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PLAIN TALK |
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Leonard Horwin
November / December 2004
(310) 785-6600 tel.
(310) 785-6644 fax plaintalk@linkline.com http://www.leonardhorwinplaintalk.com |
Questions and Answers are cited below as
"Q" and "A"
1. Q: To what do I refer in the foregoing title?
A: That perhaps the greatest conundrum of our age or times, is the fact that its greatest civilizing force, - which is probably in the sciences rather than the philosophers, - also gives rise to the greatest capacity to kill.
2. Q: Only to kill?
A: No. But its fastest growing religion, viz Islam, contains an order of God (i.e., Allah) through his "Prophet" (i.e., Mohammed) to kill, if necessary to extend its power.
3. Q: Was this the only order of Allah's message through its "Prophet" (i.e. Mohammed)?
A: No. The Prophet's message from Allah includes also very much of the "civilizing" aspects of "Godliness." Indeed that same Koran includes much praise for Judaism and Christianity.
4. Q: Is there any religion specifically directed, in effect, to the problem stated above?
A: Yes.
5. Q: What is that religion?
A: Judaism. Judaism includes the "Decalogue" (Ten Commandments), with the positive command "Thou Shall Not Kill." And it stands upon that command's expression of "Holiness" of human life.
6. Q: What is the great conundrum revealed by the foregoing facts?
A: That man's most civilizing forces have inherent in themselves, man's most de-civilizing forces.
7. Q: Can you cite examples?
A: Yes. Iran which worships Allah also develops weapons of mass destruction, including to destroy Jews and Christians, and to extend Islam.
8. Q: Any other examples?
A: Yes. That the forces of Islam (e.g., Al Quaeda) were and are actively engaged in what they regard as a promise of religious performance, - whereas the civilizing forces regard this as an order for mass murder.
9. Q: Is there any indication that the de-civilizing forces which we regard as exemplified by bin Laden's forces, has expressed shame or horror over Abu Musab Zarqawi's beheading of his captives in the service of Allah. Zarqawi, - at least until recently, is reported to have had denied to him, his requests to accept bin Laden as his leader, and willingness to accept bin Laden's instruction?
10. Q: Is there any solution for the foregoing dire questions?
A: Yes.
11. Q: What?
A: A worldwide effort of the civilizing forces to find, - and take advantage of the actual entire history of man which reveals that man's civilizing forces were able in the past to work together toward civilization.
12. Q: What do you have in mind?
A: The example of Spain, Morocco and Egypt. These nations then reflected the civilizing forces of Judaism and Islam who together produced great civilizing products and processes such as irrigation, the buildings of Granada, Alhambra, the philosophies of Cordoba, the medical discoveries in Egypt. All of these reflect scientific, medical and philosophic discovery, as well as reflecting the huge civilizing forces of ancient Greece.
13. Q: What stopped the foregoing civilizing forces?
A: The Christian military victory emanating out of Spain. The Christians won the battles of Spain in 1492. Not only did the Christians send Columbus off to discover a new route to the Indies, - but they also issued the Spanish Edict of 1492, exiling from Spain and Morocco the Christians, Muslims and Jews.
The worldwide effects of this edict of exiliation, and the means for overcoming that de-civilizing force, has been covered in prior Plain Talks and therefore not repeated here.
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cc: George W. Bush, President
Richard Cheney, Vice President
John Kerry, Senator & Presidential Candidate
John Edwards, Senator and VP Candidate
Colin Powell, Secretary of State
Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense
Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor
Colonel Oliver North
Tom Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security
John Ashcroft, U.S. Attorney General
Tony Blair, Prime Minister of Great Britain
Jack Straw, British Foreign Secretary
Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu, Economy Minister for the Israeli Government
Israel's "Women In Green" National Unity Coalition for Israel
Arianna Huffington, Syndicated Columnist
Oriana Fallaci, International Journalist, Interviewer and Author
Yohanan Ramati, Chairman, Jerusalem Institute for Western Defense
Gerardo Joffe, FLAME (Facts & Logic About the Middle East)
Mortimer Zuckerman, Editor in Chief - US News and World Report
Time Magazine
Washington Post - Attn: Bob Woodward
International Jerusalem Post
The Weekly Standard ñ Bill Kristol, Editor
The Wall Street Journal - Editorial and Op-Ed Department
Los Angeles Times, Op-Ed Department
Dr. and Mrs. Jordan Phillips, Medical Books for China International