examining virtues

Submitted by Taj (United States), May 1, 2008 at 00:35

trans-parere:

Thanks so much for your comments. There are many points you made that I agree with and a few that I don't.

I disagree that there aren't enough voices of dissent against extremism, but rather feel that our lusts for sensationalism make the topic du jour. For every extremist you can think of, I know 20 times more people who have an opposing perspective - yet isn't it interesting that a hard-to-find fugitive hiding in caves can with the slightest of efforts get video or audio broadcasts of his diatribes on CNN. Or are people like Osama marketing geniues light years ahead of the curve?

I would also disagree with your characterization of CAIR, of which I tend to notice being formed from armchairs as opposed to the ground floor - of course having worked with CAIR might be cause for bias (or insight?)

I absolutely agree with the 2 "virtues" you cited and would offer some context as they relate to Islam. Historically Islam can easily be portrayed as tolerant and open to other faiths - from its inception to its "golden age"...I think confrontations with imperialism, orientalism, etc, has created the present forms of anger and animosity. As for debate, I am all for it -( up to a point, since, to me, debating matters of faith tends to be futile)- however, debating is a process - one that should be absent of the ready tendencies to prejudge, argue from a position of supposed arrogance or outright ignorance of facts - something Islam and Muslims fall victim to all too often presently

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