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JennGM
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| Posted: Aug 17 2006 at 7:28pm | IP Logged
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Maybe some of you have seen this editorial. It was in the Wall Street Journal, and some similar info in the National Review. It might not be anything, and I don't want to be an alarmist. But the rosary and extra prayers during this octave between the Assumption and Queenship of Mary (22nd) is appropriate anyway, and we can have this intention.
Of course God has no coincidences that August 22nd would the Queenship of Mary and also the coinciding muslim observance of Muhammed's going to heaven.
Even if nothing happens between now and the end of August, I thought this was interesting to share. It's a different mindset than we have. It seems fundamental to believe in self-preservation, but reading this is eye-opening.
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August 22
Does Iran have something in store?
BY BERNARD LEWIS
Tuesday, August 8, 2006 4:30 p.m. EDT
During the Cold War, both sides possessed weapons of mass destruction, but neither side used them, deterred by what was known as MAD, mutual assured destruction. Similar constraints have no doubt prevented their use in the confrontation between India and Pakistan. In our own day a new such confrontation seems to be looming between a nuclear-armed Iran and its favorite enemies, named by the late Ayatollah Khomeini as the Great Satan and the Little Satan, i.e., the United States and Israel. Against the U.S. the bombs might be delivered by terrorists, a method having the advantage of bearing no return address. Against Israel, the target is small enough to attempt obliteration by direct bombardment.
It seems increasingly likely that the Iranians either have or very soon will have nuclear weapons at their disposal, thanks to their own researches (which began some 15 years ago), to some of their obliging neighbors, and to the ever-helpful rulers of North Korea. The language used by Iranian President Ahmadinejad would seem to indicate the reality and indeed the imminence of this threat.
Would the same constraints, the same fear of mutual assured destruction, restrain a nuclear-armed Iran from using such weapons against the U.S. or against Israel?
There is a radical difference between the Islamic Republic of Iran and other governments with nuclear weapons. This difference is expressed in what can only be described as the apocalyptic worldview of Iran's present rulers. This worldview and expectation, vividly expressed in speeches, articles and even schoolbooks, clearly shape the perception and therefore the policies of Ahmadinejad and his disciples.
Even in the past it was clear that terrorists claiming to act in the name of Islam had no compunction in slaughtering large numbers of fellow Muslims. A notable example was the blowing up of the American embassies in East Africa in 1998, killing a few American diplomats and a much larger number of uninvolved local passersby, many of them Muslims. There were numerous other Muslim victims in the various terrorist attacks of the last 15 years.
The phrase "Allah will know his own" is usually used to explain such apparently callous unconcern; it means that while infidel, i.e., non-Muslim, victims will go to a well-deserved punishment in hell, Muslims will be sent straight to heaven. According to this view, the bombers are in fact doing their Muslim victims a favor by giving them a quick pass to heaven and its delights--the rewards without the struggles of martyrdom. School textbooks tell young Iranians to be ready for a final global struggle against an evil enemy, named as the U.S., and to prepare themselves for the privileges of martyrdom.
A direct attack on the U.S., though possible, is less likely in the immediate future. Israel is a nearer and easier target, and Mr. Ahmadinejad has given indication of thinking along these lines. The Western observer would immediately think of two possible deterrents. The first is that an attack that wipes out Israel would almost certainly wipe out the Palestinians too. The second is that such an attack would evoke a devastating reprisal from Israel against Iran, since one may surely assume that the Israelis have made the necessary arrangements for a counterstrike even after a nuclear holocaust in Israel.
The first of these possible deterrents might well be of concern to the Palestinians--but not apparently to their fanatical champions in the Iranian government. The second deterrent--the threat of direct retaliation on Iran--is, as noted, already weakened by the suicide or martyrdom complex that plagues parts of the Islamic world today, without parallel in other religions, or for that matter in the Islamic past. This complex has become even more important at the present day, because of this new apocalyptic vision.
In Islam, as in Judaism and Christianity, there are certain beliefs concerning the cosmic struggle at the end of time--Gog and Magog, anti-Christ, Armageddon, and for Shiite Muslims, the long awaited return of the Hidden Imam, ending in the final victory of the forces of good over evil, however these may be defined. Mr. Ahmadinejad and his followers clearly believe that this time is now, and that the terminal struggle has already begun and is indeed well advanced. It may even have a date, indicated by several references by the Iranian president to giving his final answer to the U.S. about nuclear development by Aug. 22. This was at first reported as "by the end of August," but Mr. Ahmadinejad's statement was more precise.
What is the significance of Aug. 22? This year, Aug. 22 corresponds, in the Islamic calendar, to the 27th day of the month of Rajab of the year 1427. This, by tradition, is the night when many Muslims commemorate the night flight of the prophet Muhammad on the winged horse Buraq, first to "the farthest mosque," usually identified with Jerusalem, and then to heaven and back (c.f., Koran XVII.1). This might well be deemed an appropriate date for the apocalyptic ending of Israel and if necessary of the world. It is far
from certain that Mr. Ahmadinejad plans any such cataclysmic events precisely for Aug. 22. But it would be wise to bear the possibility in mind.
A passage from the Ayatollah Khomeini, quoted in an 11th-grade Iranian schoolbook, is revealing. "I am decisively announcing to the whole world that if the world-devourers [i.e., the infidel powers] wish to stand against our religion, we will stand against their whole world and will not cease until the annihilation of all them. Either we all become free, or we will go to the greater freedom which is martyrdom. Either we shake one another's hands in joy at the victory of Islam in the world, or all of us will turn to eternal life and martyrdom. In both cases, victory and success are ours." In this context, mutual assured destruction, the deterrent that worked so well during the Cold War, would have no meaning. At the end of time, there will be general destruction anyway. What will matter will be the final destination of the dead--hell for the infidels, and heaven for the believers. For people with this mindset, MAD is not a constraint; it is an inducement.
How then can one confront such an enemy, with such a view of life and death? Some immediate precautions are obviously possible and necessary. In the long term, it would seem that the best, perhaps the only hope is to appeal to those Muslims, Iranians, Arabs and others who do not share these apocalyptic perceptions and aspirations, and feel as much threatened, indeed even more threatened, than we are. There must be many such, probably even a majority in the lands of Islam. Now is the time for them to save their countries, their societies and their religion from the madness of MAD.
Mr. Lewis, professor emeritus at Princeton, is the author, most recently, of "From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting the Middle East" (Oxford University Press, 2004).
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Aug 18 2006 at 6:19am | IP Logged
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Here's what Jimmy Akin had to say about The Guns of August.
I have a list here somewhere of all the Marian feasts that are associated with Muslim battles--it's really rather fascinating...wish I could find it 
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KASB
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| Posted: Aug 18 2006 at 9:02am | IP Logged
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I heard Fr. Corapi talking about this a couple of nights ago. Another interesting date connection to note is Operation Enduring Freedom (war in Afghanistan)began on October 7, 2001.
http://www.michaeljournal.org/marymoslems.htm
http://www.archbishopsheencause.org/roleofmuslims.html
Blessings,
Kym
mom to 9 - 8 boys (23,13,10,8,7,4,3,1) and 1 girl (22)
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Aug 21 2006 at 4:11pm | IP Logged
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Here's the list of Muslim/Marian connections. It's pretty interesting:
Important dates in Christian - Islamic conflict:
Aug. 6 Feast of the Transfiguration-in memory of battle at Belgrade where Hungary was saved from Turks Aug. 6, 1456
Aug. 6 Feast of Our Lady of the Snows- in honor of victory over the Turks by Prince Eugene Aug. 6, 1716
Sept. 11, 1697 Battle of Zenta,Prince Eugene of Savoy defeats Turks
Sept. 11, 1922 The day the British Mandate for Palestine began, Arabs declared it a day of mourning.
Sept. 11,2001 UN declared this to be World Peace Day months in advance.
September 11, 2001 The day of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Sept. 12 Feast of the Holy Name of Mary- in honor of Battle of Vienna ending Sept. 12, 1526, Turks defeated also Battle of Malta 1562 and again battle under
LaVallette in 1565; 1683 Battle to end 2nd siege of
Vienna by Turks begins Sept. 1, King of Polond, John
Sobieski leads battle to end siege starts onthe 11th and ends Sept. 12,1683, this is the last aggressive attempt of the Turks to conquer the west.
October 7 Feast of the Holy Rosary- Battle of Lepanto, Oct. 7, 1571(also on this day, Battle of Muret in 1213, defeat of the Albigensian Heretics)
3rd Sunday of November Feast of the Patronage of Our Lady- in memory of the victories obtained over the Saracens, Heretics, and other enemies from the 6th
century to the reign of Philip IV
Dec. 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, an Islamic name, also note the crescent symbol in the image of Our Lady, possible link?;
Dec. 12, 2000 Supreme Court Justices make decision which makes Bush president instead of Gore
May 13,1917 Our Lady of Fatima; Oct. 13, 1917 Miracle of the Sun; Moslems also make pilgimages to The shrine at Fatima to honor Our Lady
and then there is August 22nd and we know, at least, that Iran is making a "multi-facted announcement" regarding nuclear arms.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Oct 01 2006 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
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Here's an addition to the above list, provided by my friend, Fr. Mercer:
"The practice of Adoration began in Avignon, France --
during a time of severe crisis in the Church.
To celebrate and give thanks for the victory over the
heretical Albigensians, King Louis VII asked that the
sacrament be placed on display at the Chapel of the Holy
Cross. The overwhelming number of adorers brought the local
bishop, Pierre de Corbie, to suggest that the exposition be
continued indefinitely.
That, it seems, is how it all started.
The year was 1226. The date was September 11."
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Dawnie
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| Posted: Oct 01 2006 at 8:29pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
Here's the list of Muslim/Marian connections. It's pretty interesting:
May 13,1917 Our Lady of Fatima; Oct. 13, 1917 Miracle of the Sun; Moslems also make pilgimages to The shrine at Fatima to honor Our Lady
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I heard somewhere that Fatima was the name of a Muslim princess who coverted to Christianity.....
Our Lady has big plans for the Muslims, I think 
Dawn
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Muslim-Christian dates
