidels. > > My colleague has said that he never offends other people's beliefs. > What civilization on the face of this earth allows him to call other > people by names that they did not choose for themselves? Once, he > calls them Ahl Al-Dhimma, another time he calls them the "People of > the Book," and yet another time he compares them to apes and pigs, > or he calls the Christians "those who incur Allah's wrath." Who told > you that they are "People of the Book"? They are not the People of > the Book, they are people of many books. All the useful scientific > books that you have today are theirs, the fruit of their free and > creative thinking. What gives you the right to call them "those who > incur Allah's wrath," or "those who have gone astray," and then come > here and say that your religion commands you to refrain from > offending the beliefs of others? > > I am not a Christian, a Muslim, or a Jew. I am a secular human > being. I do not believe in the supernatural, but I respect others' > right to believe in it. > > Dr. Ibrahim Al-Khouli: Are you a heretic? > > Wafa Sultan: You can say whatever you like. I am a secular human > being who does not believe in the supernatural... > > Dr. Ibrahim Al-Khouli: If you are a heretic, there is no point in > rebuking you, since you have blasphemed against Islam, the Prophet, > and the Koran... > > Wafa Sultan: These are personal matters that do not concern you. > > [...] > > Wafa Sultan: Brother, you can believe in stones, as long as you > don't throw them at me. You are free to worship whoever you want, > but other people's beliefs are not your concern, whether they > believe that the Messiah is God, son of Mary, or that Satan is God, > son of Mary. Let people have their beliefs. > > [...] > > Wafa Sultan: The Jews have come from the tragedy (of the Holocaust), > and forced the world to respect them, with their knowledge, not with > their terror, with their work, not their crying and yelling. > Humanity owes most of the discoveries and science of the 19th and > 20th centuries to Jewish scientists. 15 million people, scattered > throughout the world, united and won their rights through work and > knowledge. We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German > restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have > not seen a single Jew protest by killing people. The Muslims have > turned three Buddha statues into rubble. We have not seen a single > Buddhist burn down a Mosque, kill a Muslim, or burn down an embassy. > Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, > killing people, and destroying embassies. This path will not yield > any results. The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for > humankind, before they demand that humankind respect them. > > > > ----------------- > The Prophet of Islam said: > "I was ordered to fight the people until they believe in Allah and > His Messenger." > --- > > You can't force spirituality on anyone, not even God can do that.. > To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/join (Yahoo! 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