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A Symposium: What Is Moderate Islam?
WSJ ^ | Sept. 1, 2010

Posted on 09/01/2010 7:49:11 AM PDT by nuconvert

A Symposium: What Is Moderate Islam?

The controversy over a proposed mosque in lower Manhattan has spurred a wider debate about the nature of Islam. We asked six leading thinkers—Anwar Ibrahim, Bernard Lewis, Ed Husain, Reuel Marc Gerecht, Tawfik Hamid and Akbar Ahmed—to weigh in.

The Ball Is in Our Court

By Anwar Ibrahim

Skeptics and cynics alike have said that the quest for the moderate Muslim in the 21st century is akin to the search for the Holy Grail. It's not hard to understand why. Terrorist attacks, suicide bombings and the jihadist call for Muslims "to rise up against the oppression of the West" are widespread.

The radical fringe carrying out such actions has sought to dominate the discourse between Islam and the West. In order to do so, they've set out to foment anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism. They've also advocated indiscriminate violence as a political strategy. To cap their victory, this abysmal lot uses the cataclysm of 9/11 as a lesson for the so-called enemies of Islam.

These dastardly acts have not only been tragedies of untold proportions for those who have suffered or perished. They have also delivered a calamitous blow to followers of the Muslim faith.

These are the Muslims who go about their lives like ordinary people—earning their livings, raising their families, celebrating reunions and praying for security and peace. These are the Muslims who have never carried a pocketknife, let alone explosives intended to destroy buildings. These Muslims are there for us to see, if only we can lift the veil cast on them by the shadowy figures in bomb-laden jackets hell-bent on destruction

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: islam; moderateislam; religion
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In my opinion, the pieces by Anwar Ibrahim (The Ball is in our Court) and Tawfik Hamid (Don't Gloss Over The Violent Texts) were the best of the 6.
1 posted on 09/01/2010 7:49:13 AM PDT by nuconvert
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To: nuconvert

No such thing... the statement itself is an oxymoron.


2 posted on 09/01/2010 7:52:13 AM PDT by hope_dies_last
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To: nuconvert

A non breathing one.....IMHO


3 posted on 09/01/2010 7:52:20 AM PDT by sniper63 (I am the leader of the TEA Party, I, myself am the leader of me, myself for I am the TEA Party!)
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To: nuconvert

I completely agree with you.


4 posted on 09/01/2010 7:53:03 AM PDT by Peter from Rutland
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To: nuconvert

A moderate muslims is a muslim who does not yet have the tactical or strategic advantage to impose islam on you, but is striving to obtain it.


5 posted on 09/01/2010 7:54:59 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: nuconvert
Moderate Muslims are the ones trying to move to the US and get away from Islam.

They're frequently found hiding in the dark at home, when they're not at work nodding their heads in agreement with other Muslims who are attempting to make sure the dhimmis hear the truth.

6 posted on 09/01/2010 7:56:00 AM PDT by <1/1,000,000th%
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To: nuconvert

“Moderate Islam” means they want to kill you later, not now.


7 posted on 09/01/2010 7:57:38 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Stimulus. 0bamaCare. Cap and Tax. 9/11 Victory Mosque. TARP. Amnesty. Summer of Recovery.)
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To: nuconvert

I don’t know how anyone can belong to a “religion” that is so brutally cruel & barbaric. It just boggles my mind.


8 posted on 09/01/2010 7:57:52 AM PDT by FES0844
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To: nuconvert

This brings to mind the Saturday Night Live news sketch I remember from about 30 years ago in which the newscaster, referring to middle east peace talks between Israel and Moderate Arabs, defined “moderate Arab” as one who only holds a grudge for seven generations.


9 posted on 09/01/2010 7:58:08 AM PDT by 'smith
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To: nuconvert

Moderate Muslim? They are the ones who use remote detonators


10 posted on 09/01/2010 7:58:14 AM PDT by SMARTY ("What luck for rulers that men do not think." Adolph Hitler)
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To: nuconvert
What Is Moderate Islam?

Is it perhaps the usually fake human shield behind which radical islam pretends to hide?

11 posted on 09/01/2010 7:59:36 AM PDT by SonOfDarkSkies
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To: nuconvert

Moderate Islam is a myth.
Islam, by it’s own definition, is intolerant of others.
As one muslim once said, “Inside the mosque, there are no “moderate” muslims.”.................


12 posted on 09/01/2010 8:01:01 AM PDT by Red Badger (No, Obama's not the Antichrist. But he does have him in his MY FAVES.............)
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To: Peter from Rutland

Thank you. Nice to know someone actually read it & didn’t just give a kneejerk reaction to the title.


13 posted on 09/01/2010 8:01:01 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: hope_dies_last
"No such thing... the statement itself is an oxymoron."

Indeed. This is the only logical answer.

Moderate Islam = Nominal Islam = Not Islam at all.

JW

14 posted on 09/01/2010 8:02:14 AM PDT by JWinNC (www.anailinhisplace.net)
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To: hope_dies_last

Islam is radical by definition. Also anti-constitutional.


15 posted on 09/01/2010 8:03:27 AM PDT by screaminsunshine (m)
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To: nuconvert

punching the wife in the face instead of decapitating her?


16 posted on 09/01/2010 8:05:01 AM PDT by MissyMack66
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To: nuconvert
A moderate Muslim may be like those in the Somali community in Lewiston Maine. Embrace the welfare system and hate republicans. Just like other democrats do.
17 posted on 09/01/2010 8:06:16 AM PDT by mainerforglobalwarming
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To: JWinNC

“Moderate Islam = Nominal Islam = Not Islam at all.”

I agree. The only people who believe in nominal islam are people who treat their religion as a social club: CINOS, JINOS.

To me, moderate Islam = they are re-loading.


18 posted on 09/01/2010 8:23:16 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Nothing to see here. Move along.)
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To: nuconvert

I read it all. I still see nothing positive about islam and do not understand why anyone would be attracted to such a barbaric cult, especially women.


19 posted on 09/01/2010 8:23:16 AM PDT by ilovesarah2012 (Proud Infidel)
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To: nuconvert

These great definitions should be consolidated then sent out to the world in an email.


20 posted on 09/01/2010 8:27:15 AM PDT by crosshairs (If I agreed with a liberal, then we would BOTH be wrong.)
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