Excellent points, Texas.
A comment about the charges of bigotry that have been leveled at me and others who share my views: after years on the left, I have developed a pretty thick skin when it comes to having my point of view reduced to simple accusations of racism and bigotry. I am glad to see that there are others here who will take on the islamic apologists and expose them for what they are. As a newbie, they consider me easy prey, but being new to FR doesn't mean I am new to the issue. No one would be happier than I if even just the American Muslim community leaders would come out forcefully against the goal of worldwide theocracy and terrorism, WITHOUT the inevitable qualifications, i.e. "We denounce this act of violence, but.."
Mega thanks to texasbluebell, broadsword, valin, naturalman1975, and all the others who aren't afraid to speak out.
No, none of us should be afraid to speak out.
I won't be silenced by being called a bigot or a racist, because I'm pointing out the evils that are spilling over in the world. It's an old tactic that the leftists picked up and have used too effectively in the past. Now the moslems are doing the same.
But we're onto all the various extremists now.
Islam had better start policing itself. It won't be pretty, whether we help them or they help themselves. But it will have to be done one way or the other.
You may have just signed up here, but you're no newbie, that's obvious!
Welcome aboard, we need more to come over from the dark side, ariamne!