In other words, your animosity and hostility.
Not this:
Posted on 06/18/2002 3:06:54 PM PDT by 1bigdictator
Adam -United States Topic Culture & Society Title Is anti-Americanism due to envy? Question For many months the liberal establishment in America attempted to frame the issue of the present war against Islamic-backed terrorism as: "Why do they hate us (i.e. America)? I reject the assumption that the U.S. has victimized Islamic nations or peoples via foreign policy or otherwise, and believe America's prosperity makes an easy scapegoat for other cultures.
So I ask you, why do Muslim cultures always focus blame outwards on others for their shortcomings, is it part of your religious doctrine? Name of Consultant Mrs. Heba Raouf Ezzat
Content of Reply Dear Sir, Thank you for your message.
Well, first allow me to comment on the use of the phrase "Islamic–backed terrorism". It implies that Islam as a religion, backs terrorism. Here, I fully disagree with you. I also do not support the distinction between Americans and non-Americans, or between America and Muslims. Actually millions of Americans are Muslims and Islam is the fastest growing religion at the moment. Therefore, I suggest you look again at your preconceptions.
As for your comment on the prosperity of America, it seems that you went beyond the question: "why do they hate us? " to simply giving us a brief answer: “because they envy us!” I think such an explanation basically leads us nowhere. It cannot explain the sweeping anti-American mood. This is not only in Islamic countries, but also in Europe, Latin America and East Asia, as well. Examining American foreign policy is badly needed and this view is shared by an increasing number of both Americans, as well as other political decision-makers worldwide.
We do have some good reasons to put the blame on American intervention for their support of many authoritarian regimes in the Muslim world. The nature of this support is both financial and military backing. Still, I do believe that our shortcomings have domestic reasons as well, which need to be addressed by the democratic parties within our societies.
America has done a lot of harm in the part of the world where I live. Still, if more people were ready to pay the high cost of freedom and independence, repression would have never succeeded, no matter how hard it tried. Democratic transformation is, indeed, the key necessary process for economic and strategic-political change in the Islamic world.
On the other hand, to answer your provocative question regarding our "religious doctrine". No sir, this is not part of our religious doctrine, it is part of the "real politics" that trigger similar reactions, regardless of the "doctrine" and/or religion.
I sincerely wish that we can go beyond such animosity and hostility, to have a more fruitful discussion about how we can overcome the atmosphere of polarization that partly resulted from the 9/11 events. This has already happened in many cases, where people have reached out for the "other" and (re)discovered the wealth of world views and perspectives that exist and through which we can enrich our increasingly global culture.
Keep well and … salaam (peace).
Islam's standard answer - when in the weaker position. When in the stronger position, Islam's standard answer usually involves a sword and the questioner's head lying in a basket.
That is such a ludicrous statement as to defy a response.
Wish we could too. Unfortunately some decided to fly planes into our buildings and I am really mad. And as for Islam being the fastest growing religion, if it does not collectively begin acting more civil, it may become the worlds fastest shrinking one.
Any Islamic writing is a vomitorium of hatred.
Any thug, Islam or not, can declare the issuance of a fatwa. A fatwa is non-binding, although some terrorists loudly bellow that THEIR fatwa is direct from God, Holy, binding upon all, the sins of hell, Allah peace be on him told me personally, etc................sorta' like Elmer Gantry with more hair.
Then, any council or group of self-proclaimed experts can unilaterally cancel any fatwa, with or without the original author's consent, or even knowledge.
Remember the sactity of Double Dare in grade school? As valid.
When I lived in Saudi, we had no problem quietly staying in touch with our Christianities.
We certainly did not parade a photo of Mother Theresa downtown, anymore than I'd parade a photo of General Grant through Georgia.
Islam is not monolithic, and many Islam scholars love to discourse on Abraham, and of the sanctity of the virgin birth of Jesus, to Mary and Joseph.
I don't recruit. Any Immam or any other Muslim asks questions, I politely answer. There is more than one "Muslim" in the mideast that wishes that the other guy's version of Islam would disappear, but every religion has factions that don't agree.
In other words, your animosity and hostility.
Not this:
Wanna' got to a Jewish Temple in Manila? Not to far from a Catholic Church and a Mosque.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.