"Arab-Islamic character" of Palestine is the problem

Submitted by Prashant, Aug 4, 2017 at 21:57

Dear Dr Pipes,

When will they get it? Your reader PezDispenser reports that according to some survey about 42% of, so called, Palestinian people will end their opposition to the peace agreement if Israel recognized the 'Arab-Islamic character' of the Palestine. The last thing that our world should recognize is the Islamic character of Palestine.

What Muslims do not realize is that the 'Islamic' character of anything is the problem. Islam is not a nation. Islam is a religion. If you characterize anything as 'Islamic' you impose a religion on everyone. Why is it so difficult for these people to understand? Millions of Muslims try very very hard to immigrate to Europe and America. Do they go to Europe and America for the 'Christian character' of these regions? No, they love Europe and America because of the freedom that they offer. Muslims living in Western and other democracies incessantly demand more and more democratic rights. If democracy is no precious, why can't Islam offer the same democratic freedoms to its people and every one else in the lands that it controls? Why do Muslims love theocracies in the regions controlled by them and democracy everywhere else? When will it change? The question 'is Islam compatible with democracy' does not mean whether Muslims can live in a democracy. This question means whether democracy can live in 99% Islamic-majority regions.

And, no, I am not ignoring any facts. I know that Israel has a Jewish character and Vatican has a Christian/Catholic character. But Israel and Vatican are small entities. It will be a great idea if small Islamic enclaves are created around Mecca and Medina. But when huge amounts of lands are controlled by Islamic nations, there is no need to create one more Islamic theocracy in Palestine. In fact, the need of our time is to bring pluralistic constitutional democracy to Islamic theocracies.

And, what about the cultural Islam? Cultural Islam will thrive and prosper if it is separated from political and religious Islam. That is why democracy and the concept of separation of church and state was invented. Doctrinally Islam has no separation between church and state. The Islamic rulers are required to protect and expand Islam. That is the problem. Under Islamic doctrine, every hoodlum who can become powerful enough to be the ruler, can exploit Islam for his/her political purpose. This is what is happening in the Islamic world for decades and centuries.

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