Clarification please. What is Islam and what is radical Islam?

Submitted by MelM (United States), Nov 10, 2006 at 23:58

Dr Pipes should get a medal for what he's doing for the U.S. so I don't want to be disrespectful at all. But, I just don't understand what the difference is between Islam and radical Islam and what the implications are.

Is defining blasphemy--and prescribing severe punishment-- Islam or radical Islam?

Is death for insulting the prophet Islam or radical Islam?

Is wife beating Islam or radical Islam?

Is politically maneuvering to impose Islamic rules on non-Islamic countries Islam or radical Islam?

Is "world jihad" Islam or radical Islam?

Is disagreeing with the Bill of Rights Islam or radical Islam?

I have no political problems with Muslims who actually accept the Bill of Rights and reject the murderous and oppresive parts of Islamic dogma. Maybe this is "Islam" and the rest is "radical Islam." Anyway, Dr Pipes undoubtedly sees practical implications of making the distinction between Islam and radical Islam. What are those implications?

I have no intention of trying to put an end to Islam. But, Islamic totalitarianism (radical Islam?) needs to be crushed and ended for all time just like the Nazis. Indeed, I think this needs to be the political goal of the war with Islamic totalitarianism: to crush it and put an end to it. It should not be allowed to continue into the wonderful new world of international trade, travel, communications, culture, and rejection of oppression that's being created. Radical Islam is using the tools created in this new world to conduct its "world jihad". I will also claim this: the the tools created in the future will only improve radical Islam's ability to wage its war against reason and freedom.

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