print
|
comments
|
share
|
bookmark
De Tocqueville Versus Lewis and Pipes
Summary ... Israeli policy-makers and opinion-makers — and those who organize international conferences in Jerusalem involving Islam — should be wary of relying too much on the views of Messrs. Lewis and Pipes.
Anyone who has read Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America knows of his extraordinary mind. He was not only a wise, penetrating, and prophetic, but his was an aristocratic mind: magnanimous, urbane, and free from sectarian prejudice. Hence one should take all the more seriously his assessment of Islam:
I studied the Quran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction that by and large there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as that of Muhammad. So far as I can see, it is the principal cause of the decadence so visible today in the Muslim world and, though less absurd than the polytheism of old, its social and political tendencies are in my opinion more to be feared, and I therefore regard it as a form of decadence rather than a form of progress in relation to paganism itself.
Can anyone imagine scholars like Bernard Lewis and Daniel Pipes hinting, let alone saying, such a thing today about Muslims? True, when de Tocqueville was writing in the second third of the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire was in decline; but I do not see how this could affect his evaluation of Islam.
There were no "Islamists" in de Tocqueville's time, to be distinguished from Islam per se, as "Islamists" are so distinguished by Messrs. Pipes and Lewis. There were no Muslim suicide bombers whose barbarism was cheered by the Islamic world. If de Tocqueville were alive today, he would surely see that Islam is now more decadent than it was in the 19th century.
So how shall we account for the "polite"—or should I say "politically correct"—attitude of Lewis and Pipes vis-à-vis Islam? Comparisons are invidious, but these American scholars—Lewis was born and educated in England—are not more magnanimous or urbane than de Tocqueville. Of course, unlike de Tocqueville, Lewis and Pipes are Jews, and this alone might deter them from disparaging Islam.
They are also the products of the 20th century, the century of triumphant democracy and triumphant secularism, which would prompt them to regard all religions as equal or with skepticism. Nor is this all.
Both Lewis and Pipes are historians, and there is a strong tendency among historians to succumb to historicism, i.e., historical relativism. Historicism is a denial of trans-historical or absolute truths. If Lewis and Pipes have been influenced by historical relativism, they would tend to be non-judgmental vis-à-vis Islam.
Of course they can still write, as Lewis does, about "Islamic rage," or as Pipes does, about "militant Islam." But here it could be said they are being descriptive, not judgmental, even thought neither of these scholars approve of Islamic rage or Islamic militancy. Common sense or reality trumps historical relativism.
It should also be noted that Professor Lewis, the doyen of Islamic scholarship, is well-received in various Islamic countries, which of course would be impossible if he were critical of Islam. As for Dr. Pipes, he is a public official, a board member of the U.S. Institute of Peace, which also precludes his being judgmental about Islam.
Hence, with all due respect for their eruditions and achievements, but in view of their being Jewish as well as secular democrats, I do not believe that either of these scholars can be wholly relied upon for a candid assessment of Islam.
I will go even further. If Lewis and Pipes were citizens of Israel, I dare say their view of Islam would not differ substantially from that of Professor Moshe Sharon and of the late Professor Yehoshafat Harkabi—both of the Hebrew University. Even though these two Israeli academics represent, respectively, the right and left ends of the political spectrum, they agreed on the militant and mendacious nature of Arab-Islamic culture.
Therefore, Israeli policy-makers and opinion-makers—and those who organize international conferences in Jerusalem involving Islam—should be wary of relying too much on the views of Messrs. Lewis and Pipes, which is not to say these two scholars should not be seriously studied. One should bear in mind, however, that what may be "politically correct" and even commendable scholarship in America may be deadly in Israel.
[ Published: December 15, 2004 ]
In Depth Analysis
Israeli Settlements Are More Than Legitimate
Even though critics may assail the Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria on other grounds, no one can deny that they are legal. In fact, the 1922 Mandate for Palestine encourages them.
Reprint: The American Sanitizing of a Terrorist Group
There is a clearly documented connection between the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (a US-designated 'Foreign Terrorist Organization') and Fatah. How is it then that the US State Department, along with other government agencies and personnel, continues to deny allegations that it violates its own laws by sanctioning a group which operates an organization that the State Department itself has designated as a terrorist group?
How the Arabs Manipulate the Media, Israelis and the West
In the Middle East, the Arabs have learned their lessons well when it comes to manipulation of the media and the Western world. In addition, they have successfully employed a number of psychological techniques to demoralize many Israelis. Aristotle claimed that "Men have a sufficient natural instinct for what is true, and usually do arrive at the truth." When it comes to the Arabs, many in the West and Israel have yet to use their natural instinct.
Views/Commentary
Training the Palestinian Security Forces for What?
The United States and Europe provide training and high quality equipment for the Palestinian Authority "security forces" in order to fight terrorism. But instead the training and equipment are used by the Arabs for terrorist purposes. So, instead of preventing terrorism, the US and EU are actually supporting it. In fact, the US and EU are training the Arab terrorists for war against Israel.
Does Israel Need America?
Most people believe that Israel, as a nation, will collapse without the aid of the United States. The truth, however, is quite the opposite. Israel can survive on its own without the aid of the United States or any other country. But what people, including Israel, must realize is that Israel cannot survive without the God of Israel, the God who directs the affairs of men — and it would do Israel well to satisfy Him first.
Where is the Outrage?
Former Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion once noted that as long as Members of the Knesset are not individually elected, they are not accountable to the voters and the Government can choose to ignore public opinion. This is exactly what happened under the Ariel Sharon government and is happening now under the regime of Benjamin Netanyahu. It was not until he was elected that Netanyahu endorsed an Arab state carved out of Judea and Samaria.
Emet Blog
US Economic Pressure on Israel Via Loan Guarantees? Don't Make Me Laugh
Sever Plocker comments on how people who still speak about "US economic pressure on Israel via loan guarantees" are completely disconnected from reality. He states that it is Israel who is now helping the US pay its deficits, and not the other way around. "This is why we were laughing, the American economists and myself, when the issue of loan guarantees came up in our conversation. I was laughing happily; they were laughing somewhat sadly."
Destruction of Houses in Neguhot — Preparing to Rebuild For the Third Time
Like thieves in the night, the Israeli police and Yassam forces entered the community of Neguhot in the southern Hevron hills in the early morning hours and ordered the Ben-David family out of their home. After the police turned off the electricity, the Ben-David's were forced to gather their six children and abandon their home in the cold of the night to seek refuge on a distant hill. Then, Arabs who had been employed by the police entered the house and threw all their possessions — including a refrigerator, mattresses, linens, books, and clothes — outside on the muddy ground. Just a few days prior to the raid, Arab terrorists had thrown a Molotov cocktail at a bus, wounding an 18 year old girl. Instead of trying to catch the Arab terrorists, Israeli security forces were busy planning the destruction of the Ben David's house. But the Ben-David's, like so many other people who believe the promises of God, are already planning to rebuild.
Bring on the Crowds (The Reopening of Tzir Tzion)
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered Tzir Tzion, the Zion Road, leading into Hebron, to open to Arab traffic on Sunday, August 2, 2009. The road had been closed to Arabs since the double murder of David Cohen and Hezzy Mualem on that very same road on July 12, 2001. In spite of the security risk, it seems that Barak is more interested in appeasing the Arabs than performing his duty of protecting Israeli Jewish citizens. But will that stop people from coming to Hebron? No. Even during the most difficult of times, visitors have flocked to Hebron, showing their support and encouragement.
Selected Reading
Does Israel Need America?
Most people believe that Israel, as a nation, will collapse without the aid of the United States. The truth, however, is quite the opposite. Israel can survive on its own without the aid of the United States or any other country. But what people, including Israel, must realize is that Israel cannot survive without the God of Israel, the God who directs the affairs of men — and it would do Israel well to satisfy Him first.
The Myth of 'Occupied' Territories
To determine the true legal status of the area known as Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza), it is important to understand the different types of UN resolutions. Once this is understood, it becomes clear there is no such thing as the Israeli-occupied territories. (If anything, they are actually Arab-occupied territories.)
The History and Meaning of "Palestine" and "Palestinians"
Palestine has never existed . . . as an autonomous entity. There is no language known as Palestinian. There is no distinct Palestinian culture. There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians. Palestinians are Arabs.
The Moslem Claim to Jerusalem is False
Is there any foundation to the Moslem argument that this "furthest mosque" (Al-Masujidi al-Aqtza) refers to what is today called the Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem? The answer is, none whatsoever.