This is an odd pair of stories, but I think there is actually a connecting link between them.

Yet there is another, more subtle, factor that may attract men to Islam: traditional male roles are well preserved in the religion. This may appeal to Western men who find it difficult to assert their “masculinity” in what may be perceived as gender-free Western societies. … Indeed, with an ethical code that coalesced in the seventh century — when the Muslim prophet and “perfect example” walked the earth, enforced his will, and conquered his “infidel” neighbors — Islamic culture can hardly be deemed “gender-neutral.”
…
And so, like mischievous little boys who find the pirate lifestyle fascinating — raiding, killing, plundering, abducting, hiding in caves — so do some Western men find the lifestyle of the jihadist captivating. So they convert.

-Pajamas Media

An unclassified study from a military research unit in southern Afghanistan details how homosexual behavior is unusually common among men in the large ethnic group known as Pashtuns — though they seem to be in complete denial about it.
…
Apparently, according to the report, Pashtun men interpret the Islamic prohibition on homosexuality to mean they cannot “love” another man — but that doesn’t mean they can’t use men for “sexual gratification.”
…
The U.S. army medic also told members of the research unit that she and her colleagues had to explain to a local man how to get his wife pregnant. The report said: “When it was explained to him what was necessary, he reacted with disgust and asked, ‘How could one feel desire to be with a woman, who God has made unclean, when one could be with a man, who is clean? Surely this must be wrong.’”
…
The report also detailed a disturbing practice in which older “men of status” keep young boys on hand for sexual relationships. One of the country’s favorite sayings, the report said, is “women are for children, boys are for pleasure.” The report concluded that the widespread homosexual behavior stems from several factors, including the “severe segregation” of women in the society and the “prohibitive” cost of marriage.

-Fox (H/T Bookworm Room)

Okay, so what’s the common thread? This may sound odd, but I think belief systems are like one big round ball. There’s a small spot at the top consisting of mature Christianity, and then a bunch of directions off which you can fall. Each direction you can fall looks different when you start, but when you get to the logical conclusion (the bottom of the ball), they all end up at the same place. You see, all roads really do lead to “god.” Well, all except one little insignificant road not many people take anyway.

And if “all roads lead to god,” (except the one little one), then doesn’t it make sense that all roads would also, eventually, lead to the same moral system? Doesn’t it make sense that an extreme masculine culture of this type will objectify women until they become, well, good for nothing but having babies? It’s the same thing we see in China, really, where boys now outnumber girls 2 to 1, isn’t it? It all leads to the same place: societal suicide.

Speaking of societal suicide, it looks like Sweden may be going that direction, as well. Sweden has always been a hotbed of liberal sentiment, being a fully socialist country for years. Their socialism is winding into anti-semitism—while most people wouldn’t relate the two, I find them closely linked because of the worldviews these two systems share.

Of the locals with Jewish background they do not feel safe and more people are choosing to relocate. Skånska Dagbladet has spoken with two families fleeing growing anti-Semitism. “My children are not safe here. It will only get worse, “says Marcus Eilenberg. … Marcus Eilenberg, 32, wife and two small children are about to emigrate to Israel. -Tundra Tabloid

In Israel, building inspectors are afraid to go into Arab neighborhoods to make certain the building codes are properly met (Israel Matzav). I’ll bet that if there’s ever a mass problem in one of these areas, Israel will be blamed for not ensuring the safety of the people living there. They’ll be cries of an “Israeli plot” to “kill off Palestinians,” or some such.

Things are moving apace on the religious front here in the US, as well. The US Air Force Academy is building an outdoor worship circle for use by the Wiccans in the Academ (News Busters).

Finally, Contentions, the Commentary blog, has a very interesting piece on ending “don’t ask, don’t tell,” in the military. The bottom line problem is that someone’s ox is going to get gored here, either those who have a religious belief that homosexuality is wrong, or those who believe it is right.

The issue will be forced by lawsuit if by no other means. A 20-year veteran with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan may not be comfortable, for example, endorsing “Gay Pride Month” or participating in scheduled military celebrations of it. He may be charged by a gay subordinate with creating a hostile work environment or ordered by a senior officer to get onboard with gay-pride celebrations. -Commentary

This is a side of the issue not many people really think about.