Reply to Donvan- Semantics

Submitted by Chris G. (United States), Jul 23, 2007 at 02:09

While I understand what you are saying, ultimately that is an argument over semantics that does not necessarily have anything to do with reality on the ground in the Middle East. That reality is often quite different from our reality in our generally comfortable lives here in America. What you ask is for Muslims to become all non-violent when in fact as Americans, we have one of the most violent cultures on Earth and have no qualms about trying to resolve problems around the world with military force.

The concept of non-violence is something that you have to operationalize and define very very carefully because it is something that most of the human race has a real hard problem practicing especially here in America. A quick look at our prison population of violent offenders can verify this not to mention a quick glance at the level of violence that we enjoy as entertainment. In short, as Americans we enjoy kicking ass.
More importantly however is the fact that we will never be able to take the concept of Jihad as self-defense from the Islamic religion. The right of self-defense is something that even United Nations (love 'em or hate 'em) has defined as the right of any nation.

What we can do realistically however is to encourage Muslims to pursue other forms of Jihad that do not involve violence, but that rather encourage intelligent ways of peacefully fighting against oppression and addressing legitimate grievances.

Chris G.

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