Will Hutton, who has always displayed naked anti Americanism, has outdone himself in this Sunday's Observer. 'Heed Not the Fanatics' is the title of this piece which stretches the concept of analogy past its reasonable boundaries. He's basically making the assertion that Islam and American Christian fundamentalism are the two evils of the world. 

Protestant evangelism in the United States and Islamic fundamentalism are the two fastest—growing religions on the planet; even Hindu and Buddhist fundamentalism are on the increase. Only Europe has moved in the direction the classic sociologists predicted. A mere third of Europeans report that they think that life is worth living because God exists. In the US, 61 per cent do, a proportion matched, although we don't have reliable evidence, within Islam. In those broad religiously inclined majorities, fundamentalists find it easier to recruit.

He doesn't have a reliable figure for Islam, but reckons it matches the American percentage so that's good enough for his biased mind. Will Hutton will go to any lengths to make his anti—American case.

But why? Why is rich Europe secular and rich America religious? And are there any clues in the answer to that riddle to the rise in religious fundamentalism, one of the most pernicious and hateful phenomena in human association, ranking with political fundamentalism of Right and Left in its destructive and poisonous influence.

He conveniently forgets that the US is a lot richer than Europe. This is the typical pro—European fallacy that somehow the EU is economically equivalent to the US, and is a more caring society to boot. Look who's talking about poisonous dogma? Will Hutton is so anti—American he seethes with it, and obviously doesn't even realize that he's speaking about himself.

Whether it is the perpetrators of the Madrid atrocity or Franklin Graham, evangelical son of evangelist Billy Graham, calling Islam a 'wicked religion', fervent fundamentalist religiosity breeds violence, intolerance and sexism.

Above is the ridiculous comparison between Al—Qaeda mentality and that of Franklin Graham. Will Hutton thinks that calling Islam a 'wicked religion' is as fanatical as blowing up 200 innocent people. This kind of lop—sided mentality from anti—Americans is great because it just exposes them as twisted and deeply bitter. These people need the idea of a powerful EU to take on their demon — The US.

Posted by Michael  04 11 04