# Destruction of Islamic Culture **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 16, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934 "2001-09-16T04:47:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brionl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@brionl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brionl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/1 "2001-09-16T04:47:08Z")
What is it going to take to destroy the source of the terrorism? Bombing them back to the stone age? Hardly, they’re damn near already there. I’ve got a more radical proposal; Bomb them into the 20th century (21st is too much to hope for). Parachute huge supplies of solar cell powered satellite TVs into the country. Reading primers. Farsi editions of Playboy and the Wall Street Journal. Cell phones, credit cards, and Sharper Image Catalogs. The leaders of those countries stay in power because they keep their citizens poor, ignorant, oppressed, and blame it on the Great Satan. The first thing an oppressive government goes after are the sources of information. Lets take that out of their hands. If you’ve got nothing to lose, you get suicide bombers. If you’ve got something to live for, you get citizens of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/2 "2001-09-16T05:07:48Z")
This reminds me of a bit in Earthweb by Marc Stiegler. In that case, it was sustained dropping of mass-produced next-generation PDA’s with built-in internet connections, but the same general principle. I like the idea a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/3 "2001-09-16T05:24:42Z")
I’m confused, Brionl. What’s already back in the Stone Age? Surely not the Islamic culture. I’ve been to two deciddly Muslim countries, each vastly different than the other. These countries are Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates. Let’s see: Malaysia - modern hotels, modern shopping centers, some mighty fine beer (but I don’t drink alcohol anymore), best cuisine from all over the world, live television, cricket, snooker. United Arab Emirates - modern hotels, modern shopping centers, some mighty fine beer (but I don’t drink alcohol anymore), best cuisine from all over the world, live television, cricket, snooker. Stone Age - none of the above. Only difference I really noticed was the women in Malaysia looked mighty fine in shorts. Nobody, not even the men, wore shorts in the UAE - everyone was wearing modest clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/4 "2001-09-16T05:26:05Z")
BTW, since this isn’t the Pit, I won’t post what I really think of you right now. But I will yell. THE ISLAMIC FAITH AND CULTURE IS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE TERRORISM. Repeat this 100 times, all the while slapping yourself on top of the head with a strong and stout stick. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/5 "2001-09-16T05:28:43Z")
Hell, the Taliban has already done **its** part in destroying Islamic culture, by tearing down several Armenian sculptures. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/6 "2001-09-16T05:32:03Z")
It’s definitely an extremely unfortunate choice of thread titling. I’d replace “Islamic” with “repressive”, myself–and add that outward terrorist actions needn’t be necessary to warrant Information Bombing. Lots of corners of the world that could use it. Worked in Kansas. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/7 "2001-09-16T05:34:03Z")
Tracer: Buddhist. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/8 "2001-09-16T05:36:21Z")
:o Oh well, I misspoke when I said “Armenian” anyway. I meant to say “Afghani.” And I would have been wrong **then** , too, darn it. ---
**Author:** ![SterlingNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@SterlingNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SterlingNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/9 "2001-09-16T05:36:56Z")
You know, that’s kinda the idea I’ve had, albeit in a less cartoonish form. After we get ObL and destroy all those involved in sponsoring, supporting, condoning, or in any way aiding and abetting the terrorist that have declared war against us, we should rebuild and repair their society and educate them. Make living in Afganistan a better fate for them. Ironically, I was inspired by a rather idiotic and disgusting column penned by Ann Coulter. ---
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/10 "2001-09-16T05:46:26Z")
You know Sterling, the same thought crossed my mind but I was inspired by Japan & Germany at the end of WWII. Get rid of the current government & set up a new one that their people could participate in. Help them rebuild their economies. Turn them into friends. ---
**Author:** ![brionl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@brionl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brionl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/11 "2001-09-16T05:51:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*BTW, since this isn’t the Pit, I won’t post what I really think of you right now. > > But I will yell. > > THE ISLAMIC FAITH AND CULTURE IS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE TERRORISM. > > Repeat this 100 times, all the while slapping yourself on top of the head with a strong and stout stick. \*\* You confuse me with someone who actually cares about that distinction. Destroy all the theocracies. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/12 "2001-09-16T05:56:10Z")
My take on what I’ve been told by the few muslims I’ve spoken to about this subject is that the people you want to inform aren’t ignorant. They’re afraid. Physically afraid. We have no idea, not really, how _hard_ life is in some of these places. Unrelenting hardship. I suspect that most of them sincerely wish that all this shit would just go away. Now they must pay the price for the idiocy of a few fanatics. Sad. ☹ Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![brionl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@brionl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brionl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/13 "2001-09-16T06:01:15Z")
Besides which, I do have an idea of the distinction, but the OP was a least a little trollish. Would you have read or responded to this thread if the subject had been: **Proposal in re a radical restructing of socio-economic status of certain southwest asian ethnicities?** ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/14 "2001-09-16T06:13:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brionl \* > \*\*Besides which, I do have an idea of the distinction, but the OP was a least a little trollish. Would you have read or responded to this thread if the subject had been: > **Proposal in re a radical restructing of socio-economic status of certain southwest asian ethnicities?** \*\* Yes. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/15 "2001-09-16T06:29:32Z")
And likewise with **mangeorge** , yes. Sorry to see the title-choice was more than simply unfortunate. > [@](#): > > My take on what I’ve been told by the few muslims I’ve spoken to about this subject is that the people you want to inform aren’t ignorant. They’re afraid. Physically afraid. I’m not terribly sure of that. I’ve also heard tales of young people, on the path towards being educated into terrorism, being absolutely stunned and disbelieving on hearing that the Quran exists in translations outside of arabic, and similar such things. Not that somehow accomplishing an end-run around the blocks on their information flow would be a magical panacea, but it would do more than zero good, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/16 "2001-09-16T06:31:42Z")
(And times like this I regret not having an edit-button…) To expand: I am _very_ sure that they are afraid. What I’m not sure about is that there’s no ignorance as a part of that. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/17 "2001-09-16T06:57:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Drastic \* > \*\*(And times like this I regret not having an edit-button…) > > To expand: I am _very_ sure that they are afraid. What I’m not sure about is that there’s no ignorance as a part of that. \*\* Actually, I was referring to those things mentioned in the OP. TV’s, etc. Some Islamic leaders _want_ their followers to watch American tv. “Look what satan has bought with your oil money. Look at the sin”. mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/18 "2001-09-16T07:48:13Z")
Two things: 1. Dang, mangeorge. You know me too well. I’d’ve responeded even sooner had that been the title. 2. Speaking of “look at the sin”: Did y’all catch the news reports what some of the hijackers were doing before heading off to kill some of us sinful Americans? Why, they were getting drunk on booze and paying for lap dances at some strip club. Could’ve sworn booze wasn’t allowed for Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/19 "2001-09-16T09:15:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brionl \* > You confuse me with someone who actually cares about that distinction. Destroy all the theocracies. So, I guess you also think that the entire Christian faith is the source of McVeigh’s mass murder? After all, you don’t care about minor things like _ **factual** _ distinctions, right? Sure hope this thread gets moved to the Pit soon. ---
**Author:** ![Doc\_Nickel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@Doc\_Nickel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doc_Nickel)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934/20 "2001-09-16T09:42:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Drastic \* > **I’m not terribly sure of that. I’ve also heard tales of young people, on the path towards being educated into terrorism, being absolutely stunned and disbelieving on hearing that the Quran exists in translations outside of arabic, and similar such things.** I’m not surprised. I know a LOT of American, Internet-savvy, well-connected, TV-addicted, reasonably bright kids, who had _no idea_ how to change channels on a 1975 vintage dial-type TV. They also don’t know what a “45” is in reference to records, they have no idea that there was ever such a thing as $5,000 reel-to-reel VCR, which was the only thing you could get at the time, or that personal computers were clunky, slow, had no graphic user interface or mouse and cost $9,000. For that matter, did YOU know that a scotsman came up with the concept of a fax machine almost a hundred years ago? Did you know that one of the first internal-combustion engines used gunpowder as a fuel? No one can know everything. Not even Cecil. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/destruction-of-islamic-culture/81934.md?page=2)