Podcast is in Bali looking for Moderation while Hamas is in Gaza killing it

edit Tom Paine, Brian of London and others 2007-06-18 15:03 UTC 6 comments  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·

We speak this week to the Libforall founder and CEO, Holland Taylor, and asked him why they decided to hold a very public event in a Muslim country, specifically to challenge Muslim holocaust denial.

Earlier in the week, you may have read about a conference on the Indonesian island of Bali, at which a Czech Holocaust survivor gave a moving address to a multi-faith conference, attended by many Muslim leaders.

It was designed at act as a counterweight to the recent Iranian Conference which maintained that A) the Holocaust didn't happen, B) it did happen but it was nowhere near as bad as those pesky Jews keep saying, and C) it did happen but Hitler didn't do a thorough enough job so now the Muslims have to finish it for him.

But at last week's conference, held on the mainly Hindu island of Bali, Indonesia's former president, Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur, denounced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for branding the Holocaust a myth. The meeting was organised by the Libforall Foundation

In the news this week we look at the chaos in Gaza as Hamas seize control and kill anyone they don't like the look of. We mention the following post from the Blacktygrrrr blog. The sound clips are, of course, from the film Lawrence of Arabia.

For the Dennis Miller shellacking on Fox News of Harry Reid head over to YouTube.

This week's weird fatwa can be found in the Jerusalem Post.

The BBC's outrageous dhimmitude is uncovered here at Backspin.

Doug Payton is considering CAIR's membership woes and his work can be found here.

Meryl Yourish is thinking up new ideas for next season's TV.

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Comment #1Michael

2007-06-19 10:22:46

To me, Holland Taylor seems incredibly naive

Comment #2Doug Payton

2007-06-19 15:06:02

Perhaps.  But I'd also note that giving moderate Muslims every possible chance to denounce what is being done in their religion's name is responsible.  At best, it would start a global movement within Islam to stop terrorism in their own ranks.  At worst, we can always say we gave them the chance while we do the work ourselves.

Comment #3Brian of London

2007-06-20 08:58:29

I must admit some great nervousnous with the message from this guest. If his answer to Jihad is Suffism, I'm affraid he is wrong but Doug's answer above is right on the button.

To me there is one question that needs to be asked and it is the litmus test:

Can Israel be allowed to remain a sovereign, self determining state with a Jewish majority,  governed by the overriding principle that it is a Jewish country on the land that is documented in the Torah and the Christian versions of the Old Testament with Jerusalem as its capital while the vast majority of Muslims will renounce all claims to the land based on their later Jihadi conquest of the area.

Give me the right answer to that question and I'll accept that person.

Comment #4Doug Payton

2007-06-20 18:06:06

Hey, Meryl's "satire" about terrorism TV may not have been far enough out.

National Lampoon's new movie "72 Virgins"

Comment #5Smit

2007-06-21 21:51:31

I have a good many friends who are Muslim.  Some think the Palestinians are going about getting  their 'independence' in the wrong way, some think the fault for the conflict is 50/50, but only a couple think Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state.

Did you notice Islamic rage boy this week?

 http://www.snappedshot.com/archives/964-Professional-Protester,-Jihadi-style.html

Comment #6Mr. Spog

2007-06-22 04:06:50

Googling "Abdurrahman Wahid site:jihadwatch.org" turns up some interesting criticism. It seems likely that when Holland Taylor asserts that the extremists are outclassed in theological debate by Pres. Wahid, he must be referring to very uneducated extremists.

I heard somewhere that it was the Sufis who turned Mohammed into the "perfect man", the needed object of religious veneration. Apparently they painted themselves into something of a corner in doing so.

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