Mderate Voices of Islam

Submitted by Shannon A. Clark (United States), Sep 24, 2003 at 21:48

Dear Mr. Pipes,

I am a teacher in the public schools of Texas and have Muslim students in my classes.
I am also an Eastern Orthodox Christian convert who has read and listened to the way Muslims have treated Christians in Muslim dominated countries of the world. I know Muslims who are friendly and tolerant. However, I can't help remembering the history of Islam and how there has never been a truly tolerant Islamic society where they are dominant and politically in control. The Islamic culture has never produced a tolerant society where the non-Mulsim is free to practice their religion and enjoy the same economic and political rights afforded the Muslims. While I am all for the tolerant Muslim being given a voice, we must not fool ourselves into thinking that those few tolerant Muslims will have much influence over the mainstream Muslims here. They will not have any affect on a country like Egypt or Saudi Arabia. The very nature of Islam argues against the Muslims ever considering tolerance as it is thought of in the West. For the traditional Muslim, tolerance toward the non-Muslim is merely an expedient way to deal with an enemy. If they accept Muslim authority, keep their mouths shut in public, allow their women, children and property to be stolen at will, then then they will tolerate those non-Muslim dogs.

You mention secular Turkey and Turkish groups. However, in Turkey, Christians are rountinely attacked and Christians cannot proselytize or build new churches or repair old ones.

What is a Muslim who is an atheist? He certainly would not be tolerated by any Muslim in Mecca, Cairo, or Tehran.

I have not told you anything you do not already know. I read many or your articles and know how well educated and how intelligent you are. However, you seem to have some hope that moderate Muslims will somehow be able to transform Islam and effect a reformation in Islam. I think it would be healthier and safer to recognize the evil that faces the West and argue for a concerted attack on the enemy, Islam itself. That is what the mainstream Wahabi is doing against us. Anything less will be suicide for the West. Thank you for your patience.

Sincerely,
Shannon A. Clark
Katy, Texas

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