I believe that upwards of 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazis. But if someone believes it were 2 million or 4 million-- isn't that quite enough to demonstrate the Nazis were evil bastards who deserve to burn in Hell?
And I don't understand why you, a clearly intelligent guy, needs to set up a straw man like the murderous Tikritis to compare to Gibson and his father. The Baathists killed people I knew. You know it's different but you bring it up anyway.
You say there is no biblical excuse for a Christian to hold his peace on public sin. While I'm not a Christian, and I'm not looking for excuses for anybody, I can give you a very old commandment that goes something like this...
HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER
As a Muslim, here's the way I look at it: Mohammed said that even if your parents are pagans who curse you and prevent you from practicing your faith, do not respond with unkindness. I think it goes like this...
"Speak to them not like the braying of an ass, but Guide them to righteousness, but gently, as Heaven rests beneath the feet of your mother and father"
I am not your bro.
It neither surprises nor shocks me when a Moslem claims Holocast Denial and Antisemitism are not sins. Their definition of sin and spirituality is Koran based.
On the matter of the morality of Holocaust Denial or Antisemitism, I am only speaking to those Gentiles who consider themselves Christians. The rest of the Gentiles are constrained by civil and criminal laws, and whatever their conscience may prevent. There is no law in the United States against Holocaust Denial and Antisemitism as there is against over acts of terror like flying airplanes into our buildings and murdering our citizens.
Some of the pictures that circled the net during the beginning of latest Iraq war showing Hussein's 'ways' were absolutely horrifying.
The accounts of the human beings placed in shredders are beyond my capacity to fully absorb.
I so hope we (the US) have the forsight and courage to prop up the fledgling democracy movement in Iran, and to abide by our word to the Kurds.
I'll be very disappointed if these articles of honor are transgressed, because it can't always be about strategy, at some point, especially when you are trying to lead by example, you cannot compromise, no matter what that costs.