I am not opposed to more controls, but we don't live alone in this world. The world would have to cooperate and so far we have done nothing but piss the world off. UK, France, Italy, Germany and other European countries have large numbers of Muslims (in part brough there by our pressure to create a "multiethinic" society like ours -- a philosophy that has its roots elsewhere, but that's another subject), so they won't go along with that. And with all the Muslims in the world surrounding us in our Fortress, what will that do? We can't "go it alone." That's the kind of thining that got us into this mess to begin with.
Also, you can't outlaw a religion! Christianity was outlawed and persecuted for 300 years and all it did was grow and grow until it finally took over.
>> You need to deflate that ego of yours a little, my friend, and stop taking things so personally. <<
Islam threatens Christians. Are you aware that a Coptic Christian family was threatened on the PalTak website? A couple of weeks later they ended up dead. The LEOs blamed some drug addicts and swept the whole thing under the rug.
Muslims have threatened Christians in the US saying they will behave the same here as they behave in the ME which is killing Christians with impunity. These threats are real. I do take these threats seriously and personally and will continue to do so.
>> Jan of Colorado suggested we "expose and destroy" Islam. Is that a responsible "solution"? <<
Muslims openly state they want to destroy Christianity and convert everyone to islam, by force if necessary. They are openly hostile. I am openly defensive. They have stated that they will kill us or die trying. I prefer they die trying if it comes down to it. Anger is not a sin, nor is self defense.
>> The reality is that there is one billion of them in this world and growing. <<
I don’t care how many of them there are. When they come here and threaten Americans I tend to get angry. They are not here to become Americans. They are here to convert America to islam and sharia law. Several FReepers have already received death threats for denouncing islam. The danger is real and it is now. If you don’t see the danger it’s because you choose to look the other way.
>> We have no control over it; genocide is not an option. <<
We do have control over it in the US if the suggestions I have put forth are followed. They are not extremely radical and will protect this country.
>> And this kind of "criticism" irritates you? <<
You have still not offered any suggestions and continue to discard other’s solutions.
kosta50 said: "Also, you can't outlaw a religion! Christianity was outlawed and persecuted for 300 years and all it did was grow and grow until it finally took over."
And I agree completely. Oppression (real or imagined) has only helped Christianity to grow and spread. Islam is really much the same in that respect. If you oppress, cruelly, harshly and unfairly it will only spread. Unfortunately "perceived" oppression - made up sometimes by Muslims or just misunderstood has the same effect. That's why we in the West have to stick to our values of civil liberty, democracy, tolerance (including freedom to worship) and openness. If people behave badly, come down on 'em like a ton of bricks - but do it openly and fairly.
There's a lot of talk about Islamaphobia in the UK - that's the "irrational fear or hatred of Muslims". At first I thought the "Muslim community" were completely making it up - but reading some of the posts in this forum I see there is a lot irrational fear and misunderstanding about Islam (and I have already posted that I don't care for Islam one jot).
Irrational fear isn't constructive. But understanding and discourse is. There are a lot of bad Muslims out there and that they are dangerous (this seems well understood), but folks also have to understand that there are in fact a lot of decent Muslims out there who could take a lead in their religion and culture being more tolerant - and dare I say it - more Westernised.
And please believe me, I do understand what some Mullahs are preaching. I've worked with a guy who was a full-on Nut-case Islamic fundamentalist who I have no doubt would have happily killed me if he thought it would promote the spread of Islam (and who, by the way, was actually very pleasant to work with, I learned a lot from him) But squashing this guy, when he hadn't actually done anything and hadn't said anything either (my earlier description of him is just MY perception) would have only enraged his Muslim brothers - and rightly so.