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Islam world ( Orient ) experienced its golden times, when Western world ( Occident ) was still struggling in Middle Ages. At the 8th century for example Baghad had developed to be a cosmopolitan city with all its scientific innovations in mathematics, astronomic, medical, and philosophy. At that time the Occident had to go to the Orient to study. But in the following centuries the science stayed stagnant in the Orient, while the Occident went through enlightenment and the emerging of sciences. The result: in the 21st century the Orient seems to love the Middle Ages of the Occident, while the Occident sits on the driving seat of the science. Why? This month the well-known German Magazine Der Spiegel published an edition on Islam. 1400 years of faith, wars and culture (edition 5/2010). The summary of it is published in an article: Am Scheideweg der Moderne: Sturz in den Schatten . A highly interesting and recommendable article.

The visit of Pope Benedict XVI has been used by his opponents to demonstrate against him. Who are they? They are a mixture between militant secularists and radical humanists. BBC has published their profile and can be read at BBC News - Papal visit: Pope Benedict XVI's opponents . The only group not mentioned in this profile is the radical Islamic group, which also demonstrated against the Pope.

The visit to the lion's nest has proved to be not harmful to the Pope Benedict XVI, who visited the UK 16-19 September 2010. The Pope team said even that the success has gone beyond their expectation. This is the resume of BBC: Pope's visit is deemed to challenge stereotypes .

Today I missed Germany a lot. Therefore I sat down and browsed German Newspapers. Die Welt wrote an article about " As a culture Islam will vanish ". In that article Die Welt published an interview with the Egyptian writer and scientist Hamad Abdel-Samad , who is also an expert in political science. At 23 he went to Germany to study. He was known as anti-Semitic and anti Western world. But now Hamad Abdel-Samad wants to reform Islam as a culture. It is really worth to read the interview . I just recommend it.

Today I visited the website of  guardian.co.uk . The article on the newest conflict between Lebanon and Israel attracted my attention. " Soldiers dead in Lebanon-Israel border clash ," wrote guardian.co.uk . I've heard and read a lot about the conflict between Arab and Israel, but I always have the feeling that I know very little. Sometimes I'm confused reading the news or articles on that topic, because very often they are bias and I don't know any more, what is true or false. This brief history from  guardian.co.uk  helped me to understand better.