To PCMadness: You're wrong about religion

Submitted by Nabil Ahmad (United States), Aug 18, 2006 at 17:46

Excuse me, but religion in general was shunned by the Soviets and the Khmer Rouge and is still being shunned by the ChiComs, The North Koreans, the Cuban and Vietnamese governments. I'm sure you'll agree that the tens of millions that were killed in each of these countries is nothing more than "Fascist, anti-revolutionary, western imperialist propaganda", right? You lefties bore me with your constant rant against religion as being the "opium of the masses".

More people were murdered in the name of socialism and communism in the USSR in a span of 70 terrible years than were during the centuries of Tsarist rule there.

Tell what you told me to the people of Cuba in south Florida who risked limb and life fleeing the religion-free paradise called Cuba under Fidel Castro.

Did murder become a widespread crime after guns were invented?

Truth be told, religion is not the enemy of civilization but the shaper of civilization and has been over thousands of years. Absense of religion has been shown to have a destructive effect on civilization in general. 70 years of communism has resulted in the slow suicide of Russian civilization.

As far as "Islamic" extremists are concerned, they need to be confronted and marginalized. But we can't do it alone. The Mainstream Media MUST stop giving them a voice and help to give a voice to those that seek to overturn the extremists.

I don't want a "Clash of Civilizations" between the West and what is left of Islamic Civilization. It would make WWI and WWII combined look like a tea party. But a revival is sorely needed in the Muslim world, and is being held back by greedy, hypocritical, opportunistic, selfish and fanatical mullahs and despotic leaders. Who was it in Europe who said during the enlightenment that the world would not be a peaceful place until the last king is hanged using the bowels of the last bishop?

Perhaps I can do more, and I am thankful to Dr. Pipes for allowing me to speak my mind here. But I have no organization and can only communicate with those who can share ideas with me. Ever try to take on the Mafia? That's what it's like to try to take on the extremists in Islam. They think they own me. Well, I can say that they don't, but that won't stop them from trying to own me anyway or kill me when they find out that they can't.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".