Lam : That is the best thing you have written so far. You explain yourself very well. And you are more right than wrong about the United States. Not 100 % right, but right as far as most places in America are concerned. In your situation I really don't know what I'd do. Of course, if I was still in my 20s I know that some things I could not do, because my knowledge wouldn't permit it. This is thinking back to my 20s anyway, whether or not it is true for you. But by some point in the 1990s, especially by the early 2000s, there was a wealth of information to work with and confidence that I can handle myself in disputes with just about anyone on the subject of religion --and maybe a few other areas. Far from as much knowledge as I might wish for, but a lot. And with that knowledge, as I see it, comes responsibility. Few people are as prepared as I have made myself. And I have teaching skills. I can deliver a pretty good lecture before a crowd of people and can write fairly well also. These skills are gifts, call them "gifts from God," if you want to. So, to the best of my ability I try to show some leadership in areas where my knowledge allows it. I cannot expect the same accumulation of knowledge on the part of most others. Nor the same kind of motivation. As for people who live in a cosmopolitan place like Singapore , I don't really know what to tell you --except that if I was there, or anywhere else similar , I'd probably say about the same thing. On my own , without asking anyone else to take the risks I am willing to take for myself., I say almost anything. I really cannot stand all the lying and self-deception that goes on in the world. And ignorance about Islam is monumental all over the map of the US. But this level of ignorance doesn't stop a lot of people from saying all sorts of things about religion generally and Islam in particular AS IF they knew what they are talking about. Which very few do. I have to hand it to Al-Jazeera. They sometimes are more open to free speech than almost any US network except C-Span. This has happened more than once, but to give you a good example..... On one occasion Al-Jazeera gave a full hour of TV time to a former Muslim but now an Atheist, from Lebanon. If anything his criticisms of Islam were worse than mine. But he had the guts to stand up for truth as he saw it, a lot of guts. The man had real courage. Things , so far anyway, have not been anywhere nearly as dangerous for me as they were or maybe still are, for that Arab man from Lebanon. Yet there are risks. My friend who hosts "Islam Today" on TV here, was threatened with death by some U of Oregon members of the Muslim Students Association, sort of the youth arm of the Muslim Brotherhood.. I think it is a matter of time before I am next. I assume exactly that. OK, this means that maybe time is short. So I had better say everything open to me to say while there still is an opportunity. Maybe eventually people will wake up to the truth .It is the best I can do. What you have just told me and the others here, is, I believe, the best you can do. Your world is different than my world. Maybe it would be similar if I lived in Los Angeles or in Michigan where many Muslims are residents. Or several other parts of the USA. But Oregon is not like that. What we do have here are so-called community leaders who insist again and again, that Islam is just like other religions, that it is peaceful, and that if you dare to criticize Islam then you are "prejudiced" and ignorant. Actually the ignorant people are those who say this about opponents of Islam, and their prejudices are obvious. They hate almost anyone who is critical of Muslim religion and are more than willing to smear anyone who is a critic, and willing to censor you. No way I can fight this sort of nonsense by saying, "peace, brothers, Islam is just like the Baptists or Methodists. Let's all sing kumbaya and just get along." I can now understand your position MUCH better. Maybe you can understand my position better, too. You do your best as you see it. No-one can ask more of you. I hope you can think something similar about me. Billy -------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 12/13/2009 6:24:41 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
On Sun, Dec 13, 2009 at 7:51 PM, <[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) > wrote: Do you have any idea, or is this a subject you prefer not to admit or think about ? I knew what you want to prove. I do consider your point as valid. But that does not mean I agree with them and there is nothing to admit about. Consider yourself revolutionary, you have nothing to lose on this. Consider me reformist. I have friends who are Muslim. No, there is not just one family in town, where I can choose to keep away from. No, they aren't just the few immigrant i met at my workplace. No, they don't just live in Arab street. I interact with them on daily basis, everywhere I go. They are not majority, but like many others, their culture is well integrated into my society, the way my culture is into theirs. Do you think that by raising an anti-Quran flag while continuously reaffirming that "I love Muslim, I am only against Islam and Mohammad" is going to work out in this world? Not that I am afraid of being bombed by angry extremist or being locked up under religion freedom protection law, but why waste the effort when we know a direct clash like this is never going to grow into anything constructive? I can see your deep root hatred towards Islam from the way you speak of it and the kind of solution you propose. Having to experience religious conflicts and insanity first hand, you have my empathy. Still, I consider myself lucky for not having to go through that and therefore able to retain my consciousness need to generate a more holistic solution. In another way, I (together with many people around the globe) face challenges which you and many others who live in the United States do not. I hope my description gives you a better overview of the world situation. _______________________________________________ Centroids mailing list: [email protected] http://radicalcentrism.com/mailman/listinfo/centroids_radicalcentrism.com Archives at http://radicalcentrism.org/pipermail/centroids_radicalcentrism.com/
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