“Oh, and dote on children. . .like this (below links)” (links about kids in suicide vests and being indoctrinated into suicide jihad)
It is true that in the modern day, some muslims are doing this, and it is firmly rooted in islamic doctrine and authoritative legal interpretations of islamic law. I would argue that some of this propaganda and indoctrination has also been influenced by the modern revolutionary left, which has trained many islamist groups over the last couple of generations (Nazis trained the Muslim Brotherhood, Soviets trained the PLO, etc.).
Before the leftist infiltration, before even the islamic conquest, there were cultures in the Middle East, many of whose customs still exist (just like we still have the pre-Christian christmas tree in our celebrations).
The bit about Arabs doting on their children is my own personal observation. I have lived a couple of years over there, and consciously searched for redeeming characteristics, to help overcome my own negative pre-conceptions. Sweet, loving treatment of children that I observed, was what was most endearing and helpful to me in that respect.
Pashtun fathers, on the other hand, tend to be harsher than average with their kids. I have seen them set their sons to fight with their cousins over some chocolates, just for entertainment. It struck me like cock-fighting or dog fighting, and the boys got bloodied up. Pashtun mothers struck me as nuturing and loving though.
Within islam there is also the horrible acceptance of using young boys as homosexual sex slaves (the boy in the story from this thread feared being raped during his travels). Although I think that this is a minority practice which varies from one sub-culture to another, it is a larger minority than it would have been without islam. Check out Bacha Bazi online, if you have a strong stomach, and want to see how degenerate islam can be.
My point is that every culture has some redeeming characteristics, because human nature inherently does. I pray for them. The great majority were born into it through no fault of their own. You will find good people if you mingle among them for a while, but the islamic influence is like an evil virus or cancer on a society, co-opting the good aspects of religion to the service of dictarship, conquest and sensualism.
Agree, mostly.
“Sweet, loving treatment of children that I observed, was what was most endearing and helpful to me in that respect.”
That I have seen, but also I have seen where they encourage their children to steal from non-believers, especially in Saudi.
Interestingly, the most honest muslims I ever ran into (and dealt with) were the Bedouin.