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Good timing on that one. I had dinner with my Turkish friends and the Americans who went to Turkey with me last night. We had a little heart to heart around the table at the end, saying what we had learned from the experience. I was last since I was trying to avoid being impolite to the Turks who have repeatedly been gracious hosts. But it was unavoidable eventually and I had, as politely as possible, to state that I had concluded that Islam was in tension with democracy and there was no easy reconciliation. (Contrary to Mr. Scruton's apparent optimism about the Turks). They insisted that Islam had room for democracy and the ideal society was where the majority of the population freely chose to be governed by Sharia law. Not very good for women and gays in my view.
I depart from Mr. Scruton's final comment (although I haven't read the whole piece)about Judaism and Christianity. I think they too will always remain as underlying threats to a secular, democratic society in slightly different ways than Islam or Buddhism, yet threats nonetheless.
We need to find fulfillment in the concrete experiences of everyday life and be willing to live with metaphysical anomie.
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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13
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