IFF - Identify Friend or Foe. Support friend, fight foe.

Submitted by Yeshayhu Hollander (Israel), May 13, 2013 at 09:57

Recently a Muslim woman, Sinem Tezyapar, has been writing OP_EDs expressing thoughts which are diametrically opposite to Radical Islam, and which differ from much of current mainstream Islam. In response to her courage, she has been attacked from all sides: by Muslims and by non-Muslims.

Of course it is natural that she is attacked by radical Islamists. Radical Islam, which insists that Islam is the one universal religion, and that all people except Jews become Muslim, either willingly, or by submitting to the Sword of Allah, but Jews should killed, as should all people who refuse to submit to them. Sorry to say, it is also natural that she is attacked by non-Muslims. Anyone who sees the hate and reads or hears the threats of Muslims to Jews – and to the West – immediately feels a strong aversion to Muslims.

Let's put emotion aside for a few paragraphs. Let's think what OUR interest is, and act according to our interest.

Certainly OUR interest is that we have peace and harmony with our neighbours - of whatever religion. Certainly it is in our interest that all people in our society are not driven to desperation because of economic failure. Certainly it is in our interest that they do not feel threatened and that we do not feel threatened.

So it is incumbent upon us – us well as our neighbours – to agree to make an effort to find an mutually acceptable modus vivendi. There are things Westerners say and do which are anathemas to Muslims, and things Muslims say and do which are anathemas to Westerners. Western trends diminish the value of family and community in favor of the individual, traditional Muslim culture comprises putting family and community before the individual. This threat to the Muslim family and community is one of the most serious problems to Muslims, both the generation which immigrated to the West and to the younger generation. The West is threatened by calls for Sharia law to be recognized and enforced in Western countries, by calls for Jihad, and by acts of violence. It is up to the West to do its part, it is up to Muslims to do their part. It is obvious that both sides have difficulty. It is also obvious to the observer that millions of Muslim immigrants to Europe are searching for a way to live in the West without endangering the dearest parts of their identity: their family relationships and their religion. Family and religion give religious people the strength to overcome difficulties. Emigration is always a difficulty, acclimatization is always difficult, certainly for people of Muslim background coming to live in the West. These people have a need for an Islam which does not create tensions, which does not see the non-Muslim world as calling for Jihad.

Let's get together to save civilization from extremists.

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