Michael, What I completely do not get is why the theoretical majority of peace-loving Muslims do not speak out more loudly against the Fundamentalist elements.
The fight should NOT be the West against Islam, but moderate Islam against fundamentalist Islam. It should be an inter-church fight. But that fight does not seem to be happening to the degree it NEEDS to. Why not? It seems like those few who do are not backed up by the masses, and instead are "thrown to the wolves" in as literal a way as I can think of. And the "street" seems to back the extremists more than the moderates. Is everyone cowed by the extremists? Is there such public outrage, but I don't see it, ever, in my many sources of news? Is there not as much support as you think? Why are there not daily marches in the streets and to the mosques and out front of the extreme leaders homes? There were plenty of people on the street marching against Israel, why not the same level of outrage for the actions of people inside their community? I have asked this question of many Southeast Asian immigrant acquaintances here in the US, and mostly their response is "I got out, not my problem any more. Its not worth the risk". But if (and when) Christian extremists try to take over my church and my religion or use my religion's good name and beliefs for bad purposes, I do speak out, and support causes and laws to stop them. And I apologize to anyone wronged by them when I can. And would feel more than free to ask for help if I alone couldn't stop them. Do I believe that most Muslims (and most people for that matter) are "peace loving", and just want to live and let live? Yes. The alternative is too horrible to contemplate. But I do want to see at least the same level of outrage I feel, as much public cheering for those who speak out against the fundamentalism as there is for the supporters, and would look in favor of more embarrassment and contrition for the acts of their community outliers. I _know_ I am ignorant on the subject. Educate me. On Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 10:03 PM, Michael Grant <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Why discuss it? It's not a remotely applicable analogy. It would be a > more appropriate analogy if each state had different interpretations of the > constitution, different interpretations of federal laws and each acted > independently on an international level. > > I can't ignore your first half dozen posts with such zingers as "Muslims > aren't capable of a non-violent lifestyle" and "the common practice of > Muslims seems to be violent." Refine and rewrite your post as many times as > you want, but what you really mean by it is clear as day. > > Here's a test. > > - Close your eyes (after you finish reading ;-) > - Picture a Muslim and open your eyes. > > If you pictured a brown guy with a wiry beard and a turban you probably > don't understand much about Islam. If he had a belt full of explosives you > lose an extra 10 points. > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;207172674;29440083;f Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:288624 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
