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Guest
Guest
So, there's been something on my mind for a while now. In the wake of 9/11 there was a reaction of negativity towards the muslim community. Leaders, on the left and right alike, went out of their way to assure that community that the current difficulties were in regards to terrorists and not Muslims in general. Which for the most part, is true. Only terrorists themselves would try and convince you that the acts of violence they perpetrate are acceptable in Islamic culture. We can all agree that Muslims are as kind, peace loving and decent as those of us from different religious backgrounds.
But here's the thing that's been bothering me. Well it's two things. Here they are
1) There is way, way too much acceptance of extremism in mainstream Islamic culture. Way, way more then in other religions.
2) In today's world it is a folly to suggest that a majority, in fact a disproportianate amount, of violent extremists are muslims. While this might not be a problem with Islam in and of itself it is a problem that needs to be examined and comdemned(see #1 above)
To explain:
The first one is simple enough. Some of you have mentioned Abortion Doctor murders as examples of terrorism in the name of another religion. But if you took a hundred christian folk at random off the street, how many would support it? Two? Three? And two of those three would probably say something along the lines of "I don't agree with the methods but I applaud the results"
To be frank, and I'm admitting I'm simply basing this on personal observation, I'm not sure that's true with the Muslim community in regards to terrorist attacks both in America and abroad. Whenever I've heard 9/11 brought up amongst my friends on the fringe left the Muslims among us have tried, within two or three minutes, have swung the focus onto what Israel is doing badly to Palestinians. I rarely if ever hear Muslims I know saying "This was a deplorable action that had no rational justification." Most of the time the condemnation is more along the lines of "I don't agree with the methods...."
I know, I know, you can cite twelve instances that prove me wrong but remember I'm just speaking from personal experience.
I'm involved in a political action group that strays on the far left. We're not far left to the point of being all that troublesome, for the most part we just talk about how our Hybrid cars are running. One of the interesting things I've noticed is how many members of this group are from cultures that have been historically oppressed. A lot of people of Native Descent, a lot of people of African descent, Muslims, Jews and Myself, the Irish Catholic. Now, there isn't a lot of Native American terrorism(Thank goodness because if anyone is justified) but aside from that, with the exception of some of the Muslims, none of us condone the violent extremism that people we have cultural ties to get up to. The Jewish folk tend, surprisingly, to not be all that pro-Israel. You personally can't find anyone who will denounce the IRA as loudly as I do at the Thanksgiving table(Which is why I'm not allowed back)
Except the Muslims. I'm sure I'm wrong on a grand level but I haven't seen it. Wish I'd see more conspicuous examples of it.
As to my second problem, I asked myself "What were the five biggest "terrorist" attacks of my lifetime" I figured it was
1) 9/11
2) Oklahoma City
3) The embassy bombings in Africa
4) The first WTC bombing
5) The planes over scotland
I'm probably forgetting one or two big ones. So we look at those five. The best of my recollection says that 4 of these five were committed by Muslim extremists. But regardless I thought well, even though it's mainly Muslim extremists in the top five this drives home that extremism is a problem in every society. Terrorism is in every culture.
But then I started to think about the top ten. I couldn't really come up with five more off the top of my head. I thought of the bombing of the USS Cole and then maybe the bomb at the '96 Olympics and then realized that those 7 were the only specific ones I could think of. So I stopped getting specific. I thought of just problem areas. I thought of Northern Ireland and Abortion Bombings but couldn't put my finger on any specific large attacks. Every Ireland story I can remember could be better described as murder(That is one person specifically targeted) The same with Abortion clinics.
So If I came up with a top fifty how many non-muslim terrorist attacks would I come up with? Five, maybe?
Which, to me, seems ridiculous. So many people point out MCVeigh as an example of "Every society has terrorists" that he's beginning to seem like the exception that proves the rule.
So, not all Muslims are Terrorists but it sure seems like too many terrorists are Muslim. I wonder why?
Bill Maher compared the problem of extremism within Islam to a problematic teenager in a neighborhood family. You feel for the family and sometimes it doesn't seem fair but when the Kid sets fire to your lawn his family should kick his ass.
Anyway, I guess what I'm saying in conclusion is that if regular everyday peaceful Muslim people want to see their image assailed less, don't go after Bill Grahams son or Bill Reilly or the University of Southern Florida. Go after the people within your culture that are giving you the black eye.
Just thought I'd get that off my chest.
But here's the thing that's been bothering me. Well it's two things. Here they are
1) There is way, way too much acceptance of extremism in mainstream Islamic culture. Way, way more then in other religions.
2) In today's world it is a folly to suggest that a majority, in fact a disproportianate amount, of violent extremists are muslims. While this might not be a problem with Islam in and of itself it is a problem that needs to be examined and comdemned(see #1 above)
To explain:
The first one is simple enough. Some of you have mentioned Abortion Doctor murders as examples of terrorism in the name of another religion. But if you took a hundred christian folk at random off the street, how many would support it? Two? Three? And two of those three would probably say something along the lines of "I don't agree with the methods but I applaud the results"
To be frank, and I'm admitting I'm simply basing this on personal observation, I'm not sure that's true with the Muslim community in regards to terrorist attacks both in America and abroad. Whenever I've heard 9/11 brought up amongst my friends on the fringe left the Muslims among us have tried, within two or three minutes, have swung the focus onto what Israel is doing badly to Palestinians. I rarely if ever hear Muslims I know saying "This was a deplorable action that had no rational justification." Most of the time the condemnation is more along the lines of "I don't agree with the methods...."
I know, I know, you can cite twelve instances that prove me wrong but remember I'm just speaking from personal experience.
I'm involved in a political action group that strays on the far left. We're not far left to the point of being all that troublesome, for the most part we just talk about how our Hybrid cars are running. One of the interesting things I've noticed is how many members of this group are from cultures that have been historically oppressed. A lot of people of Native Descent, a lot of people of African descent, Muslims, Jews and Myself, the Irish Catholic. Now, there isn't a lot of Native American terrorism(Thank goodness because if anyone is justified) but aside from that, with the exception of some of the Muslims, none of us condone the violent extremism that people we have cultural ties to get up to. The Jewish folk tend, surprisingly, to not be all that pro-Israel. You personally can't find anyone who will denounce the IRA as loudly as I do at the Thanksgiving table(Which is why I'm not allowed back)
Except the Muslims. I'm sure I'm wrong on a grand level but I haven't seen it. Wish I'd see more conspicuous examples of it.
As to my second problem, I asked myself "What were the five biggest "terrorist" attacks of my lifetime" I figured it was
1) 9/11
2) Oklahoma City
3) The embassy bombings in Africa
4) The first WTC bombing
5) The planes over scotland
I'm probably forgetting one or two big ones. So we look at those five. The best of my recollection says that 4 of these five were committed by Muslim extremists. But regardless I thought well, even though it's mainly Muslim extremists in the top five this drives home that extremism is a problem in every society. Terrorism is in every culture.
But then I started to think about the top ten. I couldn't really come up with five more off the top of my head. I thought of the bombing of the USS Cole and then maybe the bomb at the '96 Olympics and then realized that those 7 were the only specific ones I could think of. So I stopped getting specific. I thought of just problem areas. I thought of Northern Ireland and Abortion Bombings but couldn't put my finger on any specific large attacks. Every Ireland story I can remember could be better described as murder(That is one person specifically targeted) The same with Abortion clinics.
So If I came up with a top fifty how many non-muslim terrorist attacks would I come up with? Five, maybe?
Which, to me, seems ridiculous. So many people point out MCVeigh as an example of "Every society has terrorists" that he's beginning to seem like the exception that proves the rule.
So, not all Muslims are Terrorists but it sure seems like too many terrorists are Muslim. I wonder why?
Bill Maher compared the problem of extremism within Islam to a problematic teenager in a neighborhood family. You feel for the family and sometimes it doesn't seem fair but when the Kid sets fire to your lawn his family should kick his ass.
Anyway, I guess what I'm saying in conclusion is that if regular everyday peaceful Muslim people want to see their image assailed less, don't go after Bill Grahams son or Bill Reilly or the University of Southern Florida. Go after the people within your culture that are giving you the black eye.
Just thought I'd get that off my chest.
