Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, speaks for many when he complains that officials including President George W. Bush use terms such as "Islamo-fascism" to describe the militant threat. They say such terms are inflammatory and liken their faith to dictatorships.
"This type of thing really hurts," said Elahi, an Iranian-born Shi'ite religious leader.
I'm the first to defend (genuinely) moderate Muslims, of which there are plenty. But I'd add that defending real moderates requires identifying and denouncing fake moderates, of which there are also plenty.
I'm trying to imagine, if I were a Christian, and if something like Identity Christianity (an extreme racist and antisemitic sect, so called because it asserts the "identity" of White Europeans with "Israel," and claims that Jews are Satanic fakers)... What if something like this had millions of followers, rather than a few thousands, and was asserting itself with some success as a normative version of Christianity, rather than being highly marginal and effectively marginalized...
Would I be upset at this being referred to as "Christian Fascism"? I'm actually trying to empathize with that perspective, but I failing to do so. I can only think I would be comforted and reassured by the distinction being put in terms as sharp and unequivocal as possible.
So I must say I'm slightly suspicious of Muslims who are upset by this (with some allowance for variable mileage).
Are any Christians out there upset if I call Christian Identity and similar sects, examples of "Christian Fascism"?
Are any Christians out there upset if I call Christian Identity and similar sects, examples of "Christian Fascism"?
Speaking for myself, a loud NO. In fact, scream it from the rafters because such nonsense is an insult to Christianity and I feel a DUTY to make it clear that I abhor their ideas and find them disgusting! THERE, try and get THAT kind of statement from some 'peace-loving' Muslims about THEIR religious fanatics!
Thank you. Your voice is a rare voice of reason on this thread. Too many people are saying either "All Muslims are evil terrorists," or "Anyone who has the slightest criticism of any part of Islam is an evil terrorist."
The worst part is, sensible people like us have to take abuse from the extremists on both sides.