Hamza: Cleric sent gangs to seize control of rival mosques (police refused to help moderate Muslims)

Some of the rivals were beaten up inside their own mosques, and worshippers were bullied into finding somewhere else to pray — but police refused to intervene.

Amazing

Now, now. I detect disapproval. We must accommodate cultural differences. That's all the police were doing. It may not be our way, but it's normal for funda..., er conserva..., uh traditional Muslims to intimidate and savage co-religionists who resist their ways and threaten the purity of their native culture. And besides it's really our fault 'cause of, you know, Western oppression and colonialism and other stuff like that.</multiculturist mode>

Seriously it's a little reminiscent of the 80's. I remember there was always shock and nervousness (at the very least, and sometimes more demonstrative concern) whenever Reagan would name Soviet dissidents, or attack communist countries on their systemic humans rights abuses. The attitude was always, "Don't rock the boat," "Don't alienate the Soviets," "It'll only make things worse," and similar tripe.

The advocates of "nuance" -- not just leftists but many "mainstream" foreign policy establishment types as well -- argued that we must understand and accept that the communists just had a different system, with different standards. They weren't criminals who enslaved hundreds of millions; they just had a different world view is all. It was even argued (here more by the left) that their system had virtues ("social justice," yada, yada) that balanced out the deficiencies which capitalists "unfairly" emphasized and exaggerated.

It's not unlike that with (genuinely) moderate Muslims today. Or even Muslims, whether "moderate" or not, who belong to sectarian or ethnic minorities, regularly intimidated and attacked by (often Islamist) majorities. THEY'RE IGNORED. The media, and not just the liberal media but outlets like FoxNews as well, usually pretend they just don't exist.

The loud pushy Islamists (or the quieter but even more pushy fake "moderates") are allowed to present their extreme and particularistic version of Islam as normative, even as the ONLY Islam. Heck, they're not just allowed but actively assisted by the media, and to often by Western governments as well.

Look at the cartoon story. Newspaper after newspaper, newscast after newscast, right-wing, left-wing, mainstream, states as uncontested fact that "Islam" (full stop, unqualified) prohibits representations of the prophet Mohamed. That's complete B.S. "Islam" does no such thing. Some versions of Islam do. Some interpretations of Islam do. Others don't. But the Islam of Islamists -- radical Muslims -- is the only Islam as far as the media is concerned.

I guess radical ranters make for better ratings. But what we need to keep in mind is that every time Islamists are strengthened, every time they accrue greater legitimacy through media attention, every time the lie that their Islam is normative is allowed to sink in a little deeper, moderate and minority Muslims are weakened and made more vulnerable. And even as is they are attacked and murdered throughout the Muslim world every single day.

Sorry for the rant. This is an issue with me.

It's not unlike that with (genuinely) moderate Muslims today. Or even Muslims, whether "moderate" or not, who belong to sectarian or ethnic minorities, regularly intimidated and attacked by (often Islamist) majorities. THEY'RE IGNORED. The media, and not just the liberal media but outlets like FoxNews as well, usually pretend they just don't exist.

I know they exist. The question for me is which side these so-called moderates are going to take, when push comes to shove (and we're just about at the shove point). Even the moderates seem programmed to hate America and Israel. Even the ones who live here, like it, and seem well acculturated will go absolutely batshit on you if you drop the word "Israel" into the conversation. It happened to me often enough in New York that I finally realized there are some things you simply cannot discuss with Muslims. It isn't worth the stomach acid.

I think I already know the answer to my question, they're going to stick with their own regardless. They may only stand back and quietly approve of the radicals' actions, but that is enough for me to consider them enemies. If they're not going to fight them, what good are they?

As you may have guessed, this is an issue with me.

I know they exist. The question for me is which side these so-called moderates are going to take

In a sense is doesn't matter. The inculcation/legitimization/defense/expression of ideological diversity in Islam and in Islamic societies is a good in itself. It the short run radicals may find some benefit, but it will weaken and ultimately destroy them in the end. Islamism existentially depends on creating and enforcing the impression that it represents the authentic and only Islam.

Diversity is a universal solvent to extremism.