[edcoil]

"As an American but also as a Muslim"

You cannot be an American and also a muslim.

[Bahbah]

At moments like this I realize and force myself to accept the reality that the real problem here is the Muslim community itself. It is no longer the fundamentalsits or Al-Qaeda alone, rather the very community itself that has failed to deliver or even show an attempt to remedy this nihilistic ideology within their ranks

An important realization.

[Bahbah]

One other thing...try to ignore stupid remarks.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

As an American but also as a Muslim I would like to convey my most sincere apologies although I know to most this are just empty words in light of the death and injury of so many.

If you didn't participate, there's no need to apologize for those who did. I'd rather Muslims who disagree with the radicals in their midst simply denounce them and state openly that the radicals don't represent them - open, vocal opposition by the majority of Muslims toward the jihadis would be the best way to defeat them.

[eureka!]

Well stated. Oh, that there were so many more of you. Particularly, in public and leadership positions such as imams saying what you said so well. Welcome to FreeRepublic...

[tiredoflaundry]

Welcome to FR.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Well said.

[groanup]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[reagan_fanatic]

the real problem here is the Muslim community itself. It is no longer the fundamentalsits or Al-Qaeda alone, rather the very community itself that has failed to deliver or even show an attempt to remedy this nihilistic ideology within their ranks

American muslims would find that attitudes towards them would change for the better if they would just stand as a community and rebuke those who call for jihad against Americans and commit acts of violence against us. Groups like CAIR simply compound the problem by denouncing this or that offense against a muslim while remaining stonily silent when muslims attack non-muslims.

BTW, welcome to Free Republic.

[TChris]

Welcome to FR!

[rlmorel]

Folks...it is undoubtedly true that there are Muslims who are patriotic Americans, want the best things for their children and coexist with us in our Western society. I know because I know some of them and work with some of them.

But there are also elements of truth in what this person says.

I am nearly finished reading Brigitte Gabriel's book Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America.

Ms. Gabriel has a viewpoint many of us do not have. She was a Lebanese citizen, growing up in a country that had a majority Christian population that generally coexisted peacefully with the muslim population of her country. That all changed in 1975, after three large infusions of uneducated Palestinians with much higher birthrates than the Christian majority. Along with those Palestinians came radical islamofacists who saw the opportunity to grab control of the country in concert with Iran(Hezbollah) and Syria. It is her belief (And I do readily acknowledge that she does have an axe to grind) that Lebanon was the template for the rest of the world. It is an indescribably sad story, but she lays out her her opinion and backs it up with logic and facts in a way I have not heard anyone else do.

One of her issues is the presence of Muslims in America, the near utter silence on their part regarding terrorism, and her parsing and analysis of the statements that HAVE issued forth from organizations such as CAIR.

It is chilling and depressing to read, but unless you have heard her point of view, I do not believe you can see all sides of the argument.

I will say that I have not reached a conclusion, mostly because I do not WANT to reach that conclusion.

However, as she says in her book, "All burying your head in the sand does is make a big, fat target out of your rear end." I think there is truth to that as well.

[jcb1379]

What are you apologizing for? Perhaps inaction, but you are not responsible for the actions of the thugs who want to murder and maim. The greatest flaw I see in the Muslim community is the failure to disown the criminals, to instead take offense and cry "profiling" at any attempt to stop the criminals (who, it must be admitted, are overwhelmingly Middle Eastern Muslim men). You personally cannot atone for the sins of your brethren any more than I can personally atone for the sins of any white Christians who have committed crimes. We can, however, work within our ranks to change the attitude--not apologize, CHANGE.

Excellent post, all the same.

[LonePalm]

Welcome to Free Republic

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[HitmanLV]

I look at that house and think, "Don't you people get it???"

A big problem has been the marketing of the war by the administration. Apart from some inconveniences, the homefront just doesn't think and act like we are at war. The admin insisted that we all go about our lives and that everything is ok. It's no surprise that after a couple of years of acting as if no war was going on, people have come to think that there is no war going on.

Asking "Don't you people get it???" is a bit disingenuous when the current admin has gone to some lengths to assure that people don't "get it."

[GoldCountryRedneck]

...the very [Muslim] community itself... has failed to deliver or even show an attempt to remedy this nihilistic ideology within their ranks...

And so you touch to the heart of the issue which baffles many of us.

I believe the answer as to the why revolves around one word: Fear.

Americans, mostly, fear the Rule of Law as retaliation and retribution for misdeeds or anti-social transgressions. It's the structure of our conduct and the basis for our civilization.

Kill a person - go to jail. Simplistic, but it works regardless of religious belief or persuasion. American Christians fear God, and likewise conduct themselves accordingly.

Muslims fear each other. When you know that another member of your own community will murder you, or your family, for even speaking out against atrocities let alone effecting an idealogy change, the priority becomes one of personal survival.

American Muslims place themselves in double jeopardy, particularly where there may be relatives remaining in the Middle East. Most americans don't realize how extensive a geographical network even the most typical Middle Eastern family represents and the opportunities that such exposure presents for reprisal.

Speaking out against the Muslim community, or converting to Christianity here, could result in the injury, or death, to a loved one "over there".

I do have to wonder how many Catholics would speak against the Pope if they faced a similar situation. The courage and risk is immense. Yet, looking at the purple fingers of the Iraq voters I hold hope.

Americans have the right to practice any disciplined, and lawful, religion they wish; your apology reflects, most probably, the feelings of many Muslims who disparage of exercising that freedom in the peaceful way of their own choosing.

I'm not clear as to how you get there over the fanatical element(s), but at least a few of us out here grasp the problem.

Good post, BTW...

~GCR~

[FourtySeven]

Good post, thanks, apology accepted.

Now I respectfully remind you of your words, "Rather what is needed is action."

God bless! I shall keep you in prayer as you start/continue this much needed work in your community!

[pollyannaish]

Wow. Welcome to Free Republic. It is brave folks like yourself who can change the face of Islam. I am in this fight to the end.

[lonevoice]

I hope you will return to this thread for more dialogue. I appreciate your thoughts on this vital matter. May I ask a few questions about your perspective? My intention is to better understand how you arrived at your conclusions and why we aren't hearing from more Muslims with similar mindsets.

Were you born in America? Are you a practicing, observant Muslim? Were you raised as a Muslim, or did you convert? Did you attend public schools? In what general region of the country do you live? Do you regularly attend a mosque? If so, does your imam engage in much political speech? Of what nature? If you could take the pulse of other members of your Muslim community, what percentage of their membership would you guess might echo your position? If the percentage is significant, what, in your opinion, keeps so many of them from speaking out publicly?

Thank you for your time.

[JayAr36]

Just a question: Who has been at war with the world for over 1400 years?

[Fiddlstix]

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