Please, inform us.

Submitted by Brad Smith (United States), Feb 9, 2006 at 14:02

I'm not a Muslim hater. Most people who are tired of the useless violence aren't Muslim haters either. Most of us are violence haters though, opposed to the deaths of innocent people, especially women and children. Having said that, I think it would be appropriate for a Muslim to answer some sincere questions. The tone of the questions may seem harsh, but they are the questions many of us non-Muslims are asking ourselves and each other every day.

Will a Muslim please explain this: If Islam is not the root of the problem here tell us what is. Explain to everyone why Muslims all over the world kill, degrade others, blow themselves and others up, and do hundreds of other disgusting and appalling things in the name of Islam. Explain why the problem seems to be found virtually exclusively within the Muslim community. Help everyone understand how Islam is not related to these acts when the very people committing them invoke the name of Islam and their God when they do them. Enlighten our minds as to why Muslims riot over a cartoon, but not over the suicide bombers that kill Muslims every day. Please help us see clearly how this is not a contradiction to what Muslims claim to believe.

When you endeavor to do this, don't compare Islam's history with Christian history. We all know they both have ruthless and unjustifiable pasts. Explain it in terms of the present problems our world faces. Don't quote from the Koran something about peace, actions speak louder than words. Don't use the weak argument that not all Muslim are terrorists or that Americans do bad things too. There is an enormous difference in the way Americans and Muslims respond to violent acts.

When you've done your best to explain the questions posed above. Please then tell everyone what you, as a Muslim community, plan to do about the violence associated with Islam.

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