Wednesday, March 1, 2006
A dialogue between two excellent folks -- Andrew C. McCarthy and Mansoor Ijaz: Opinion Duel.
Haven't had a chance to read it all, yet, but I'm sure that given the participants it'll be worth the time.
(H/T's: Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and mal)
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» Losing Optimism at the blog Somewhere on A1A...
Tipping my hat to Solomonia, I just read a disheartening "debate" between Mansoor Ijaz and Andrew McCarthy. The "debate" was over whether Islam can be reformed or not. McCarthy the Christian prosecutor vs. Ijaz, the Muslim Wall Street Investment Manage... Read More
We know one thing, Islam is not presently reforming itself of its own volition. Nor, for that matter, is the Left reforming itself of its own volition (which is something of a mischievous statement, but one which resonates nonetheless).
Whatever may occur - in the future - is difficult to assess and can be endlessly (literally endlessly) debated and discussed. But what we more positively do know and have the ability to better assess is the current state of affairs. That's said not to suggest a cynicism or lack of hope, only to pointedly emphasize the obvious - that a well founded hope is qualitatively different from a naive or poorly founded hope.
Over at JihadWatch, the proprietors (R. Spencer and H. Fitzgerald) and bloggers are having a field day cutting up Mansoor Ijaz's opinions.
If Ijaz is the best hope from Moderate Islam, then there is no hope. Dhimmi Watch is ripping his LA Times Editorial... and it was more credible than his "debate" with McCarthy.
McCarthy summed it up well. Islam "Islam is dangerous. It has many very desirable qualities, but it has many troubling aspects." Ijaz cannot see or will not recognize any troubleing aspects... it's sad.