Today's Seattle Post-Intelligencer reassures us that Islam is a Religion of Peace! We are blessed with this op-ed from Omar Ahmad, "the founder and chairman of the Council on American Islamic Relations, the leading Muslim civil rights organization in the United States" -- "Muslims committed to peace, respect"
During Ramadan, the world's 1.2 billion Muslims rededicate themselves to two central Islamic values: sharing and toleranceI'm sure that will be reassuring to the friends and family of Theo Van Gogh, to the Iraqis who desire to rid themselves of the terrorist menace, to the Iraqi Christians who are being driven out of their homes, etc.
So it was sobering for me to review a recent poll revealing disturbing levels of intolerance toward Muslims among a random sample of 1,000 Americans. The poll was conducted by an independent firm at the request of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.Yes, these numbers are sobering. But there is hope for other 70 percent of Americans who share the P-I's delirious rose-colored view of peaceful and tolerant Islam. They can read, for example, Little Green Footballs and MEMRI.Some of the findings were chilling: 29 percent of Americans strongly or somewhat agree that Muslims teach their children to hate; 27 percent believe we value life less than other people; 29 percent believe in a kind of world Muslim conspiracy "to change the American way of life."
Surely you're not suggesting that we should hold views regarding ALL Muslims based on the words and actions of a few in Iraq or the Netherlands, are you?
I mean, that would be like holding views of ALL American Christians based on the words and actions of folks like David Duke, Bob Jones, or Fred Phelps, right?
Posted by: Michael on November 12, 2004 01:46 PMIt's easy to find American Christians and Christian organizations denouncing DD, BJ, and FP.
Feel free to cite Muslims or Muslim organizations that denounce Muslims for anything other than ineffective killing of non-Muslims.
Posted by: Andy Freeman on November 12, 2004 02:22 PMMichael,
No, I'm certainly not suggesting that ALL Muslims are dangerous extremists, only a large enough number to worry about. Radical jihadist Islam holds the allegiance of millions, is either in power (e.g. Iran) or has enormous political influence in numerous countries (e.g. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan). Even many of those who are not actively engaged in terrorism support it somehow or at the very least enable it by making excuses for it.
What does David Duke have to do with this? He represents a tiny lunatic fringe that has no real power and isn't a serious threat. Some of Bob Jones beliefs might be nutty or offensive to many, but as far as I know, he's never had anybody beheaded. If and when American Christianity poses the kind of threat that radical Islam does, I'll stand up to it too. In the mean time, let's worry about the threats that we actually face. Sadly, like other appeasers and apologists for radicals and terrorists, it seems to be easier for you to change the subject than it is to confront reality.
Posted by: Stefan Sharkansky on November 12, 2004 03:20 PMIs it some effect of the soft continuous precipitation that has this Prozac-like effect in the Pacific Northwest? After reading the gory details of Van Gogh's assassination I cannot fathom anybody would assume such a benign view of Islam. The Left is unhinged about the alleged Christian Right usurping electoral power after this election, but burying a knife in the chest of a filmmaker in Amsterdam, or decapitating hostages in basements in Fallujah, that means nothing.
Posted by: Ray Zacek on November 12, 2004 07:13 PMGood point, Ray. I agree with you - something's not right, here.
Posted by: Josef on November 13, 2004 01:20 AMit`s stupid to even suggest that anyway till europeans and americans accept that islam is a part of it`s social fabric then we always gona hav a few sharkansky afew labellin all muslims killers goodluck if thy din behead him i wuld hav personally free speech has a limit,wherever yu are not when suggestin practises f communites get to consrued to mran th larger muslim population no matter yur deminizin of muslims sharkanzy yu wunt successed see yer or rather somethin yu familiar with BEHEAD YU ASSHOLLE
Posted by: ali on November 16, 2004 02:53 AMTeam-VIP
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