I think this is a key to understanding Islam and Muslims. Most of the face of Islam we see is from the Islamic countries. These countries are Theocracys. Any Theocracy, whether it be Islamic or Christian is going adhere to the more radical form of that religion, since the only way to have a Theocracy is with an authoritarian form of government. Just as with Communism, people will not freely choose to live under a theocratic form of government. They have to be forced to do so, which means the more severe aspects of the faith are the ones you see.
To look at Islam in a more reasoned way, we should look at how it is practiced in the western democracys where there is freedom of religion. In those types of countries, you do have a few nut-cases (like Fred Phelps) but overall, the Muslims and Christians are good, peaceful practioners of their religion.
Sounds like a good idea to me.
My goal is to prevent genocide and protect the innocent. While perfectly happy to see the bad guys brought to justice, I deeply resent posters like you ruining an awful lot of hard work toward the prevention of genocide and protection of innocents...including, equally, Muslim innocents.
At this time, the "nuke 'em all" crowd does NOT reflect the views of the Commander-in-Chief of the Military which easily ousted the Taliban and will, if necessary, do the same to Saddam's regime. However, if moderate Muslims don't cut with the "we are a religion of peace" propaganda and clean out the cancer in Islam's midst, genocide is exactly what will happen.
Christians police their own. Radical Islam's favorite new example of moral relativism is Timothy McVeigh. McVeigh also happens to be a perfect example of how we Christians police ouw own. Islam must, if it wants to survive, follow the same example.
Except, of course, for those representing it at the Puyallup Fair in Washington state last night. And they spoke perfect English btw, and were not obviously immigrants. Just fellow al quaida/abu sayyef/chechen scum-brothers.
Prior to last night I may have at least partially agreed with you. But now I have firsthand evidence. My husband says they were lying like dogs the entire time. How many muslims have you been out to speak to personally?
Yes, but governments don't arise in a vacuum. It is unfortunate but I expect it will take centuries before the culture mellows as it did in the West. In the meantime we will have to protect ourselves in a continuing war of civilization vs. barbarity.