Islam as it stands now is a barbaric, throwback "religion" which is not a religion at all in the normal sense of the word - it's more of a complete
sociopolitical belief system, masquerading as "only" a religion.
I detest islam itself, and I don't say that lightly or flippantly. With that said, I don't hate
muslims. Some of them, as individuals, I'd just
as soon x-out as look at but not all by any means, nor even most. They are
people, and as such are subject to all the same failings as humanity
in general, as well as the same strengths as humans in general. They live, they die, they love, they hate, same as the rest of us.
The
religion on the other hand, is quite another matter. There truly are those classed as "moderate" muslims, who in all actuality are
"liberal" muslims. people make the mistake of classifying them as "moderates" because they stand for moderation, islam as a TRUE religion without all
the sociopolitical trappings. But islam, in it's original incarnation, is barbaric in extremis. The "fundamentalists" are practicing the system as it
was originally intended, and as it is written in the Qur'an. The so-called "mioderrates", however, see a better way, a way which allows islam to take
it's place in the modern world, to live and let live. THEY are the future of islam, if it is to have a future at all.
If they don't prevail, and make of islam a religion in fact as well as word, then islam as a sociopolitical system will go the way of the dinosaur -
just as any rabid dog must be put down for the good of the community.
They're trying, but they're being shouted down with threats and intimidations from the fundamentalist crowd. Many, perhaps MOST of them, the peaceful
folk, are in as much or more threat of their lives as "the west". I say more, because they are closer to the source of the threats. They live in it.
It's hard to go against the gun when it's pointed right at your temple.
I don't have a problem with muslims practicing Islam - as a religion. I DO have a problem with those who would impose it on the rest of us as a
sociopolitical system, or use it as an excuse to ignore our own laws already in place in favor of their cultural traditions, passing as laws. I don't
even care any more if they ban me from their Two Holy Cities - but I think they ought to be respectful enough, if that's to be the case, to stay out
of the holy sites of others. Can't have it both ways, or else it's simple oppression.
Islam is just stuck in what Christians went through in the middle ages, and what Jews went through before that. I believe most religions will go
through that barbaric phase, and come out the other side wiser and more temperate, or not come out the other side at all. You'll notice, if you pay
attention, some muslims beginning to expound a "different" interpretation of the Qur'an these days, one that harmonizes it with a peaceful nature,
emphasizing and rationalizing those parts, and minimizing and explaining away the more violent parts. I've seen it even here at ATS, and you can see
it to. You have only but to look.
The persecutions of the Spanish Inquisition are a good example, but not a precise parallel. They were ALL ostensibly "Christians", yet one barbaric
faction made life ever so unpleasant for the others, what with all that killing and torture going on, over the new "interpretation", the
Reformation.
See, you have to be able to separate the people from the system. Not all are separable. That would be the "extremists" or the "fundamentalists". The
rest - they have a religion, and they can get by without all the other trappings that have been tacked on by the fundamentalists. Their numbers appear
to be growing, but very, very quiet. That gun to the temple thing. Some have found their voices, many are still in subjugation.
A lot have died at the hands of their fellows, so the threat to them is not an idle one.
Islam WILL evolve, or else perish, as all the others have had to do. What WE ought to be doing, instead of flinging tar at all muslims, is to seek out
and support what are so euphemistically called the "moderates". Assist them, amplify their voices, defend them with your own dear body if need be.
Help their numbers grow and flourish. Help them get above the fear. Fear of their fellows AND fear of us.
No, I detest their religion, but I'll damn well go to bat for their right to practice it - as a religion. No skin off my back if they want to follow a
different god. It only becomes problematic when they insist I follow their sociopolitical system. Then, it becomes VERY problematic.
But you have to be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
When you see me railing against Islam, I mean every word of it - against the sociopolitical system. When you see me defending Islam, I mean every word
of that, too - in favor of the religion. The curious thing is that I come under attack from both sides for my stance(es). So what? So be it, and I'm
still standing. I'll keep on going as I go fro as long as I'm allowed to stand. I'm a racist, and a bigot, and an islamophobe to some, and I'm an
islamic apologist and a "muzzie lover" to others, and all that wrapped under the very same skin.
I may not be a renaissance man, but I can tell the difference in people, individuals, and don't have a penchant for lumping them all into the same
camp sight unseen, character unevaluated. I don't evaluate ONE because I may have had to shoot another. Muslims are not superfolk, all zombiefied
under the same banner, any more than any other group is - Americans, Christians, Buddhists, Book of the Month Club members. They're just as
individual, AS individuals, as you or I.
The touchstone seems to be the "Sharia" issue. That is the interface, the crossover, between Islam the Religion, and Islam the Sociopolitical System.
Proponents of Sharia in areas where it isn't already in place are those I view with suspicion. How strongly they lobby for that is what determines
whether I see them as "friend" or "enemy". Imam Rauf said recently that America is "Sharia compliant". Bad. A recent poster at ATS said "America could
stand some islamization - the founding fathers would appreciate it". No they wouldn't. Bad. Neither of these folks are strong enough proponents for me
to class them as "enemy" yet, though. Just watchful.
CAIR? Enemies. Islamic Brotherhood? Enemies. Individuals? On an individual basis.
As the Christians say, and it's true whether your Christian or not, "by their fruits shall ye know them".
Now, regarding the Cartoon Lady, she's got as much right to offend as anyone. It's the American way. Don't like it? Stay at home in Sharia Land, then.
No problem. Threaten death over an insult (and only a perceived insult at that!) to a guy long dead? Problem. Sharia is not here yet, so there are
whole ranks of us you'll have to go through in order to enforce it where it doesn't exist.
"Ground Zero" mosque? They've got as much right to offend as the cartoon lady. Don't like it? Stay out of New York. No problem. Threaten death over a
building? Problem. US law has not been dismantled yet, so again there are whole ranks of us you'll have to get through to dismantle it.
I'm done rambling now.
edit on 2010/9/16 by nenothtu because: of bad tags.