If Islam is inherently a political ideology that’s antithetical to American culture, then how is it that I know a practicing Muslim who is also a libertarian? And yes, I’ve had political debates with him and since I’m a conservative rather than a libertarian, I have a pretty good grasp that he’s the real thing. Please note that I do not doubt that there are Muslims for whom their religion is a political ideology, but there are also Muslims for whom that is not true and entire sects like the Suffis who not only aren’t trying to take over the world but they are harassed by the radicals you are concerned about.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Islam is correct and I have serious issues with the life lived by Muhammed. But I also don’t think the Mormons are correct and have serious issues with the life lived by the founders of their religion. And don’t forget that militant atheists and opponents of Christianity raise quite similar sounding arguments by pointing to the crimes committed in the name of Christianity throughout the centuries (e.g., read an account of the Rape of Constantinope sometime, not by Turks but by Crusaders) as well as passages of the Bible that grate on modern sensibilities to defend the persecution of Christians. But that’s the whole point of protecting religious freedom and free speech, that other people don’t have to give you approval to practice your faith and don’t have to like it.
By all means persecute the guilty and by all means be alert and on guard but advocating the persecution of people who are not gulity of anything other than a thought crime is exactly what conservatives normally criticize the left for doing.
Yes, I've known schizophrenics, too.
Don’t ever turn your back on this “friend”.
Let's be clear here -- compared to the dominant Muslim sects; Salafism-Wahabism and Shiism, Sufis are a tiny minority. In addition to this fact, Sufis aren't considered "real" Muslims by those dominant sects.
The overwhelming majority of Islamic proselytizing and "outreach" is funded by Wahabists/Salafists, more specifically by Saudi Arabian Wahabists.
OK. I know this game well and it goes like this: Not all Nazis believed in employing mass murder in pursuit of racial purity. Not all Communists believe in the use of murder and "reeducation" in pursuit of socialist paradise. So on and so forth.
Instead of using this evasive, apologetic device, why not examine the components of Islam that have fueled -- nearly unabated -- aggression, genocide, mayhem and oppression for 1400 years?
I too, know many Muslims who abhor the violent, supremacist actions of some of their co-religionists. In fact, my dearest friend; a man I have trusted my life to on several occasions, is a devout, Shia Muslim. That doesn't change the obvious fact that there is something about Islam that today compels a broad swath of its adherents to murder non-Muslims, and mostly other Muslims, in the name of God.
Here's a little something to chew on: If I were to stand on a corner in Times Square and make boisterous ant-Jewish or anti-Christian remarks the worst that would happen to me would be some nasty looks or insults. The best that would happen would be an invitation to a seat at the Oscars. I currently live and work in a "moderate" Arab Muslim country. Sure, human slavery is rampant here, the rape of expat housemaids by indigenous Arabs is also a serious problem as is the mistreatment and overall subjugation of non-Arabs -- both Muslim and non-Muslim, but the streets are calm and the place is generally safe for most people, including Westerners and those who practice religions other than Islam. However, if I were to walk outside of my apartment and begin making statements against Islam, I would likely be beaten to death within a very short time.
What does that tell you?
Let the relativist spin begin! Lol!