Two Problems in One

Submitted by Peter J. Herz (United States), Aug 8, 2006 at 22:41

I certainly agree that Muslim communities in many countries--our own included--are riddled with hate-crazed yobs. And, I certainly do not wish anything I say in this note to be taken as "We've got to understand the poor, misunderstood yadayadayada..."

However, Naveed Haq does indeed sound like a lone wolf. Almost everything about him--his Christian conversion followed by an immediate return to Islam, apparent adultolescence, inability to turn real skills into a real job--suggests a great deal of personal instability. I wouldn't doubt that the ferment going on in Islam today might be a contributing factor, but it obviously isn't the whole story. A lot of stuff--including original sin, the yetzer ra'a, and whatever--went into this frightful crime.

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