The Pope and Islam

Pope Benedict XVI's foray into history and his remarks about Islam are unfortunate. The inspiration apparently was criticism of Prophet Mohammed by a 14th century Byzantine Christian emperor, who in a debate with a learned Persian is supposed to have said: "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."

Criticisms levelled in the 14th century reflect the thinking of that time and in the present age are as irrelevant as attacks on the Church and the Inquisition. True, the Pontiff did not portray Islam as intrinsically violent. He did not agree with the outrageous statement of the Christian emperor but also did not repudiate it. At a time when there is a widening rift between Muslims and Christians, allusion to these remarks was most inopportune. The Pope has caused deep offence to Muslims all over the world and moreover has unwittingly given ammunition to incorrigible Muslim baiters. The Pontiff should graciously make suitable amends.

Justice Scalia's Dissents

Justice Antonin Scalia of the US Supreme Court is a formidable member of the Court. He is a firm believer in the doctrine of Original Intent and does not favour expanding the Bill of Rights by including in it rights which are not expressly mentioned. He dislikes citations of foreign judgments, which in his view are irrelevant and indeed harmful in interpreting the US Constitution. However the strongest critic of Scalia will acknowledge his intellectual prowess and scholarship whilst disapproving the tone and language of his dissents.

In a case where the Supreme Court had to decide what is golf and who is a golfer, Scalia sarcastically questions: "Is someone riding around a golf course from shot to shot really a golfer? Either out of humility or out of self-respect (one or the other) the Court should decline to answer this incredibly difficult and incredibly silly question." At times Scalia cannot control his exasperation and bursts out, "The Court must be living in another world. Day by day, case by case, it is busy designing a Constitution for a country I do not recognise."

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