Over at Silent Running, Wind Rider contributes a very even-keeled look at the substance of Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad’s recent speech to the Organization of the Islamic Conference. It’s worth reading in its entirety, but here’s a little taste of it:
Mahathir: “Jews rule the world”
Factually, yes he did include that remark in his address. And yes, his address is laced with quite a bit of the same standard vitriol that even casual observers of Muslim diatribe of late have come to expect. And while these items are duly reported in the body of the article, the focus is on the incendiary, and as such ill serves us all. Better that it be left neutral, stating simply the fact that he delivered the opening address, and the venue.
A closer read of his statement reveals more substance, and a bit of a different message than the standard “It’s the Jews, they are all in league with Satan against us - we must smite them!” ranting that is so often rightly brought to public attention. And the underlying point of his text is almost the complete opposite of the conclusion that one would probably draw simply scanning the headline and moving on.
Meanwhile, concerning China’s anticipated endorsement of Australian participation in regional trading groups - an idea very much opposed by Mahathir - “Tom Paine” [of the same blog] writes:
Countless “opinion leaders” have written sneeringly of Prime Minister John Howard’s “sucking up” to the United States, quoting with approval the aging anti-semitic lunatic Dr Mahathir Mohammed, the autocratic ruler of Malaysia who loundly insists Australia is not part of the region and will never be permitted to sully the celestial portals of the Asian trading bloc with our crass western values such as freedom, eqiality and rule of law.
Gee, do you think the Reds may have finally decided to put their boot in Dr M’s arse? Is it possible that decades of persecution and discrimination against Malaysia’s Chinese population may have given Beijing the idea that Malaysia’s racist Bumuputra policy might be worth repaying in kind?
Anyway, two interesting posts that are worth links - I suggest you use them.
