Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2009 March 31

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March 31

The global spread of Islam

Given that much of what is written, discussed and broadcast these days predicts the eventual inevitability of Islam displacing and replacing all current and future global democracies, governments and faiths, I an curious to know which country would (in all probability) be the last to resist and succomb to such a takeover if or when it should happen. My college discussion group has suggested either Ireland, Italy, or China. 92.8.12.135 (talk) 17:14, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

I don't agree that it's at all inevitable. What makes you say that? How many countries have switched to Sharia law recently? The proportion of the world population that are Muslims may be increasing (I'm not sure), but I don't think many (any?) countries are switching to Islamic governance. --Tango (talk) 17:21, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

It's best that you keep it to your college discussion group, or go and find an internet chatroom. The Reference Desk is NOT a suitable place for speculative discussions. Malcolm XIV (talk) 17:41, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Agreed. There are plenty of forums where you can discuss this hypothetical situation. DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:38, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

This really is quite speculative and subjective. You state that "given that much of what is written...", yet there is little independent evidence to corroborate your story. It can also be argued that Islam will suffer from postmodernity. Again, this is completely hypothetical.Smallman12q (talk) 13:27, 8 April 2009 (UTC)

Instrument played like harmonica (slide side to side) but sounds like flute

Is there such instrument? It would be a good instrument to play with a guitar, like people do with harmonicas. 128.163.80.152 (talk) 18:43, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

A pan flute should work. 87.115.166.150 (talk) 18:51, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

is this ("fate of an honest intellectual") discredited?

Reading this article is shocking. Has it been discredited? It says shocking things about American scholarship, I wonder if it has been discredited. Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 213.16.106.218 (talk) 19:32, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Noam Chomsky is a prominent linguist, but also a prominent political activist. He has a very strong agenda which he pursues relentlessly. The article you have linked to is an example of the latter. If you are looking for a view that is more scientific and less biased by a political agenda, our article on Palestinian people#Ancestral origins is quite good and has references to literature. As for the Joan Peters book that Noam Chomsky refers to - I haven't read it so I cannot comment, but I would not at all be surprised if it turns out to be as politically biased as Chomsky's reply, only in the opposite direction. None of this has anything to do with science. --Dr Dima (talk) 20:45, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

See Norman Finkelstein, Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict, Joan Peters and From Time Immemorial for further details. // BL \\ (talk) 22:03, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

A lot of people really aren't going to feel too sorry for Norman Finkelstein, someone who consistently seems to have gone out of his way to make a large number of enemies for himself. AnonMoos (talk) 13:12, 1 April 2009 (UTC)