Muslims need to be accountable

Submitted by ApeMan (United States), Jun 28, 2006 at 19:12

SARAH,

I read your comment and I just had to retort simply because I cannot believe those words came out of what seems to be an intelligent human being. So I will answer your comments 1 by 1.

The problem today is the media, and those that are trying to create a wall between Islam and everyone else. To say Muslims hate the Western Countries is going a bit overboard.

I disagree. I think Muslims have created a wall between themselves and the rest of civilization. I must agree though, that the media is to blame, because as you put it, they have created a wall, but that wall is to shield Muslims from the horrible atrocities they commit worldwide on a daily basis. Sudan, Beslan, Russian Theater, Thailand, Philippines and honor killings on their own people, ring a bell? And I am not the one saying that Muslims hate the west, just go to the website below to catch the latest hate-speech being spread around the middle-east.

http://www.memri.org/

The media is giving a false representation of Islam either indirectly or directly. It shows Muslims as angry people, striking you with harsh words and bullets. This representation of Islam is totally false, and not only this, but the media itself gives a false representation of the Western community to the Muslims.

Then what would you call the Muslims that were holding up signs during the cartoon situation that read "Behead all those who say Islam is not the Religion of Peace" (see the irony??), or "Islam will rule the world", or "Slay all those who insult the prophet"?

I don't know, that sounds pretty angry to me and if this is a false representation, than why did we not see any restraint whatsoever from influential Muslims? In fact, I saw a European iman from a mosque in the UK appear on CNN calling for restraint and peace and then this same individual was busted on TV spreading an insidious cartoon that was not even one of the ones posted by the Danish papers!! Explain that!!

Majority within the Muslim community, myself included, feel attacked by the westerns and their display of Islam as a crazy religion filled with terrorism. When Muslims see this, many of them feel as though the Western community is purposely attacking them, and the non-muslims are all rioting against them. This itself shows a misrepresentation of the Western Community to the Muslims. The Muslims now begin to have a view of Westerns as being crazy, savage people that hate Islam and hate Muslims all together. And if Muslims feel that they are being attacked, obviously they will not come out giving you hugs and kisses, why? Because when they turn on the T.V, flip through their newspapers, and scan the internet, they see the same thing: Islamic Terrorism.

Well, that makes two of us. When Christians get slaughtered in way out of the way places like the Sudan, Thailand & Russia and just about anywhere where Muslims are, I feel attacked as well because Muslims are always the ones doing the killing, while citing the Koran. I ask you, when was the last time you saw a Christian reciting verses from the Bible prior to beheading somebody?? Or during the Di Vinci controversy; did you see the Catholic Church put out fatwas on people or did you see Catholics all over the world killing people because they were insulted? No. Do you know why? Well, because Christianity and our faith is a very personal relationship and is independent of the world around us.

And as for viewing us as crazy, well, as much as you hate to admit it, you would still rather live here and be mis-understood than live in any Muslim country.

The name "Islamic" Terrorism itself is hurtful and unfair. Islam does not promote terrorism and for one to title an act done by Muslims as "Islamic" terrorism , or call them "Islamic" terrorists, is equally unfair as calling someone an Atheismic terrorist, Christainic terrorist, Judaismic terrorist, etc.

Wow, last I checked, all Americans were Zionists (I did not know I was Jewish), as a Christian, I am an ape or a pig (I choose ape) and American troops are viewed as Crusaders, so we are already called derogatory names around the Muslim world and do you find those fair??

AND, as much as I want to see your side of it, let's face it, 9/11 was conducted by Muslims in the name of Islam, Beslan was conducted by Muslims in the name of Islam, all of the beheadings were conducted by Muslims in the name of Islam and just about all of the atrocities around the world committed by Muslims are in the name of Islam. So, with that said, what do you propose we call it??

If a Muslim commits an act such as rape, murder, lying, cheating, etc. Then that Muslim is not following Islam, and to say that Islam promotes this is untrue. If Muslims are truly part of the terrorist attack in Canada, then why call it Islamic terrorists when Islam has no part in promoting terrorism!

According to the Koran, committing acts of rape, murder, lying and cheating were the staple of your beloved prophet. Did he not marry a 9-year old girl when he was 53?? Did he not have a stable of women at his disposal?? Did he not along with his army conduct offensive operations in the name of Islam during his early years of "enlightment"? The answer is yes, so since Muslims strive to follow the example of Mohammed, then why does it surprise you that Muslims seek to commit crimes in his name??

AND, I think the Islamic terrorists that got caught in Canada would be really upset if you did not think of them as Muslims or that their operation was in contradiction to Islam. Again, they were following the formula of terror hatched by your prophet and utilized through the ages by members of your religion. In the west, Terror & Terrorism is synonymous with Islam. Why, well because Islam is the only religion that allows its body that kind of moral flexibility to further its cause. As an iman put it, "by hook or crook".

Overall, the media has created a wall between the Muslim community and the Western community. Muslims feel that the whole Western community is attacking them, and the Western community feels that the whole Muslim community is greedy and savage. Both communities have a wrong idea of each other. The Muslims want as much peace as the West does, but to obtain that peace we have to understand each other better. Muslims need to realize that majority of the non-muslims are kind, and do not wish harm, and non-muslims have to see that Muslims are also kind, and also wish no harm. The only problem is that the people we usually see are promoting hate. We need to stop this. Telling someone their faith is idiotic ,and ignoring their views will not make things better.

I agree. You should try telling this to all of the teachers who teach the young minds at madrassas, you should tell this to all of the hateful imans around the middle-east, you should tell this to fellow muslim-Americans, who view the world with contempt. Obviously the western world is not as bigoted as Muslims. After all, if you look at the numbers, the amount of deaths attributed to non-muslim towards muslim violence is much, much lower than the other way around. And in case you want to use the war in Iraq, more muslims are killed by muslims than American killing muslims.

It is time we both know each other better....

Well, muslims have a long, long ways to go on this. As our stated policy goes, civilized western nations do not negotiate with terrorists, so until Islam receives a full on face lift, and modernizes its beliefs to be consistent with the modern world, we will NEVER be able to understand each other. Islam for all intents and purposes needs a face-lift, both inner and outer and until that happens, I say we judge Islam by its actions, which if you look at the news, are not very pleasant. In fact, ever since Islam started elevating martyrs and suicide attacks to hero status, the world has now started referring to Islam as a Death Cult. By what I see and read, I would agree 100%

I know this is a harsh, harsh slap on Islam, but I do not see Muslims taking on these extremists in any way shape or form in order to stop the violence. Instead, we hear excuses as to why terrorists are not Muslims, while moderate Muslims are, even though they are not active in combating extremism in any way shape or form.

Sincerely,

Scared to give my name,

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