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Ianus and Kman, let us focus on shared issues please!Reader comment on item: Insight into Obama's Middle East Policy? Submitted by sara (United States), Jan 25, 2009 at 19:41 While I appreciate and respect the path that this conversation is taking, and it is important to discuss religious differences or lack of religious belief, I do not want to see this valuable dialogue turn into a discussion about why we should believe in God. I am Jewish, my personal beliefs are my own, I do not need to share them with anybody nor do I need to convince anyone of anything (the fact that there are so few Jews left in the world is a testament to the lack of convincing going on). At any rate, my point here is that I respect and enjoy the writings of Ianus, have for a long time, (though I am curious as to what is in your past with Turkey), and Kman as well. We all agree on important issues of security, rights, freedom of religion and the importance of acknowledging realities on the ground rather than utopian thinking of the left. We agree that Islamists have used democratic laws and western tolerance to foist their customs and beliefs on the west. We agree that there is, as David Horowitz' book title states, "an unholy alliance between Islam and the Left". We agree that if Muslim populations continue to grow as they do in Europe while the native European populations dwindle, there will be a drastic change in the next decade. We agree that in the US and the rest of the west we must be aware of these trends. We read daily about Muslim hordes rioting in the streets of Europe, of the US, cultures bending over backwards to accomodate Muslim dress, prayer rooms, prayer times, open discrimination against women or men, depending on the Muslim custom they are violating. We agree on all of this and much much more. Let us therefore, as Ianus originally wisely suggested, focus on these shared interests and not on those that divide us. I wish that I could say that to all of those who are alienating others who should be standing together. If we do not stand together under a big tent, we will surely fall. We are not here to convince one another of the benefits of Christianity, Judaism or Atheism. We are certainly not here to be convinced of the benefits of Islam. Stay focused and strong. Warm regards to you both.
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