Ever wondered how many mosques stand in this United Kingdom? According to one count, there are 1669, which is a fair number, considering that the first was established in 1889, but the fastest growth has happened in the last fifteen years. Some have graced their neighbourhood, some have gained an evil reputation, but in the main, the buildings, together with the accompanying religion, have been established in accord with the traditional tolerance given newcomers by the ordinary British people! The images on the left are all from mosques established in Britain over the last twenty-odd years. The holy book of muslims, the koran, as one commentator states, " It acknowledges the coexistence of other faiths, and in doing so acknowledges that other cultures can live together in peace."

Then check out the pictures of Christian places of worship in Riyadh, or Mecca, or Jeddah, or Dahran. Wonderful portraits? Fantastic width of religious tolerance, in the birthplace of the same religion which plans, amongst other things, to slap the largest mosque in Europe right next to the Olympic Stadium!

I wonder are there any readers out there who would feel that those Republicans who have firebombed several stores in Belfast today should be elevated to the highest offices of Government? As the major blaze at Boucher Road Retail Park dies down, and people face the prospect of having lost their employment because of these arsonist thugs, is it time to consider inviting the firebombers into the Assembly – with perhaps the Commerce portfolio as a "sweetener" to them?

No – that’s rubbish isn’t it? I mean, who in their right mind, would REWARD the terrorist scum who carried out these bombings, putting life of workers at risk? Well, how about the British and Irish Governments, the Church Leaders, Trade Unions, Big Business, the MSM….and most political parties. After all, these are the same groups who enthuse about permitting those who belong to IRA/Sinn Fein into a devolved Government – and as I recall that organisation carried out THOUSANDS of bombings, and THOUSANDS of murders.

So, the firebombers of Boucher Road and the mass murderers of the IRA have much heritage in common. And yet, we are reliably informed that unless we dialogue and reward terrorists, we will only get more terrorism. Do you agree?

I wonder what you make of the news that former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has received an honourary degree from St. Andrew’s University in Scotland? This BBC article fairly gushes warm praise on the erstwhile Iranian leader..

He cut a modest figure in the grey robes and black turban of a Shiite cleric. A small, bearded man, smiling at all the attention amid the gowns and mortar boards and applause in the Younger Hall at the university.

I was glad to see that at least some people had the guts to protest at the award being given to this "moderate" "reformist" – as the MSM likes to think of Khatami. Here’s a quote from Khatami from 2000..

In the Qur’an, God commanded to kill the wicked and those who do not see the rights of the oppressed… If we abide by human laws, we should mobilize the whole Islamic World for a sharp confrontation with the Zionist regime… If we abide by the Qur’an, all of use should mobilize to kill."

Moderate and reformist – a good guy, right? Wonder how long before Ahmadinejad gets an invite?

Le Figaro, France’s right wing broadsheet, runs an interesting article which, here (in english), warns against anti-americanism. It certainly doesn’t labour over the ‘was it right to go to war’ argument.  Instead it presents some pretty rational arguments centred around the US, in its view, being ‘unsuccessfully bogged down’ in the region as the prescient danger.

"France cannot welcome the destruction of the United States’ deterrent power. The United States is a difficult, sometimes even arrogant, ally, but it is an ally”

“In the absence of a real permanent UN force, the United States is the only permanent Security Council member that has a credible modern army, capable of being dispatched quickly to any part of the world. The problem is that this force no longer really inspires fear”

“Unfortunately for the West – and for world peace as a whole – the United States, by becoming bogged down in Iraq, has destroyed its deterrence power and thus its political credibility. Its advice, demands, and threats are much less heeded than they were even just three years ago”

In referring to the UN the piece ignores this inept and corrupt organisations contribution to world affairs. But overall the piece serves as a timely if somewhat foreboding reminder that the West faces a tough time ahead.

“The 21st century promises to be a century of dangerous religious, ethnic, political and economic rivalries, the world needs a global policeman. Until the United Nations has, as its Charter requires, established a military force of its own, the need for such a policeman will continue to make itself felt. And like it or not, this policeman is a US one"

For any mistakes it makes I’d agree that the US needs to be seen as that ‘policeman’, and to act, as the article notes, precisely as that deterrant power. I would argue that the rights and wrongs of the war, most regularly the wrongs, are overindulged by the western media with a singular almost obssessive aim. Often the arguments offer no real solutions, they ignore our duty to the Iraqi people, our own fallen soldiers and promote dangerous consequences for those soldiers still there who are fighting both a physical and a propaganda war

I disagree with the idea that  Northern Ireland will not reach its full potential unless integrated housing projects become the norm, put forward by One Step Campaign chairman, former Irish Rugby International Trevor Ringland. He was referring to the Carran Crescent development in Enniskillen, which will see Protestant and Catholic families live side-by-side, could be a catalyst for very significant change.

"We cannot have a truly modern, dynamic and successful society and economy if our community continues to be divided along sectarian lines," he said.

Yes, that is true Trevor, but neither should we desire to create a control freak socially engineered society where the great and the good decide the exact ratio of Protestants/Catholics/Jews/Muslims/Atheists that should live cheek by jowl. You can’t FORCE people where to live, and you shouldn’t try. In trying to address the evil of sectarian separation, Trevor and his chums will create a much worse one.  And yet, to be fair to Trevor, I must admit that when I see now private housing estates bedecked with symbols indicating that one is entering loyalist/nationalist zones – it saddens me. 

So, what do you reckon to La Giaconda – Islam style?

Those eyes sure remain alluring, and even though the smile is now covered, as required by our friends at the Religion of Peace, you can just imagine how happy Mona Lisa is to be in a state acceptable to the Imam’s of modesty. Is this what the picture hanging in the Louvre will look like in twenty years time?  As Ken points out over on the always readable Oblogatory Anecdotes,

We  have seen the destruction of great works of art before. There is even a name for it “iconoclasm”. In Afghanistan, during the rein of terror by the Taliban they destroyed not only centuries old Buddha statues but also hundreds of priceless works of art all because they said they were un-Islamic. What other great works of art is threatened? Europe’s birth rate is declining at the same time immigration from Islamic countries is at an all time high. One day European nations may fall to Islam. We may very well see the burning of the Mona Lisa and the destruction of Michelangelo’s David because they too are deemed un-Islamic. We are setting the precedence now that art that is offensive to Islam is unacceptable. Are we willing to lose all we hold dear as the price for tolerance?

 

It’s a fair question. Are we prepared to stand up for that which we hold? Is it possible for those of us who live in post-Christian western liberal democracies to come to terms with the brutal truth that freedom is not free. Have we the strength to repulse the threat from militant Islam that now circles the globe – or will we be the people air-brushed out of history?

Interesting to read that some of France’s most respected economists consider the launch of the single market and the € euro an utter failure when it comes to boosting trade, jobs and economic growth in the European Union, according to a devastating report from an official French think-tank. The research, a 300-page volume is the most damning indictment of European economic policy ever produced by an official French policy unit.

Europhiles who were convinced the launch of the euro would force European governments to reform their failing, high tax and high regulation welfare states have been proved wrong, the report says. (But who will tell Ken Clark) In an argument so radical that it has yet to be made by British eurosceptics, the French study argues that the single currency actually had the opposite effect.

"The single currency even seems to have had a numbing effect on the EU members, which no longer need to protect against a foreign-exchange crisis and have become complacent in their efforts to control spending and make structural reform…" .

And then this….

 "The situation we describe is perilous: the inability of the EU to revive the economy turns investment away from the continent; persistent under-employment and anaemic growth undermine social provision and the combination of agonising economic problems, poorly-managed enlargement and a manifest exhaustion with community procedures all threaten to trigger a vicious circle which will unravel the acquis communautaire."

How fascinating to read such a refreshing perspective from these prominent French economists. They should be congratulated on their brutal honesty and only a fool would wish to see the United Kingdom enter this economic  basket-case.  Suffice to say that it remains offical Liberal Democrat Party policy!!!

I was intrigued to read that a new movie has left some cinema-goer’s fainting in the aisles! The BBC reports that the horror film "Saw 3" has been slaying them in the back rows – and this movie is number one in the UK and USA apparently!   That got me thinking about the scariest movie I have even seen and I came up with three that caused a acing of the pulse…

1. Carrie – and yes, the very last scene made me jump!  I’ve been a Stephen King since then.

2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre – watched it when a student – gory at the time!

3. Halloween – the first one from John Carpenter. It was a cracking scary movie without too much in your face violence. And Jamie Lee Curtis in her teen scream-queen prime. (Not that she was scary!)

So, at this time of the year as shadows lengthen and daylight fades, which movies have scared you?

Well, here it is, our new home for A Tangled Web!

I hope you like it. We’re pretty well finished unpacking our things and I wanted to show you around the new ATW site.

You’ll notice a few points of difference.

There is the familiar ATW blog, of which this is the first of MANY posts to come. All you need to do to be able to comment is to register the once – that way, I’ll find out where you live and send the boys’ round to have a word should you ever disagree with me! The rules of the new ATW are as of the old, try and be civil, no gratuitous swearing and no taking the name of Elvis Costello in vain. Other than that – it’s all yours!

There is also a new feature, entitled Tangled Articles. Here you will find longer, more detailed contributions from the team. Blogging is best when its brief and to the point - but many topics warrant more space and this is where you will find them.

You can also find out more about the ATW team of writers in the biog section.

You can email me by clicking on the email tab and I’m working on a way that will enable you to contact any individual writer.

We also feature vastly enhanced link sections – and these will continue to grow. There is some great writing out there and I hope we have not missed any quality sites.

Finally, the idea behind this site is to stimulate debate. I am sure you may not always agree with us (though I hope sometimes you will!) but I trust you will always find us engaging.

That’s enough from me – now, time to put the world to right…. !