Not the world. Those defensless victims of an extremist Islam.

Submitted by trans-parere (Canada), Apr 29, 2008 at 20:27

Dear Taj.

No, there are not enough of the Moslem leadership opposing an extreme interpretation of the Koran. Too many have adopted a bunker mentality and are afraid of a confrontation. The extremist kill those who refute their absoluteness. They dominate by spreading fear and as long as people are afraid the extremist expand. My opinion is that while Moslem's can be somewhat protected in our society, we can not protect them from Islam. The western leadership of the Islamic faith will have to have a voice that can shout down the fear of violent retribution from the extremist.

One aspect of religious virtue in my opinion would be the capacity to accept another belief. To allow for the freedom of the expression of another system of belief and to accept that the world is greater than the religious doctrine you have [hopefully] freely chosen to follow. Part two of this would be the co-commitment of being free to openly debate Islam and the Koran absent of the fear of violent retribution by the extremist or charged as an apostate and again having your life threatened.

I try to keep my opinion of Islam focused on it's expression as government. I do not have a opinion of Islam as a religion other than to say that for myself it's not for me. My opinion of the Koran is much like it is for the Torah, the Bible, the Tripitaka of Theravada Buddhism, the Bhagavad-Gita of Hinduism, the Guru Granth Sahib of the Sikh religion, or the tao-Te-Ching of Taoism. I don't judge people by their choice of religion, but rather what they take from that religion as a personal expression of self.

Anyone who proclaims that they are behaving in the name of any "ism" can not then say, "Wait. I want to be judged solely as an individual."

There is a great difference between the everyday Moslem who has migrated to the WEST to live in freedom, and institutions like C.A.I.R who aspire, in the name of Islam, to control that individual, in actuality usurping the individual rights of Moslem's living in North America according to the principles of democracy and the rights of the individual that our societies are based on. In as much as those who have joined Osama bin Laden or the Taliban or any violent Moslem cadre, who's sole purpose is to restrict the free expression of the individual and exert a extremist control over their victims, can not hope to be then judged as individuals outside of their chosen doctrine of violence and oppression. And thirdly, in the same regard we can not hold the everyday Iranian citizen culpable for the behavior of their religious dictatorship.

Those Mormon polygamist were behaving as they wanted their religion and limited society not, I repeat not behaving nor proclaiming in the name of Christianity or for all Christians. There is a difference. A very fundamental difference. Those Mormons, whether you or I agree to their behavior, were not imposing themselves on persons outside of that isolated cult. They were not threatening you or I if we did not behave as they or join their cult.

Islamic extremist do not simply hold themselves apart from society saying, "we have chosen to live a rigorous and literal expression of Islam according to our interpretation. No Sir. They say ALL will. Believers and non-believers alike....and those who don't comply die! "We are supported by these words written in the Koran." So they move about the world supported by fear spreading their hatred and religious oppression.

I can understand any Moslem, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Pagan, or Baha'i living in faith as well as respecting the lives and opinions and religious differences of others and how they can can become defensive when faced with an attack on their system of belief. Most people can say, "Hey man, that's not me. I don't live like that." Unfortunately. Islam today is taking a hit because of those Moslem's who have come to democratic countries to impose a lifestyle or hold their fellow Moslem's to a lifestyle they have migrated from. As I said before in an earlier post. Islam as expressed by these people is dictatorial and counter to free society. Anyone who values the rights and freedoms of the individual needs to speak out to stop any incursion into negating those freedoms and rights long fought for in spite of the assumptions of any religious authority.

I know a number of Canadian Iranians who absolutely cringe whenever Ahmadinejad is shown on TV, hoping they are not judged by his behavior as an Iranian. We may not like such prejudgments but they are part of the process of differentiation. We make distinctions. Especially those who hold themselves as distinct. :-)

I applaud every person of faith who stands in the face of religious totalitarianism and demands the free exchange of ideas.

Cheers

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