Originally posted by arbiture
reply to post by queenannie38
Prove it.
prove what? the title of the thread?
did you even bother clicking through to the link?
and if so, did you read the article?
it's not a long article, at all.
but just in case, here are the next two paragraphs following that which i posted in my OP:
Next, this campaign serves as a gentle reminder to all those who wonder, 'Where are the moderate Muslims?' This reminder responds with a
resounding, 'We Are Here!' Not only are we here but we are speaking up and protecting our Nation, America, and our faith, Islam, from the ambitions
of extremists. We will not sit idle while our faith and Nation is hijacked. Rather, we stand before all our fellow citizens and reassure them that
Muslims are in fact for Peace.
Finally, this campaign is a message to extremists who wish to hijack Islam. We say to them to either behave peacefully, or accept that whatever you
represent, you do not represent Islam. Behave peacefully, or accept that whomever you represent, you do not represent Prophet Muhammad (sa), a man
who is history's foremost champion of peace. This is a message to such extremists to either behave peacefully, or recognize that there exists a
system of crime and punishment to which you will be held accountable, in this world and the next.
we are not talking about the same group of people, at all!
Radical Islam has the most reactionary response to any perceived slight of any defined group I can think of today. It's a sad truth that at
some point in history everyone has been on the receiving end of bigotry and misunderstanding.
and in the last 200 years it often is at the hands of the U.S., sometimes alone and sometimes in cahoots with dear mother U.K.
(nothing personal,
my british friends - allies are allies, after all!)
we have bullied more peoples, crashed several cultures, destroyed a few cities, and generally made ourselves into the most obnoxious kid in the
neighborhood.
do you know any of the history of Islam before 2001?
we've not done right by Islam or the Muslims, by any means. is it any wonder there are a few bruised feelings?
however, i'm not justifying anything. just hoping to either open some eyes or spur some further personal investigation by those of us who aren't
aware of all the history behind today.
Islam acts like it's the special object of hate by the west.
they can't beat the hijackers of the name Israel in the state of Israel!
and so what?
are they not the object of hate by many Americans, the same of which most likely have never even met someone of that faith?
I would say it's just the opposite. Radical Islam is anathema to concepts associated with western ideals as equality, open debate, and
progress.
but remember, this thread isn't about RADICAL Islam...it's about REGULAR Islam.
But, when an element of Islam is so oppressive it can intimidate other member's to be silent about the use of violence, when it call's for
the death, not just of westerner's but the ideals of our civilization, don't be surprised by a less then polite response.
and what's good for the goose is good for the gander, it seems.
why can't we get past the past?
Maybe it's because Islam is 600 years younger then it's nearest monotheistic relative Christianity, it needs time to adapt to the 21st
century, or in time become irrelevant.
i wouldn't count on it. it is an enduring religion that's still growing, especially here in the west.
and as far as needing to adapt to the 21st century, there are many things that are foundational to the 21st century that came directly from Muslim
nations...
In the case of an insecure individual, it's common to lash out at enemy's, real or imagined. That' the perception.
demonstrated every day even here at ATS!
As for the direction, and public image of Islam, that fate is in the hands of it's believer's. For the majority of Muslim's who wish
Islam's positive face to be the one associated with it by the world, you don't have the luxury of remaining silent. How Islam is seen by the world
depend on those who believe but also act on a message of peace.
EXACTLY.
that is the very point of the article i sourced! and the key point of this thread.
it takes two to make war and i'd say the same goes for peace, too!
and so far, we're being shown up.
No one can set your agenda with out your consent.
right.
that's why we in America are so happy and pleased with our Government's representation of we the people, with the current agendas of funding
terrorism in Gaza and strong-arming Iran based on suspicions! spending enough money on the war machine each year, that, redirected would nearly, if
not completely, alleviate world hunger??? polluting our own waters in our desperate addiction to oil?
making war for oil!
is that what you consented to?
not i.
neither is it my agenda. but to the eyes looking at us from across the sea, it might not seem so clear.
after all, isn't this the beautiful land of democracy's experiment? the nation who would bless the world with the spread of our form of government,
because we THINK IT'S BEST? supposedly, if all nations would follow our example, the world would be such a shiny happy place full of shiny happy
people...
