Posted on 07/21/2005 12:55:51 PM PDT by F14 Pilot
The London bombings have shocked the world and once again raised the question 'Why?'. But people who hurry to blame fundamentalists and poverty are missing the point: Islam itself.
Today there is a lot of talk about the root causes of Islamic terrorism and how to deal with them. So what are these root causes then? UK-US foreign policy? The West’s lust for oil? Illiteracy and poverty in the Muslim world? The hijacking of Islam by a few extremists? These, amongst others, are the reasons most left-wing intellectuals and self-declared liberal Muslim thinkers, from British journalist Robert Fisk to Pakistani author Tariq Ali, are providing for the attacks on London and Islamic terrorism in general.
Muslims vs. Muslims
But let’s be frank. While we can’t deny the double standards of US foreign policy or America’s quest for hegemony, when have Muslim states not shown the same double standards regarding international affairs? Haven’t Muslim nations tried to dominate their own neighbours, even when those neighbours are part of their Muslim brotherhood? Pakistan’s quest for hegemony in Afghanistan, Syria’s hold on Lebanon, Iraq’s attacks on Iran and Kuwait; these are just a few prominent examples. And our famous progressive Muslim scholars barely mention the barbarianism of Muslim Iraq, Iran and Turkey towards Muslim Kurds.
So let’s look at the real root cause of Islamic terrorism: Islam today. World leaders, in order to maintain religious harmony, claim that Islam is a religion of peace. But in fact there are several fundamental flaws in the teachings of Islam: gender inequality, intolerance of non-Muslims and limited personal freedoms (including freedom of expression and the creative arts). It is true that Islamic terrorism is staged by only a small percentage of extremist Muslims; however, it is also true that this terrorism is not strongly condemned by the majority of other Muslims.
The need for change
Progressive Muslim scholars claim that Islam has been ‘hijacked’ and that ordinary Muslims don’t support terrorism. If this statement is true, then why is Osama Bin Laden a hero in most Islamic countries? Walk on the streets of Pakistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Somalia and many other Muslim countries and you will see the respect and love shown for Bin Laden and other leaders like him. This respect is not a result of illiteracy and poverty but of the way in which Islam is taught. This is why thousands of Muslim doctors, professors and other highly qualified professionals do not condemn Islamic terrorism.
The world’s media and leaders need to focus on truly liberal Muslims who have the courage to demand real change to remedy the basic flaws of Islam. Those self-declared progressive Muslims who try to justify Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance are just making the situation more confused. There are many real liberal Muslim scholars who have been proposing changes to Islam for years, but their voices are constantly and deliberately being ignored by the media. If these voices start getting heard, perhaps they will change the traditional Muslim mind for the better.
It needs to dissolve.
Root causes? What part of 'kill the infidels' do these folks not comprehend?
Ping!
It evoved into metastatic, rampant, fulminating jihadism. radiotherapy is indicated..
I never believed in evolution just creation so once a goat always a goat.
Lets rumble!
>>This is why thousands of Muslim doctors, professors and other highly qualified professionals do not condemn Islamic terrorism.<<
And, as we all know, silence is consent. They shouldn't be surprised if they eventually pay a heavy price for the actions of their brethren.
He is correct in the header: Islam needs to Evolve.. It's still in the dark ages, and they are fighting to keep it there. They see that as their heyday, and dammit they won't leave. It's like those old 60's hippies that still want to live in a commune, smoke dope, go to protest rallies, and listen to the Dead all day. That's sad, but this is sadder, because an entire race of people are spinning their wheels and failing their children.
"While we can’t deny the double standards of US foreign policy or America’s quest for hegemony,"
Just have to get that in there, don't they.
These aren't stupid people. I suspect many of them would abandon Islam if the price (their lives) weren't so high.
They do have good reform movement thinkers such as Salman Rushide, Abdul Karim Soroush, Ayatollah Montazeri, Akbar Ganji.... etc but they are not enough to reform a rusty religion!
The may face Death penalty if they leave Islam
If this statement is true, then why is Osama Bin Laden a hero in most Islamic countries? Walk on the streets of Pakistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Somalia and many other Muslim countries and you will see the respect and love shown for Bin Laden and other leaders like him. This respect is not a result of illiteracy and poverty but of the way in which Islam is taught. This is why thousands of Muslim doctors, professors and other highly qualified professionals do not condemn Islamic terrorism.
The author claims the violence is supported by a small number of Muslims but then contradicts himself with an example why terrorism is not condemned by the majority.
The article below details why violence against non Muslims is not an act by a minority.
Islamic Scholar Warns U.S. of 'Two-Faced' Muslims
Yes. And their leadership declares them apostate and puts a death warrant on their heads.
"Islam needs to evolve"
-eeehhh...wrong answer. Islam can't be changed, it needs to be destroyed.
Progressive Muslim scholars claim that Islam has been ‘hijacked’ and that ordinary Muslims don’t support terrorism. If this statement is true, then why is Osama Bin Laden a hero in most Islamic countries?
Given the fact that there are something like 1.3 Billion Muslims in the world today, if they bought into the Islamist fantasies don't you think we might be seeing A LOT more terrorist incidences? By a lot I mean 1,000s a month, and going back for 100's of years. That we don't see this suggests to me that the writer is full of it.
We are.
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