In a speech that was given a
mere two weeks after Islamic jihadists attacked America, the former HP chief
executive officer gave a speech on
technology, business and our way of life.
She started her speech on: SEPTEMBER 26, 2001
"TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND OUR WAY OF LIFE: WHAT'S NEXT"
She concluded her speech with the
following:
There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world.
It was able to create a continental super-state that stretched
from ocean to ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and deserts. Within
its dominion lived hundreds of millions of people, of different creeds and
ethnic origins.
One of its languages became the universal language of much of the
world, the bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. Its armies were made
up of people of many nationalities, and its military protection allowed a
degree of peace and prosperity that had never been known. The reach of this
civilization's commerce extended from Latin America to China, and everywhere in
between.
And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention.
Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians
created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers,
and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found
new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the
stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration.
Its
writers created thousands of stories. Stories of courage, romance and magic.
Its poets wrote of love, when others before them were too steeped in fear to
think of such things.
When other nations were afraid of ideas, this civilization thrived
on them, and kept them alive. When censors threatened to wipe out knowledge from
past civilizations, this civilization kept the knowledge alive, and passed it
on to others.
While
modern Western civilization shares many of these traits, the civilization I'm
talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600, which included
the Ottoman Empire and the courts of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, and
enlightened rulers like Suleiman the Magnificent.
Although
we are often unaware of our indebtedness to this other civilization, its gifts
are very much a part of our heritage. The technology industry would not exist
without the contributions of Arab mathematicians. Sufi poet-philosophers like
Rumi challenged our notions of self and truth. Leaders like Suleiman
contributed to our notions of tolerance and civic leadership.
Though Fiorina did acknowledge
Christianity and Judaism in culture, she did not call them "a civilization
that was the greatest in the world." She failed to recognize the long track record of Islam and its
culture in the Middle East. In fact, understanding that we are a
Christian nation, one would think that she would reference the rich heritage of
Europe or even our early founding, but instead, two weeks after Islamists
attacked America, she decided to praise the culture that spawned them.
Not
only that, but she apparently has bought into the lie that it was Islam was
very important with regards to mathematics. Nothing could be further from the
truth.
(h/t Freedom OutPost)
