Posted on 02/27/2006 4:31:02 AM PST by IrishMike
for later...
"The real battle for the hearts and minds of Muslims is happening in Indonesia, not anywhere else. And that's why the world should focus on Indonesia and help". Think of it as a potential domino whose fall would be felt far beyond Asia. "It's big enough to destabilize the region", Ms. Wahid notes. But "imagine if Indonesia became a hotbed for terrorism, or a source for people to get martyrs from. We've got enough people to provide an army of terrorists if we're not careful."
The above is largely very true. I guess most people in FR have heard of Bali attacks in 2002 where 202 people were killed, 88 were Australians, and numerous people were seriously injured or crippled.
Most Balinese follow a branch of Hinduism and are not responsible for the terrorist attacks but they have suffered the most including economically. Bali used to be the favourite holiday destination for Australians and tourism a main source of income for the Balinese. However, there has been a reduction in the number of Australians travelling to Bali since the attacks in 2002 and Australian Embassy Bombing in 2004 in Jakarta.
The main terrorist group in Indonesia is known as "Jemaah Islamiah (JI)". Australians are most concerned partly due to Indonesia's proximity to Australia. The current Indonesian President Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has promised to address the terrorism issue and has a very good relationship with the current Australian government.
Personally, I think winning the hearts and minds battle against the terrorists will be ongoing and a lengthy process. It is partly a cultural issue and changing culture isn't simple. Those people such as Yenny Wahid need to have a certain authority and clout with the masses to make a difference. But agree that the more support the more effective it will be.
Here are some links, including one from Australian government library, if you are interested to learn more.
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/timelines/s1473097.htm
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/FAD/sea.htm
http://www.risq.org/article476.html
I agree.
I agree. Although I don't know how.
What you're doing and saying against this women and her father makes no sense.
I could put up pictures of kids covered in bruises who have been abused by their "christian" parents who believe excessively in "spare the rod, spoil the child".
Would that be representative of what Billy Graham preaches?
I don't think so.
So to put up pictures (or give links) that are NOT representative of this woman's beliefs is not only ignorant, but .....well I'll leave it at that.
Don't bother replying. You can't possibly have anything of any value to say on this subject.
Ping
I'm calling your bluff. Let's see the pictures.
I just finished reading the thread. Interestingly, I keep seeing calls for Muslims to condemn terrorism. Yet, when one does just that, the cries against Islam in general continue as usual, for the most part.
We're not going to eliminate Islam. That's a given. It's just not going to happen. So, how about we support people like these instead of just going on the usual anti-Islam rant?
Thank You
Completely agree
That doesn't mean we shouldn't oppose and counter their encroachment on civilization. We don't necessarily have to do it their way. So, how about we support people like these instead of just going on the usual anti-Islam rant?
We should have commerce and discussion with them, but we must never allow them to set the terms of this engagement. The cartoon jihad is a case in point: they are trying to dictate how we refer to their doctrines, and to a dismaying extent they're succeeding. We have the right and obligation to expect toleration from them in exchange for our tolerance of them.
The real problem is that we can never trust them. Dissimulation is a virtue to them if it advances their doctrines. They operate in small incremental steps, showing a tolerant character at first, revealing their true character much later. I don't think this is necessarily a strategy, but its certainly the pattern.
thanks for the ping. The only quibble I have with Ms. Wahid is that this struggle is not only in Indonesia. Far from the Arabian peninsula--Bosnia, Cameroon, Sri Lanka, Chicago--Wahhabi preachers try to cash in on their linguistic and ethnic similarities with the Prophet Muhammad to patronizingly show the Europeans/Africans/South Asians/Americans that they are "real Muslims" and their violent theology is "pure Islam".
How ironic that it's the Nuke Mecca crowd that count among them the Wahhabis' most fervent believers.
I am as well aware as any and more so than most about the horrors inflicted on humanity by Muslims. I have no respect whatsoever for the religion. It's an abomination, as far as I'm concerned.
But, I do know many Muslims, and they are like people everywhere, good and bad. The Wahidi family are some of the good ones, and it's not fair to them to paint them with this particular brush.
They are Muslims, true, but if Muslims like them can't be encouraged to try to reform their faith from within, then the future looks grim indeed, as there will then certainly come a war that will make WWII look like a day at the park.
You don't need to lecture to me about images from Indonesia.
I was THERE, in Kuta, on October 12, 2002, and the days after, and the images (to say nothing of the sounds and smells) are still very much with me every day.
I KNOW what these merderous animals are capable of.
I also know that Yenny Wahid had NOTHING whatsoever to do with it, and neither did her father. If all Indonesian Muslims were like them, there would be no serious problems. Problems yes, but not ones writ in blood.
The simpletons Guide to Islam
CAUTION: reading this book may cause you to lose 10-20 points on the IQ scale
Yes. I agree. I too have been to a number of Muslim countries in the Middle east, Asia, and Africa.
It's the 99% of intolerant and violent Muslims that clearly ruin it for the other 1%.
posts 3 and 9. Graphic!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.