From Salah el Serafy
John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt are making a mistake when they say, in their rebuttal of their critics (Letters, 11 May), that the oil embargo of 1973-74, which caused panic among gasoline consumers in the US, was instituted by Opec: it was instituted by a group of Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, and prompted by support of Israel on the part of the US and the Netherlands during the war with Egypt and Syria. While the embargo lasted, other members of Opec, including some of the Arab exporters, even expanded their exports, so that total Opec exports actually rose during that period, and neither the US nor the Netherlands was specifically targeted.
Salah el Serafy
Arlington, Virginia
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n11/letters.html#5
Saturday, May 5, 2007
LRB | letters from Vol. 28 No. 11
From Salah el Serafy
John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt are making a mistake when they say, in their rebuttal of their critics (Letters, 11 May), that the oil embargo of 1973-74, which caused panic among gasoline consumers in the US, was instituted by Opec: it was instituted by a group of Arab countries, led by Saudi Arabia, and prompted by support of Israel on the part of the US and the Netherlands during the war with Egypt and Syria. While the embargo lasted, other members of Opec, including some of the Arab exporters, even expanded their exports, so that total Opec exports actually rose during that period, and neither the US nor the Netherlands was specifically targeted.
Salah el Serafy
Arlington, Virginia
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n11/letters.html#5
Friday, May 4, 2007
2007 Pritzker Prize: Richard Rogers
Born in 1933 in Florence, Lord Richard Rogers attended the Architectural Association before graduating from Yale University to return to London for architectural practice.
His revolutionary Centre du Pompidou (1971 - 77) with Renzo Piano established his place in the international scene illustrating a unique style of architecture inspired from industrial machinery and functionalist principles, often referred to by critics as Late Modern. His practice over the years has consistently developed this ideology and produced works ranging from the Lloyds Building in London (1978 - 86) to the more recent Terminal 4 at Barajas Airport in Madrid (1997 - 2005). More...
CSMonitor-This Week's Backstory Articles
Now everyone's a comedian
From stockbrokers to firefighters, more people are pursuing stand-up comedy as a hobby - or even a second career.
Spain's collection agents practice public humiliation
Debtors may be visited by collectors disguised as monks, bagpipe players, bullfighters, or even Zorro.
The iPod generation in stitches
Young people discover a traditional domestic art tailor-made for them - sewing.
The sharks of Australian suburbia
The prime waterfront real estate on Australia's Gold Coast is not just habitat for humanity - even sharks want a piece of the action.
Having a (broom) ball
The sport with the air of a snowball fight may be the biggest thing to sweep college campuses since streaking.
Copyright © 2007 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.
Having a (broom) ball
Having a (broom) ball
The sport with the air of a snowball fight may be the biggest thing to sweep college campuses since streaking.
Mike Eruzione played his college hockey in this hallowed rink before he skated to Olympic glory at Lake Placid, netting the game-winner against the Soviets to set up a gold-medal game and a triumph for true amateurs. If there's a miracle on ice here tonight it will involve someone – anyone – not falling down and then laughing about it.
With 2:24 left in the second period, a player from the FUBs (no one seems eager to decode the acronym) swats a regulation orange ball backward from between his shoes. On the bench, his teammates – even a student coach who had looked Pat Riley-serious in his suit – erupt in laughter. Seconds later a helmeted player from Poison Ivy heads the ball, soccer-style. All seven spectators in the cavernous rink go wild.
Click here to read the rest of this article.
Copyright © 2007 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.
A Unifying Prayer
A unifying prayer
Jesus gave humanity a model for prayer.
As a Virginia resident, I've been inspired by the prayerful reactions across the state – and across the United States – to the recent violence on the Virginia Tech campus. Prayer vigils and special church services are all contributing to ongoing healing in Blacksburg. This has led me to think about prayer as a positive and restorative force in our lives and in our communities.
That this first Thursday in May has been, since 1988, designated as the National Day of Prayer underlines the relevance of prayer in today's world. There will be many activities sponsored by churches and private organizations throughout the nation in the spirit of this Congressional legislation. Click here to read the rest of this article.
Copyright © 2007 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.
Jesus gave humanity a model for prayer.
As a Virginia resident, I've been inspired by the prayerful reactions across the state – and across the United States – to the recent violence on the Virginia Tech campus. Prayer vigils and special church services are all contributing to ongoing healing in Blacksburg. This has led me to think about prayer as a positive and restorative force in our lives and in our communities.
That this first Thursday in May has been, since 1988, designated as the National Day of Prayer underlines the relevance of prayer in today's world. There will be many activities sponsored by churches and private organizations throughout the nation in the spirit of this Congressional legislation. Click here to read the rest of this article.
Copyright © 2007 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.
New poll on Iran and Israel
For Immediate Release: May 3, 2007
The Israel Project Bipartisan POS/Greenberg Opinion Elite Poll on Israel and Iran Shows:
- Israel's image and support for Israel in the conflict at five-year highs among U.S. opinion elite;
- Islamic extremism overwhelmingly blamed for instability in the Middle East;
- Fully 84% of U.S. opinion elite consider Israel one of U.S.' strongest allies;
- A total of 75% opinion elite believe the U.S. should not resume sending aid to the Palestinian
- Authority until Hamas officially recognizes Israel's right to exist and denounces terrorism;
- Nearly three-fourths of opinion elite believe Iran should be stopped from developing nuclear weapons;
- More than eight of 10 opinion elite say Americans should divest of companies that do business in Iran.
Washington, D.C. - A new poll (Word document, Powerpoint) commissioned by The Israel Project (TIP) shows that Israel's image is at a five-year high among U.S. opinion elite. When asked to rate their feelings on a scale of one to 100, in which 1 meant "very cold or unfavorable" and 100 meant "warm/very favorable," Israel received a "warm/very favorable" rating from 63 percent of elite and an average or mean rating of 66. That was an increase of 13 points from a "warm/very favorable rating" from 50 percent and a mean of 61 percent in May 2006.
Iran was rated negatively by 71 percent of those polled and received a positive rating from only 11 percent, with an average or mean rating of 28 percent. Hamas received a cool rating from 71 percent, a warm rating from 6 percent and an average or mean rating of 23 percent on a scale of one to 100.
Support for Israel in the conflict with the Palestinians is also at a five-year high, with 65 percent supporting Israel, while support for the Palestinians remains at 10 percent. This is the largest spread recorded between support for Israel and support for the Palestinians in recent years. Additionally, fully 84 percent of U.S. opinion elite consider Israel one of the United States' strongest allies, an increase of 7 percent since October 2005.
"This poll reinforces the remarkably strong ties Americans have with Israel," Public Opinion Strategies Co-Founder Neil Newhouse said. "Support for Israel among American opinion elite has reached its highest level over the last five years, and more than eight of ten believe that Israel is one of our strongest allies."
Opinion elite agree that even though the Palestinians have formed a unity government with both Hamas and Fatah, the United States should not resume sending aid to the Palestinian Authority until the government "ends the culture of hate (72 percent) and "Hamas recognizes Israel's right to exist and denounces terrorism" (75 percent).
There is a clear sense that Israel is threatened by hostile neighbors that do not accept Israel's right to exist. Of those polled, 85 percent agree that "The Arab countries around Israel are hostile to its existence," while only 11 percent disagree. By a margin of 80 percent to 18 percent, those polled agree that "Israel is a small and vulnerable country threatened by hostile neighbors" and 76 percent agree that "The Arabs don't really accept Israel's right to exist" versus 20 percent who disagree.
Accordingly, 73 percent of those polled agree that "Islamic extremism" is "more responsible for instability in the Middle East" than "Israel and its policies" at only 12 percent.
On the issue of Iran, opinion elite overwhelmingly believe that of all countries, Iran is the most serious threat the United States (92 percent) -- even greater than North Korea, Syria, Sudan and Venezuela. Nearly three-fourths of those polled believe that "Iran should be stopped from developing a nuclear weapon," while only 21 percent believe that "as an autonomous nation, Iran has the right to develop nuclear weapons."
"People are clearly concerned about Iran," TIP Founder and President Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi said. "And they have good reason for this, because Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terror."
Additionally, 71 percent of opinion elite believe that investing money in companies that do business in terrorist-sponsoring countries such as Iran is "unacceptable." An additional 21 percent believe that "it may be acceptable for others but not for you personally," while only six percent believe it to be "acceptable."
In recent months, a number of states have begun considering adopting policies against investing state monies in terror-sponsoring countries such as Iran. Florida, for example -- following the model of economic pressure that worked to peacefully change the policies of South Africa - this week may become the first state to pass terror-free investing legislation focusing on Iran and Sudan.
"This is an important step to peacefully change the policies of Iran and Sudan," Mizrahi said. "Hopefully this will save many lives."
The poll of 500 U.S. opinion elite was conducted by telephone April 16-19, 2007 for The Israel Project by Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies in conjunction with Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. The margin of error is +/- 4.38 percent.
The May 2006 poll also referenced above was conducted by telephone May 22-25, 2006 for The Israel Project by Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies in conjunction with Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research. The poll consisted of 500 opinion elite.
The Israel Project is an international non-profit organization devoted to educating the press and the public about Israel while promoting security, freedom and peace. The Israel Project provides journalists, leaders and opinion-makers accurate information about Israel. The Israel Project is not related to any government or government agency.
Board of Advisors: Senator Evan Bayh (IN), Senator Saxby Chambliss (GA), Senator Norm Coleman (MN), Senator Tom Coburn (OK), Senator Ben Nelson (NE), Senator Arlen Specter (PA), Senator Ron Wyden (OR), Congressman Rob Andrews (NJ), Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (NV), Congressman Tom Davis (VA), Congressman Eliot Engel (NY), Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ), Congressman Jon Porter (NV), Congressman Jim Saxton (NJ), Congressman Brad Sherman (CA), Congressman Joe Wilson (SC), Actor and Director Ron Silver
Most Believe Humans Will Someday Colonize the Moon
Survey finds 41% of Americans would like to travel to the moon if money were no object - 32% would be willing to travel to Mars
A majority of Americans—63%—believe humans will establish a permanent colony on the moon someday, with 39% holding the belief it will come within 50 years, a new Zogby Interactive poll shows.
This is against that backdrop that Americans' interest in commercial space travel seems to be blooming. Three in ten Americans say they are interested in space tourism—slightly less than half the number who said they are interested in space exploration (66%). An even higher number (41%) said that if money weren't an issue, they would personally travel to the moon, while 32% said the same about a flight to Mars. The survey, which focuses on Americans' views on space, is featured in the May issue of Zogby's Real America newsletter. To subscribe, visit www.zogby.com.
Many Americans still revere NASA, the agency that put men on the moon. Forty-nine percent give the agency a positive job approval rating. And yet, nearly as many Americans—45%—express concerns that the shuttle fleet is too old, too expensive, and too frail to fly humans into space safely. And, while 34% rate the Apollo moon missions as the space agency's greatest achievement, the second-highest-rated achievement comes in the form of the Hubble Space Telescope, an unmanned satellite named by 18% in the poll.
The Zogby Interactive poll of 4,824 adults nationwide was conducted online from March 14-16, 2007 and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.4 percentage points.
While large percentages of Americans are receptive to commercial space travel, that doesn't signal a death knell for NASA. In fact, large majorities of Americans back a space program. Four in five said that it's important to America's international prestige to have a space program, and 71% oppose any cut to NASA's budget, while one in three Americans would back increasing NASA's funding levels.
In an era of space shuttle accidents and astronaut deaths, though, there is some hesitancy to boost men and women into orbit. While 80% of Americans see a space program as vital to America's international prestige, a lower 75% believe a manned program is necessary to this purpose.
view the full news release:
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The gambling scam on America's poor
from the May 2, 2007 edition
What kind of government spends millions of taxpayer dollars peddling false hope to confiscate cash from its poorest citizens to fatten state coffers?San Francisco
Some scandals don't involve illegal activity – they're just outrageous and unjust. Take gambling in America. Abetted by Congress, legislatures from 48 states now sponsor gambling operations and lottery monopolies to balance their budgets on the backs of their poorest and most vulnerable citizens – while basking in the virtue of fighting tax increases. 
Three decades ago, there were no casinos outside Nevada, and only 13 states ran lotteries. Today 19 states support commercial gambling in densely populated markets near interstates, 28 states host Indian casinos, 41 run lotteries, and 43 allow track-side betting. Even so-called riverboat casinos have expanded rapidly as states lift wager limits to permit casinos they couldn't sanction on solid ground. Only Utah and Hawaii still ban gambling.
States have stretched legal loopholes to ludicrous lengths for the same reason Jack Abramoff wielded his influence: They want the money, and the money is there for the taking. US gambling interests have seen an eightfold increase in revenues since 1982. Last year, Americans legally wagered more than $1.1 trillion. Along the way they lost more than they spent on movie tickets, recorded music, spectator sports, video games, and theme parks combined.
Clearly, America's appetite for what industry officials benignly call "gaming" has grown. It's all legal, so what's the big deal? Here's the scandal: In 1999, the bipartisan National Gambling Impact Commission found that 80 percent of gambling revenue comes from households with incomes of less than $50,000 a year.
More remarkably, players with annual incomes of less than $10,000 spent almost three times as much on gambling – in aggregate, real dollars – as those with incomes of more than $50,000. With the aggressive encouragement of state governments, US gamblers – most of them scraping by on limited incomes – had to lose $84 billion last year in casinos and lotteries for the states to raise $24 billion in new revenues. continue...
Aussies make solar power cell breakthrough
Aussies make solar power cell breakthrough
Once again, the solar revolution is coming. It won't arrive on exactly the schedule we're predicting, and it won't look exactly the way we envision it, but it is coming, and it will be the biggest game-changer in energy technology during the lifetime of anyone reading this.
Think that's an exaggeration? Tell me what you think will happen when the cost of solar power gets cheap enough that in the mind of mainstream decision makers it goes from a "nice, but too expensive technology" to a "no brainer". Once every household and business and school and house of worship and every other group that owns a building with a roof in the US wants a set of solar PV panels, what happens to centralized electricity generation? What happens to emissions from fossil fuels burned to generate electricity? What happens to the starry-eyed plans for a nuclear renaissance? How much easier does it become for people to afford a plug-in hybrid or electric car, once they know they'll be ble to buy a large portion of their electricity consumption at a low, fixed cost for years? And once the owners of those tens of millions of rooftops start clamoring for solar panels and people to install them, what kind of job creation will it trigger?
Does any of that sound like a "revolution" to you?
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Here Comes the Solar
Here Comes the Solar
Posted by WSJ.com Staff
Researchers at the University of New South Wales — working at the well-named ARC Photovoltaics Center of Excellence — say they have found a way to boost a solar cell’s light-trapping ability by up to 50%, according to a report in Australia’s The Advertiser (owned by that Murdoch fellow and thus perhaps a soon-to-be sister publication of The Wall Street Journal).
The advance could make solar power much cheaper, making it possible to power an “average” house with just 10 square meters of solar panels, The Advertiser says.
“[T]he solar revolution is coming,” responds Lou Grinzo, who tipped Energy Roundup to the development on his Cost of Energy blog, adding “it will be the biggest game-changer in energy technology during the lifetime of anyone reading this.
“Think that’s an exaggeration? Tell me what you think will happen when the cost of solar power gets cheap enough that in the mind of mainstream decision makers it goes from a ‘nice, but too expensive technology’ to a ‘no brainer,’” he adds.
– Mark Gongloff
US reconstruction 'successes' in Iraq falling apart
posted May 02, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. EDT
A government inspector report finds sectarian violence, corruption major factors in the disrepair.
A report by the federal office overseeing US reconstruction in Iraq says that of eight rebuilding projects, costing some $150 million and previously declared successes, seven are now in disrepair or have been abandoned.
The New York Times writes that the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR), which released its quarterly report to Congress Monday, found that the "seven projects were no longer operating as designed because of plumbing and electrical failures, lack of proper maintenance, apparent looting, and expensive equipment that lay idle." continue...
Hunger and World Poverty
About 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes, according to the United Nations. This is one person every three and a half seconds, as you can see on this display. Unfortunately, it is children who die most often.
Yet there is plenty of food in the world for everyone. The problem is that hungry people are trapped in severe poverty. They lack the money to buy enough food to nourish themselves. Being constantly malnourished, they become weaker and often sick. This makes them increasingly less able to work, which then makes them even poorer and hungrier. This downward spiral often continues until death for them and their families.
There are effective programs to break this spiral. For adults, there are “food for work” programs where the adults are paid with food to build schools, dig wells, make roads, and so on. This both nourishes them and builds infrastructure to end the poverty. For children, there are “food for education” programs where the children are provided with food when they attend school. Their education will help them to escape from hunger and global poverty.
Hunger and World Poverty Sources: United Nations World Food Program (WFP), Oxfam, UNICEF.
Note: The world hunger map display above is representational only and does not show the names and faces of real people. The photographs are computer composites of multiple individuals. continue...
Yet there is plenty of food in the world for everyone. The problem is that hungry people are trapped in severe poverty. They lack the money to buy enough food to nourish themselves. Being constantly malnourished, they become weaker and often sick. This makes them increasingly less able to work, which then makes them even poorer and hungrier. This downward spiral often continues until death for them and their families.
There are effective programs to break this spiral. For adults, there are “food for work” programs where the adults are paid with food to build schools, dig wells, make roads, and so on. This both nourishes them and builds infrastructure to end the poverty. For children, there are “food for education” programs where the children are provided with food when they attend school. Their education will help them to escape from hunger and global poverty.
Hunger and World Poverty Sources: United Nations World Food Program (WFP), Oxfam, UNICEF.
Note: The world hunger map display above is representational only and does not show the names and faces of real people. The photographs are computer composites of multiple individuals. continue...
One-cent fare sale from the East Coast -- one day only
One-cent fare sale from the East Coast -- one day only
Going, going, gone! Spirit Airlines is once again having a one-day one-cent fare sale. Fly throughout the U.S. and even to the Caribbean. But you must act fast -- this sale expires on May 2 at 11:59 PM EST. Book before 11:59 PM on 05/02/07 (EST)
Going, going, gone! Spirit Airlines is once again having a one-day one-cent fare sale. Fly throughout the U.S. and even to the Caribbean. But you must act fast -- this sale expires on May 2 at 11:59 PM EST. Book before 11:59 PM on 05/02/07 (EST)
Science in the 21st century: Miracle in sight
A cure for blindness is the breakthrough every scientist working in the field of opthalmology dreams about. Now, a team of gene therapy researchers at Moorfields Hospital may be on the brink.
By Jeremy Laurance
Published: 02 May 2007
British scientists have claimed a world first for a new form of gene therapy that could help the blind to see.
Specialists at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital are testing the revolutionary treatment on 12 patients, who are aged between eight and their mid-20s, and have an inherited eye disorder.
The technique has already been shown to work in animals affected by the same disorder, called inherited retinal degeneration, and their sight was restored after treatment. continue...
By Jeremy Laurance
Published: 02 May 2007
British scientists have claimed a world first for a new form of gene therapy that could help the blind to see.
Specialists at University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital are testing the revolutionary treatment on 12 patients, who are aged between eight and their mid-20s, and have an inherited eye disorder.
The technique has already been shown to work in animals affected by the same disorder, called inherited retinal degeneration, and their sight was restored after treatment. continue...
The latest radical eco-houses - and why they'll need no heating at all
They generate their own power, will be exempt from stamp duty - and look amazing, too. Adharanand Finn sees Britain's first zero-carbon houses take shape
Published: 02 May 2007
"This is the future, today," says Peter Bonfield, the chief executive of Building Research Establishment (BRE), a group of big-thinkers who aim to show the construction industry where the future lies.
He stands marvelling at what looks like, well, a building site. If you walked past it, you wouldn't look twice at the six small plots containing six buildings in various stages of completion just off the M1 near Watford, Hertfordshire. However, by 11 June, the rubble and hard hats will be gone, and the Offsite2007 Innovation Park - BRE's showcase of sustainable building - will be finished. continue...
Published: 02 May 2007
"This is the future, today," says Peter Bonfield, the chief executive of Building Research Establishment (BRE), a group of big-thinkers who aim to show the construction industry where the future lies.
He stands marvelling at what looks like, well, a building site. If you walked past it, you wouldn't look twice at the six small plots containing six buildings in various stages of completion just off the M1 near Watford, Hertfordshire. However, by 11 June, the rubble and hard hats will be gone, and the Offsite2007 Innovation Park - BRE's showcase of sustainable building - will be finished. continue...
Dog fence no match for amorous camels
The 3,500-mile partition is twice as long as the Great Wall of China but cannot stop dromedaries in search of a mate
By Kathy Marks in Sydney
Published: 22 April 2007
One of the world's biggest man-made structures, Australia's Dog Fence, is under threat from amorous wild camels barging into it in search of partners.
The 3,500 mile-long fence, stretching into Queens land from the Great Southern Bight in Western Australia, was built in the 1950s to keep dingoes and wild dogs out of sheep-grazing areas in the east. Kangaroos and emus regularly damage it, but the camels - descendants of animals brought to Australia in the 19th century to open up the interior - have become the biggest problem. continue...
By Kathy Marks in Sydney
Published: 22 April 2007
One of the world's biggest man-made structures, Australia's Dog Fence, is under threat from amorous wild camels barging into it in search of partners.
The 3,500 mile-long fence, stretching into Queens land from the Great Southern Bight in Western Australia, was built in the 1950s to keep dingoes and wild dogs out of sheep-grazing areas in the east. Kangaroos and emus regularly damage it, but the camels - descendants of animals brought to Australia in the 19th century to open up the interior - have become the biggest problem. continue...
Murdered Woolmer 'poisoned before he was strangled'
By Vicky Shaw
Published: 01 May 2007
Bob Woolmer was poisoned before being strangled, apparently rendering him unable to fight back, according to last night's scheduled Panorama on BBC1.
\Preliminary tests revealed a drug in the late Pakistan coach's body that would have incapacitated him, according to the programme's makers, who said it now seems certain that he had already been rendered helpless before he was strangled. continue...
Published: 01 May 2007
Bob Woolmer was poisoned before being strangled, apparently rendering him unable to fight back, according to last night's scheduled Panorama on BBC1.
\Preliminary tests revealed a drug in the late Pakistan coach's body that would have incapacitated him, according to the programme's makers, who said it now seems certain that he had already been rendered helpless before he was strangled. continue...
Chavez pulls out of IMF and World Bank
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
Published: 02 May 2007
Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez has underlined his intention to develop an alternative economic vision for Latin America by pulling his country from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund - organisations that have long had a controversial role in the region.
He is also to nationalise operational control of four oil field projects currently run by foreign companies.
Though Venezuela has paid off its loans to the two international lending organisations, Mr Chavez's announcement that he intends to quit the organisations is powerfully symbolic. It is likely to lead to other smaller nations to question their membership and demand a greater say in the organisations' policies.
"We will no longer have to go to Washington, nor to the IMF, nor to the World Bank, not to anyone," said Mr Chavez. "I want to formalise our exit from the World Bank and the IMF." continue...
Published: 02 May 2007
Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez has underlined his intention to develop an alternative economic vision for Latin America by pulling his country from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund - organisations that have long had a controversial role in the region.
He is also to nationalise operational control of four oil field projects currently run by foreign companies.
Though Venezuela has paid off its loans to the two international lending organisations, Mr Chavez's announcement that he intends to quit the organisations is powerfully symbolic. It is likely to lead to other smaller nations to question their membership and demand a greater say in the organisations' policies.
"We will no longer have to go to Washington, nor to the IMF, nor to the World Bank, not to anyone," said Mr Chavez. "I want to formalise our exit from the World Bank and the IMF." continue...
Monday, April 30, 2007
Balancing the Prophet
By Karen Armstrong
Published: April 27 2007 15:43
Published: April 27 2007 15:43
Ever since the Crusades, people in the west have seen the prophet Muhammad as a sinister figure. During the 12th century, Christians were fighting brutal holy wars against Muslims, even though Jesus had told his followers to love their enemies, not to exterminate them. The scholar monks of Europe stigmatised Muhammad as a cruel warlord who established the false religion of Islam by the sword. They also, with ill-concealed envy, berated him as a lecher and sexual pervert at a time when the popes were attempting to impose celibacy on the reluctant clergy. Our Islamophobia became entwined with our chronic anti-Semitism; Jews and Muslims, the victims of the crusaders, became the shadow self of Europe, the enemies of decent civilisation and the opposite of ”us”. continue...
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