Theo van Gogh murder

[arpad]

Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh, who made a controversial film about Islamic culture, has been stabbed and shot dead in Amsterdam, Dutch police say.(BBC)

Via imomus here

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No - I don't want to write usual crap about "impotent European liberals", "backward Muslims" and arcane question of "joint Dutch and Moroccan nationality".

What I do want to consider is that the problem of "militant Islam" is clearly rooted not in Muslim world, but in Arab world. Whereas Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Malaysia are adapting, Arab countries lag behind. And the lag is too great.

That makes me think that accepting/rejecting Turkey in EU is a most important political choice of this decade.

Comments

[vorona.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for emphasizing that distinction - it matters more than ever right now to be fair and accurate.

[mindme.livejournal.com]

When stuff like this happens, I have to remind myself there are a lot of fundamentalist christian psychos in America that blow up buildings, shoot doctors and left wing radio show hosts... It's not all of one religion rising up. Every religion has its lunatics.

[arpad.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Even when I am sure that what I see is a pattern, not a glitch, I have to remind myself that there are other side of the pattern too.

[mindme.livejournal.com]

In some ways, it's amazing that muslims in North America don't do more of the religious/political violence that Christians pull off in the name of their religion.

[turag.livejournal.com]

if Turkey will be accepted it'll be an economic decision rather than a political one. EU wants to be competitive , without Turkey its impossible to keep its current welfare.

[arpad.livejournal.com]

It will be cultural, economical, political - all in one bucket.

Politically by accepting Turkey EU automatically should take position on Turkish Kurds and on Turkish Cyprus.

Economically - as you say + huge influx of energetic Turkish workers into the market.

Culturally a new type of "secular people with non-christian roots" can be a blessing if Turkish success will help Arab community in Europe to adapt. But as every cultural addition to the cauldron it can be also a curse.

Etc

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I perfectly understand why decision of such magnitude gives European politicians a spine-chilling. What I am sure about is that Europe with Turkey and Europe without Turkey will be two very different powers.