Violence Isn't Islamic

Submitted by Klaus Illian (United States), Feb 2, 2008 at 14:54

Mr. Mascaro, your brush strokes are much too wide. Just because you read about terrorist killings done by some Muslims, whether against co-religionists or those of other faiths, doesn't mean Islam is all about violence. Followers of Islam are just as individualistic as you and I; just because a Christian was responsible for the Oklahoma bombing 10 years ago doesn't make all Christians terrorists.

The same can be said of Basque rebels in Spain. And if my name didn't give it away, I am of German descent-- just because the Nazi government tried to rid the world of Jews doesn't mean all Germans are evil murderers. But if I am understanding your comments, you want readers to believe that "all" Muslims are inherently evil terrorists just waiting to pounce on us if we are not constantly on guard-- that there is something in their faith that makes them so!

If I have misunderstood your point, I apologize. But if, in your heart, you truly believe all followers of the Islamic faith are dangerous, then I feel sorry for you. You obviously never read into Sufi mysticism or the poetry of Rumi and Ghibran, or the Koran for that matter. Intolerance is a terrible thing. It leads to death, destruction, humiliation and other horrible outcomes. Witness the Khmer Rouge killing fields of Cambodia, the Soviet gulags in the mid-20th century, African slavery in early America or the Wars of Religion in 16th century Europe. People can be very mean when they want something at the expense of others. There is a saying: when politics fails, war erupts. Whether that means actions taken by nations against other nations or by groups like al Qaeda fighting for an ideal, it always starts with intolerance and progresses to demonizing the enemy-- demonizing the stranger! And I want to remind everyone: a stranger may just be a friend you haven't met yet! So don't shoot first and ask questions later.

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