Refresher courses

Apparently Scintan missed an old column:

“Open immigration is NOT libertarian, it is foolish, unnecessary, and both socially and politically destructive in the long term.” – Vox Day

As much as I hate to be contrary on a day like today, I must respond to this. However, rather than comment on it, I’ll just cite the following passage from the Libertarian Party website:

A policy of open immigration will advance the economic well-being of all Americans.”

Big L, little l, what begins with L?

Also, it’s pretty clear from their posts today that neither cisbio nor Scott have spent a lot of time reading the Koran or Islamic history. If you’ll excuse me quoting myself from a few years back:

I do not want to hear any more about Islam being a “religion of peace.” It is not, nor has it ever been. In addition to engaging in aggressive wars that conquered reasonable chunks of the Middle East, Africa, India and Europe, Islam has a long history of internal violence dating back almost to its inception.

The second Caliph to succeed Muhammad, Umar ibn al-Khattab, was assassinated, as was the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, as was the fourth Caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib.

This history of violence was not inconsequential. The fifth Caliph and founder of the Ummayad dynasty, Muawiyyah, managed to survive long enough to pass the holy mantle of leadership to his son Yazid, who, when faced with a challenge to his rule by Muhammed’s grandson, Husain, did not hesitate to massacre Husain and all his followers, including Husain’s infant son.

The murders of Ali and Husain were the first great grievances of the Shiah i-Ali, better known to us in the West as the Shiite Muslims. And many centuries of similar “pacifism” followed, hence the Abbasid, Fatimid, Seljuk, Safavid, Moghul and Ottoman Empires.

Attempts to equate Christian fundamentalists and Islamic fundamentalists are simply foolish. To understand the difference, I recommend comparing the appellations given the historical Popes with those given the historical Caliphs. Or, alternatively, the history of how each religion came to dominate the lands currently inhabited by its adherents. It’s an educational experience.