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Not so sure

Reader comment on item: [Nepal and France:] Two Opposite Responses to Terrorism

Submitted by Garry Prior (Malaysia), Sep 14, 2004 at 23:07

I have been reading you since shortly after 9/11. I find you helpful in clarifying my own mind and while I disagree quite often, you have become my principal whetstone in forming my opinion.

I am increasingly of the opinion that part of the current Islamist agenda is to alienate the Muslim population in countries where they are a minority from the majority, both emotionally ( Islam versus good citizenship) and physically ( by driving them together in ghettoes for mutual protection). In this way, ordinary Muslims become double victims. Victims of un-warranted rejection by other communities and victims of being forced to represent or be represented by an extreme form of religion.

There have been far too few Muslims able or willing to stand up and take a lead against the Islamists, and the longer it takes to happen, the more terrible will be the consequences, not only for the Muslim communities and the rest of us, but also for the individuals who do eventually take the challenge and act as leaders against Islamism. It does not help for Muslim leaders to try to smooth the differences between themselves, with statements such as, "There is no such thing as moderate or extreme Islam, only Islam".

Nepalese Muslims must now be very fearful and look only to each other for support and protection. This further alienation will breed new resentments and a hardening of attitudes towards non-Muslims. That is what the Islamists want to achieve, regardless of the suffering they call down on their fellow-Muslims around the world. They want a situation where every Muslim is, in effect, a Palestinian, with all that that entails. Universal bitterness is a potent breeding ground for extremism of all sorts.
You do not need to radicalise everyone, just enough for the cause to be perpetuated and fed with foot-soldiers. But you do need to ensure that oppression is everywhere and deeply felt and seen to be deeply unfair.

It is time for all the good people out there, on all sides, to stand up and be counted, and to resist the hi-jacking of religion or culture for extremist ends. This will only happen if there is a willingness to put up a real struggle for leadership by those who can and should lead. Dato'Seri Abdullah Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia is a good example of a good man standing up for what he believes is right, and seeking to defend his religion and his country against the usurpers. His stand for tolerance and understanding between religions and races and his determination to counter the extremists bodes well, but needs to be more widely emulated internationally.
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Reader comments (52) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Dont Ever Write Nepalese Powerless [99 words]SinghaJul 29, 2008 23:53135896
Out of Chits [24 words]MarioSep 17, 2007 22:05109090
terrorism [31 words]dipendra karkiDec 25, 2005 05:0430529
Islamic Terror [136 words]SoundSep 26, 2006 10:3330529
French should follow their own advice to Israel [114 words]Ed MillerNov 10, 2005 12:5028169
Should Muslims attack innocent non-Muslims? [25 words]LuisNov 27, 2004 09:5818666
A dimmer view of dhimmitude [36 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Marvin RabinovitchOct 5, 2004 04:4517524
Thanx [30 words]Jacqueline BrombergerSep 29, 2004 15:1617459
Yes! [13 words]BoratSep 21, 2004 12:1917060
Messing with the Nepalese? What were they THINKING? [104 words]Kirk F.Sep 19, 2004 19:4217035
Should governments burn mosques? [97 words]David GuySep 18, 2004 13:3817025
Supineness or subtility? [138 words]NicoSep 18, 2004 06:0217023
Winning wars [71 words]SoundSep 26, 2006 10:5317023
Nepal and France [44 words]Mario IbanezSep 17, 2007 21:5617023
Individual and Community indicators [68 words]David W. LincolnSep 16, 2004 19:2917012
How much capital does a country like France has? [116 words]lubiczSep 16, 2004 15:2617009
Only a few understand militant Islam [39 words]Moses OwolabiSep 16, 2004 11:3917005
Western weakness... [121 words]MichaelNov 6, 2006 17:1517005
Did not quite agree with your article [315 words]Jaideep MukerjiSep 16, 2004 11:2617004
Reprisals [73 words]DannySep 15, 2004 22:0116996
The French [50 words]W.H. GutgesellSep 15, 2004 17:0716993
Is the Left more like France ? [35 words]Michael SandorffySep 15, 2004 13:5516992
could it be? [29 words]john mikeschJun 30, 2006 01:1016992
Reaction to hostage taking [80 words]Mitzi AlvinSep 15, 2004 11:4016986
Good job! [23 words]Victoria VernauSep 15, 2004 09:5316983
Right on! [256 words]Paul RhoadsSep 15, 2004 06:1616978
I don't see history as a guide [101 words]Marcus RometschSep 15, 2004 04:2516977
BIEN FAIT POUR LEUR GUEULE! [53 words]Adam GreavesSep 15, 2004 03:3016976
Equalizer to Islamism [66 words]prafulbidwaySep 15, 2004 01:4616974
Dhimmitude and the future of the EU [619 words]J. Keen HollandSep 15, 2004 00:1016973
Hit me and I will hit you back? [59 words]Vinod GulatiSep 14, 2004 23:4216972
Reactions to Islamic extremism [52 words]Elliott BlumbergSep 14, 2004 23:2316971
Not so sure [438 words]Garry PriorSep 14, 2004 23:0716969
The Nepalese Solution [133 words]Darwin BarrettSep 14, 2004 19:5616964
Nepal and France [188 words]Raf WugalterSep 14, 2004 19:4116962
France, Nepal and INDIA. [71 words]KURUKSHETRASep 14, 2004 19:2116961
Nepal and French responses [36 words]JeanSep 14, 2004 19:0016960
Nepal and France [49 words]bobSep 14, 2004 18:4716958
the Nepalese way [45 words]GERALD PRENICKSep 14, 2004 18:2116956
Overstated? [175 words]bucephalusSep 14, 2004 18:0416955
Violence will escalate. [88 words]AlwellSep 25, 2006 16:0916955
how it will be [72 words]michaelNov 6, 2006 17:3116955
French Appeasement [258 words]JohnSep 14, 2004 17:3116954
France is finished and probably has been for some time [42 words]John CraigSep 14, 2004 15:5116951
4France Was Right [91 words]Mike StanleyApr 26, 2006 17:3916951
Whose example should Israel & US follow: Nepalese or French? [137 words]Eleonora ShifrinSep 14, 2004 13:5916949
What terrorists want [109 words]The Night OwlSep 14, 2004 12:1216947
Appeasement. [10 words]David HarrisSep 14, 2004 11:4016946
Equally self-destructive responses [235 words]JoshSep 14, 2004 11:0816945
A MATTER OF TIME [95 words]DON VANSep 14, 2004 10:0516941
Major difference [41 words]dave kessingerSep 14, 2004 10:0416940
It is pathetic [124 words]anguneSep 25, 2006 19:4216940

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