"Freedom" means one thing to the West and another thing to Islam.

"Freedom" means one thing to the West and another thing to Islam. Do you agree? Please Comment Here Do you have an immediate Media Request? If so, please contact our Director of Operations at: Nancy@FamilySecurityMatters.org FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributor Diana West is a journalist and columnist whose writing appears in several high profile outlets. She also has a website: DianaWest.net. "Freedom" vs. "Freedom" "Freedom" means one thing to the West and another thing to Islam. Diana West Until Americans realize that the Western mind's definition of "freedom" is polar opposite to the Islamic definition of "freedom", we will go nowhere in solving anything in the Middle East. Many on the right have seen in the anti-Mubarak movement vindication of George W. Bush's Big Idea -- that ballot-box democracy would transform the umma into Jeffersonian, or, at least, pro-Western and anti-jihad republics. That this hasn't happened anywhere (and in spades) doesn't dampen their enthusiasm. In fact, citing Bush to bolster pro-"opposition" commentary is in vogue. Writing in the Washington Post, Elliott Abrams quotes Bush, circa 2003, as saying: "Are the peoples of the Middle East somehow beyond the reach of liberty? ... Are they alone never to know freedom ...?" Jay Nordlinger at National Review quotes Bush, circa 2008, as saying: "The truth is that freedom is a universal right -- the Almighty's gift to every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth." CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING Click here to sign up for FSM's e-mail updates!