Benedict XVI-- defender of Europa?

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050419/en_afp/vaticanpopesuccession_050419172518

...One of his more recent causes has been Turkey's attempts to become a member of the European Union. He says allowing the predominantly Muslim nation into Europe's club would be "an enormous mistake."

Great, I hope he makes a saint out of Queen Isabella of Spain, the one that booted the Jews out of Spain (unfortunately she allowed them to stay if they converted). John Paul II didn't have the balls to do it.

Benedict XVI-- defender of Europa?

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050419/en_afp/vaticanpopesuccession_050419172518

...One of his more recent causes has been Turkey's attempts to become a member of the European Union. He says allowing the predominantly Muslim nation into Europe's club would be "an enormous mistake."

Unlike his predecessor, who turned the other cheek before it could even get smitten and always approached Muslim Asia with an unconditional 1 way invitation, Benedikt Ratzinger was taught early in Hitler Jugend life about the reality of sub-Human to Human relations.
He commanded, at least, equal respect, knowing that Christians in Muslim countries (even in supposedly secular Turkey) never enjoyed rights equivalent to those enjoyed by Muslims in Christian countries.
Let&#8217]

Funny you mention that point KLM, I am reading a book about Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire, it's amazing how many times they had been "genocided" right up to the 1920s. I cant recall the title, will bring it in next week.

... I am reading a book about Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire, it's amazing how many times they had been "genocided" right up to the 1920s...

Establishing April 24th as a national holiday to commemorate the Armenian Holocaust is currently a well published issue, here

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/04/22/1339201

"...if there are no consequences to the crime, then it can be repeated again in the future. Just like Germany to this day pays reparations to the State of Israel and the Jewish people. That is part of the main issue that is behind and in back of their minds, as well. So, that is one side of the equation, and I would say here in the U.S., the U.S. government has complicity in this issue in that it supports Turkey in its denialist campaign. Instead of breaking from Turkey and showing the leadership, showing Turkey how a democracy acts, saying Turkey, you are our ally, however, we are not going to help you cover up this crime. You must come to terms with these pasts. So we expect the U.S. government to break from Turkey on this issue, but unfortunately, the State Department uses this issue as a way to leverage Turkey in diplomatic circles.

What you to mean?

Well, they will use this issue. They will dangle it out there, saying, you know, there's this Armenian genocide issue, Turkey. You know, things can pass in the U.S. Congress, commemorative resolutions could pass. They start to rattle their cage a little bit and use that as a way to say, you know, if you don't behave in the area, if you don't follow our policy objectives, then we're going to let the Armenian genocide out of its box.