Freedom of speech

Submitted by Claire (United States), Apr 15, 2008 at 08:20

Not getting a book published is quite different from a death threat that is likely to be carried out; even you must see that.

My reading of the so-called prophets, be they Mohammed, David, etc. is they did some very good things and some very evil things, too. I don't actually consider them prophets (but then, I don't believe in a deity, so clearly, if there is no deity, there are no prophets).

From where I'm standing, Muslims don't even speak out against the extremists who hurt and kill, or even looking out for the rights of women in countries that are predominantly Muslim. The reports of female genital mutilation, women attacked or killed for not wearing scarves, women arrested just for sitting in a coffee shop with male coworkers. Honestly, it sounds insane.

I also think all religious extremists are destructive, so it's not just Islamic ones. But with Islam, it's cultural. In the U.S., a lot of people think President Bush is a horrific person, but we know he won't be in charge very long, because we have term limits so people like him eventually get thrown out of power. Most of us think he over-reacted to Al Quaeda, and should not have invaded Iraq. But he'll be gone soon.

I don't see that in countries where Muslims predominate. A dictator or king gets in and stays in, no matter how personally horrific he may be. So it does worry me that, if Muslims become the predominant ones, they will insist on forcing others to live under shariah as they do in other countries where they predominate.

Anyway, my own way of dealing with it is working to keep the U.S. Constitution intact so that extremists of any kind can't take over by votes or by force.

I'm very concerned that so many Muslims make comments about women being too "emotional." I think men are just as emotional, just as human, and it shows when they limit women's freedom, or stone people, or kill thousands of people in their out-of-control rages.

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