Turkey is a problem. It’s a member of NATO, but it’s also a Muslim nation. They want F-35s, but President Trump is wisely holding off. Turkey is supposedly a “moderate” Muslim nation, but as with “Moderate Democrats,” there is no such thing. But don’t take my word for it. Believe the President of Turkey:
Read more In order to regulate AI, programmers need to be aligned with humanity
The point is that while it may be consoling to us Westerners to posit a distinction between everyday Islam which is as antiseptic as (say) Methodism and the behavior of jihadis, ayatollahs, etc., it is not at all clear that the distinction thrives within Islam itself. Bostom quotes Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey to this end. In 2007, Erdoğan commented on the common Western description of his political party as an example of “moderate Islam.” “These descriptions are very ugly,” he said. “It is offensive and an insult to our religion. There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that’s it.”
It’s a deadly mistake to imagine that Islam is anything like the faiths to which Americans have become accustomed. Many American Protestant denominations have offshoots that call themselves Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, etc., but have largely abandoned the Gospels in favor of leftist ideology little or no different from the DSA Party platform. Democrat Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico’s Presbyterian church is a case in point.
The difference between those faiths and Islam is that Christianity doesn’t demand its adherents slaughter infidels and enslave and conquer the world, nor does it demand Christian beliefs replace criminal and civil law. Christianity doesn’t demand the deaths of apostates or non-believers. The ironic horror of it is that Muslims who do not want to slaughter infidels and who treat their female family members with the kindness and respect Western societies expect and demand are not living the text and intent of their faith. Islamist savages are.
Despite hysterical claims of a “trans genocide” and rampant homophobia, Christians are content to let such people live their lives, so long as they don’t try to impose their beliefs and lifestyles on them. Not so in “moderate” Turkey:
Graphic: X Post
Police in Turkey have detained 47 people in a series of raids on gay bars and the homes of LGBTQ+ activists, officials say.
Raids took place in 12 provinces over the weekend as part of a campaign dubbed “My Family is Safe” that the Turkish government says has been designed to protect family values.
One of the targets of the operation was LGBTQ+ association Kaos GL.
Same-sex marriage is not recognised in Turkey, with growing pressure on gay couples. Human rights groups in Turkey have accused the government of using the campaign to target the LGBTQ+ community.
Officers detained 26 people and seized drugs, digital equipment, smuggled alcohol and a firearm during the raids, according to the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office.
In a separate statement, the Ankara chief prosecutor’s office said another 21 people had been detained as part of an investigation into Kaos GL.
The organisation said 50 activists had been detained, more than 10 taken after police raids on their homes.
Read more The truth about AI and ‘Hugging Face’ is worse than the panic narrative
It said that authorities had blocked several websites and social media accounts linked to LGBTQ+ organisations.
The LA Times adds details:
The religious conservative Justice and Development Party has been increasingly vocal against LGBTQ+ groups to play to the more conservative elements of its base. In 2015, it banned Istanbul Pride, which had tens of thousands of attendees in previous years. Since then, authorities have violently dispersed any attempted gatherings for Pride.
This summer, an LGBTQ+ cruise ship that tours the Mediterranean and has docked in Turkey multiple times in the past was refused permission to dock there.
American LGBTQ+ activists and apologists routinely claim that sort of thing is happening in America. It’s not. It is happening in supposedly “moderate” Turkey. Americans disapprove. The Turkish government arrests—and worse.
Perhaps Turkey’s only claim to moderation might be that they’re apparently not executing those they’ve arrested. Yet. Prison—Turkish prisons are not known for enlightened penology—is bad enough.
No one should make the mistake of thinking “religious conservative” organizations in America–essentially the traditional, Bible-believing Protestant denominations–remotely resemble “religious conservative” organizations in Turkey or other Muslim nations. At best, one might expect that “moderate” Muslims who don’t want to kill others expect Muslims who do to discharge their Islamic obligations for them.
So, no. Turkey is not like us, and it’s a bad idea to provide Turkey with F-35s and other advanced American military hardware. They’re a member of NATO in name only, but observant, Islamist Muslims? Absolutely.
Become a subscriber and get our weekly Friday newsletter with unique content from our editors. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.
Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, lifelong athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer, and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
Read more The Lone Juror speaks out