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Posted on 03/12/2006 7:27:48 AM PST by SmithL
Once I read that the number of Germans directly involved in the Holocaust — giving orders in Berlin, building the infrastructure of the death camps, rounding up victims, piloting trains, releasing the gas, hunting down escapees and so forth — was 100,000.
In 1939 the population of the Reich was 80 million, so slightly more than one-tenth of 1 percent of the Germans were actually involved in murdering Jews.
Yet, somehow, I never see anyone trying to clear the German volk of the guilt of the crimes of Hitler's "tiny extremist minority." No, the verdict of history is that all Germans share the burden, because all Germans let it happen.
Today, many progressives in the Western world try to explain away crimes committed in the name of Islam. A Google search for the apologetic phrase "tiny extremist minority" turns up 252,000 results. Why is not the passive Muslim majority held to the same standard as the passive German majority?
And just how tiny is this "tiny" minority anyway?
Let's look at what some of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims believe.
In 2003, Nawaf Obaid, a Saudi national security consultant, surveyed 15,000 Saudis. Nearly 50 percent supported Osama bin Laden. Last July the Pew Research Center found that 51 percent of its sample of Pakistanis place confidence in Osama, and 60 percent of Jordanians support him. Is 60 percent a tiny minority?
The Pew Center also found that in Lebanon, support for suicide bombing in defense of Islam is 39 percent of its sample, and in Jordan it's 57 percent. Is 57 percent a tiny minority?
In October 2003, the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah found that 75 percent of Palestinians in its sample supported the bombing of the Maxim restaurant in Haifa that killed 23 people, mostly Jews. Is 75 percent a tiny minority?
The London Telegraph reported in February that its ICM poll showed 40 percent of British Muslims in its sample favor applying sharia law in predominantly Muslim areas of the country. Is 40 percent a tiny minority?
In Turkey last year, a publisher issued a new $3.50 edition of "Mein Kampf." Previous editions cost $7. In the first quarter alone, the book sold more than 50,000 copies and reached the best-seller list drawn up by the D&R bookstore chain. Does a No. 5 book represent a tiny minority?
According to the Pew Center, large majorities of Muslims strongly dislike Jews in nations such as Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey. But it's hard to top Lebanon and Jordan, where the unfavorable rate is 99 percent. Who knew 99 percent could be a tiny minority?
A poll carried out by the London Guardian last year said 13 percent of British Muslims in the sample would support another 9-11-style attack on the United States. Another 15 percent were not sure. I wonder: Were these 15 percent really not sure, or did they simply choose to disguise their true feelings from a pollster?
The Muslim Council said the poll showed that the "overwhelming majority" of British Muslims "abhor" terrorism. That would be 72 percent opposing another 9-11, vs. 28 percent willing to consider it. There are more than 1.5 million Muslims in Britain, so 28 percent translates to 420,000 people who might be pleased to see more Americans leap out of blazing towers or definitely would be pleased to see more Americans leap out of blazing towers. I am not reassured.
A YouGov survey carried out for the London Daily Telegraph last July showed that 6 percent of British Muslims in the sample believe the 7-7 bombings were fully justified. Six percent is indeed a minority, but it's not quite a tiny one, and it's still 90,000 people, if the sample is translated to the entire target population.
Another 56 percent of British Muslims in the sample said they can understand why the bombers acted. Eighteen percent feel little or no loyalty to their country. Thirty-two percent believe "Western society is decadent and immoral" and "Muslims should seek to bring it to an end."
Seventy-three percent say they would inform the police if they knew something about a planned terrorist attack. This sounds nice, doesn't it? That "overwhelming majority" again. Until you realize it means that 27 percent of British Muslims would not inform the police of an imminent attack.
Last October a university in the conservative Turkish city of Diyarbakir released a survey on honor killings. It showed that 37 percent of the men and women in its sample believe that if a woman cheats on her husband, she should be killed. Another 21 percent would spare her life and just cut off her nose or ears.
The United Nations says there are 5,000 honor killings every year in the Muslim world. The London Guardian reported in November 2004 on a survey conducted by the Egyptian government that found that one in three women has been beaten by her husband. Eighty-six percent of the women in the sample regarded this as normal.
A large majority of women believe that refusal to have sex with their husband is grounds for a beating. In the survey reported in the London Guardian, 26 percent of women in their 20s responded they believe they deserve a beating if they burn dinner. Forty-two percent believe they deserve a beating if they spend too much money. Sixty-five percent believe they deserve a beating if they talk to another man.
I find these numbers frightening. Well-armed with facts and logic, you might be able to convince me that the "tiny extremist minority" of Islam is indeed a "minority," strictly speaking. But a "tiny" minority? I'm afraid I just don't buy it.
They have all had their bodies removed from their heads!
The extremists are analogus to our view of the Mexicans.....they are doing the violent work other Muslims do want to do themselves.
TROP Alert
I love your post!
As taught by Mad Moe the filthy, pedophile prophet.
Great post!
Excluding, I would hope, the present generation of Germans who weren't born or were infants when it happened.
"Why is not the passive Muslim majority held to the same standard as the passive German majority?"
That's an excellent question. And if we do not force the hand of the Muslim moderates(which can go either way, if pressed) then we are sealing our own fate. They MUST be made to declare their abhorrance for the violence, otherwise the radicals WILL gain their loyalty...
I agree. Tell Michael. We need to encourage conservative writers.
"And if we do not force the hand of the Muslim moderates(which can go either way, if pressed) then we are sealing our own fate"
FORCE THE ISSUE - either they melt their secular lives into the melting pot or they find another pot to live in.
From all we hear from them, I would guess they could be found right next to the Unicorns, Elves, and Gryphons.
On the surface he is a charming nice person.
As I understand him and get to know him better, I can tell you without reserve, I believe if given the chance and the Muslim population ever become a majority and gained political power, he would not think twice about slitting my throat.
In other words, there are no moderate Muslims, just Muslims living in Dar al-Shahada or dar al-Harb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dar_al-Harb
37 percent of the men and women in its sample believe that if a woman cheats on her husband, she should be killed. Another 21 percent would spare her life and just cut off her nose or ears.
Ahh, the religion of peace.
Youre darned right. I knew some yemense-american muslim guys in california. Oh theyre cool and all, they drink, hang out, shoot the breeze with us, have "regular" american girlfriends.
But y'know what... their families dont know they do any of these things. And I'm quite sure, that the time will come, when prodded hard enough (for god knows what reason they will invent) they could go all "Shoe-bomber" on us. Ive heard what they say about the war in Iraq. I dont trust em.
They don't exist.
See tagline
It's derived from a post by Mr Rational on a thread calling for new holidays to honor all religions...
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