The Crusades!!! Again.....

"The emperor comes to speak about the issue of jihad, holy war," the pope said. "He said, I quote, 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.' "

Yes of course Father, you were quoting, I repeat quoting. You had no intention to insult anybody, and of course conversion by force is wrong. The Pope seems unaware of the history of his own church...now let me see...

1. The Crusades
2. The expulsion of all Muslims and Jews from Spain in the 15th century
   
3. The Spanish Inquisition
4. The Crusades
   
5. The ethnic cleansing of the native South American peoples
6. The 16th century wars with the Netherlands
7. Staying quiet about the Holocaust
8. The Crusades

His eminence now claims to be an expert on the Islamic religion, which he seems to believe is a bloodthirsty faith baying for the blood of the civilized world. In many ways I'm not surprised, the benevolence and openness of the late John Paul II did seem to be too good to be true. What astounds me is how little people seem to know about what actually happened during the Crusades. Here in Britain and I'm sure in the United States people still romanticise the idea of being a Crusader (cannibalism, rape, pillaging and murder seem to be qualities conveniently forgotten about these thugs).

Frankly, it is not the Muslim world alone that needs to come to terms with violence. Western society needs to take a good look at itself in the mirror before embarking on any more self righteous crusades. It will find the truth to be ugly and bitter.