[rlmorel]

"...The question I have is do we want to emulate that, or would it not be better to perhaps fight this in another way..."

The problem is, as we found out on 9/11, that they are going to take the fight to us, regardless if we want to let things work themselves out or not. The question is...are we going to defend ourselves aggressively, or are we going to find "another way".

It is worth noting, that the people who we are expected to find another way of working it out with are not interested at all in finding another way. They have already told us how it should be.

In this order: Conversion, Subjugation, Banishment or Death.

Obviously, in a global "Small World" environment, banishing someone to a remote geographical location does not remove the influences, so I am guessing that is not going to be an option for those of us who don't want to Convert or Submit. The last option is pretty clear.

As I quoted Brigitte Gabriel in a previous post, and it seems to apply aptly..."Hiding your head in the sand only makes a big, fat target out of your rear end."

[pollyannaish]

I've heard Brigitte and her story is compelling and important. And I want to make sure that you understand I DO know what we are up against. I just think that we have a moral obligation to try to find a way to not make this tit for tat for the next thousand years if we possibly can.

It's a much harder thing to do. But the folks like the one at the top of the thread give me some hope that there is an opportunity for moderation...even if it is minuscule. I think it is incumbent that we try that first. Not negotiation between us and them, mind you because that won't work. But support of the moderating internal forces within Islam. They are there.