[nicollo]

Thought I'd repeat for you a post I layed on the ATRW thread:

One can appreciate the Adminstration's stance on distinguishing the faith from the individual radicals. The problem is that the faith itself has failed to divest itself of the radicals. I don't know that the Episcopal or Baptist churches, etc., ever expelled the KKK from their ranks. Nor do I recall there ever being any confusion of them as being one in the same.

American Muslims have assumed the burden of proof for themselves by failing to expell the ideas that lead to the radicalism to which they say they have no connection. They want it both ways: no relation but consistency in theology. They must act, and they have failed to act. Solidarity with like-minded Muslims around the world is one thing; solidarity with any and all Muslims is quite another.

They owe us an apology.

[John Robinson]

A primary problem, in my view, is with the popular attitude towards America of the countries where the Muslim faith is predominate. Often, the population is simply anti-American. Secondary to that, often these same countries are third-world ghettos that inherently place little value on human life and blame American "decadence" for their predicament. Combined, we have a preponderance of Muslim terrorists, or rather, terrorists that happen to be Muslim.

Regarding the KKK, while their atrocities may have not stained religion, they've certainly stained the South's reputation.

I believe this Muslim/terrorism issue is similar: guilt by proximity.