Capitalism, Democracy and Sex

From WorldNetDaily, via NewsBeat 1:

"American culture is very cheap and very corrupting. Your American culture is based on capitalism, on democracy, sex, and other principles that go against the nature of human beings as Allah created. We will fight all that this culture represents and promotes," said sheik Saleh Faraj, one of the main leaders of the Islamic Liberation Party in the West Bank.

One of the three characteristics of America culture named by sheik Faraj is not like the other.  Can you figure out which one?

a.  Capitalism

b.  Democracy

c.  Sex

Let's see -- could it be "a," "Capitalism"?:  "An economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods."  An economic system.

How about "b," "Democracy"?:  "Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives."  A political system, that is.

Or "c," "Sex":  "The activities associated with sexual intercourse."  A bodily function necessary for human reproduction.

Sheik Faraj throws "sex" into the list of things that Islam deems "bad" about America.   He says American culture is based on capitalism, democracy, and sex, and that this "goes against the nature of human beings."  As applied to sex, this is a particularly silly comment.  How does sheik Faraj think he was born? 

If sheik Faraj really means to refer to sexual promiscuity or expression, then this is not unique to American culture, either.  As another Palestinian leader explained, Islam has its own problems with sexual promiscuity and expression.  It simply deals with them in generally more misogynistic, and often far more draconian, ways:

Prostitution: one hundred whippings; if the prostitute was married, he or she will be stoned until death; for a thief, his hand will be cut. But before enjoying the primitive nature of Islam and before you express how much you are shocked by our rules, I must say that these are not immediate sanctions, but they are used only if the person was warned."

Hamad explained prostitution doesn't mean selling sex; he said the Islamic definition applies the term to all extramarital sexual relations. But he boasted Islam's allowing men to marry many women was a perfect remedy for prostitution.

"In order to prevent prostitution and before reaching the sanctions of stoning or whipping, we will marry all our unmarried young. By the way, Islam allows the man to marry four women, so if he or she keeps practicing sex outside marriage and prostitution, in this case the sanctions mentioned in Quran will be used."

Sure, there are differences between American and Islamic culture.  Some of the excesses of American pop culture are just that -- excesses. 

However, in America, women are not regularly murdered by their own family for the sake of family "honor."  Strangely enough, but admirably so, Americans view murder as one of the vilest, most dishonorable crimes a human being can commit.  Call us crazy.

There's also something seriously wrong with a culture that purports to ignore sex, but encourages men to kill innocent men, women and children in suicide/homicide bombings for the sake of 72 virgins in the afterlife.

As for capitalism and democracy, they are two of finest systems of economic and policial government yet discovered.  It's no accident that Americans as a whole are much happier, much freer, and much more productive than Palestinians and most of the world.

Comments

[DemocracyRules]

THIS MULLAH IS REPRESENTATIVE of a large number of Islamists. This is also very congruent with Socialist thinking. Socialists obviously don't like Capitalism, and neither do Islamists. Muslim tyrants encumber free enterprise, because an all-controlling Muslim state takes control of the economy along with everything else. For example, in Iran all businesses are subject to state control.

Both Socialists and Islamists oppose democracy because both systems must impose their wills upon the people. Socialists prevent free commerce, and Islamists prevent self-exploration and self-actualization.

Sex, as usual, is even more interesting. Both systems control love and passion. Socialism controls and channels love as part of state control. (That's what '1984' was all about.) Socialism determines what type of person is or is not politically acceptable as a mate. Extreme Islam is similar. 'Love control' gives both systems great power, because one must get state authorization to even fall in love.