Reply to "I Wonder Why?" Really?

Submitted by J.M. (United States), Nov 19, 2006 at 18:02

You write "Islam doesn't enforce it's will on others unless they enforce it's will on It."

Really? So what the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, the near east, Africa, Turkey, Greece, the Balkan Peninsula, Austria, Iraq, Iran, India, Spain, and France experienced after Muhammed's rise to power you would simply call a series of unfortunate incursions by armed, lawless bands of irreligious hooligans...right? Oh, wait...I understand: the concepts of Dar Al Harb and Dar Al Islam are only abstract concepts and not real world views resulting in real behavior...right?

You write "...i respect people's of other faiths. Many of my friend's are from various faiths including Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism. We all get along very well - they respect my religious beliefs and I respect theirs."

Really? But what is your reaction if your friends from various faiths don't "respect" or (gasp) "persecute" your religion? "And there is life for you in retaliation (2:179)...Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you (2:190)...And slay them wherever you find them, and drive them out of the places whence they drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter(2:191)...and fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah (2:193)...the forbidden month for the forbidden month, and forbidden things in retaliation (2:194)... And one who attacketh you, attack him in like manner as he attacked you (2:194)...for persecution is worse than killing (2:217)...right? Oh, wait, I understand: you would not regard a Christian telling you that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the LIfe as being a lack of respect, or persecution, would you?...or a non-Muslim presenting you with evidence that Muhammed failed the test of being a prophet as disrespectful or persecution, would you?...or a cartoonist's work being worthy of his being killed, would you?...or a suicide bombers indiscriminate killing as being less of an evil than persecution, would you?...and you, of all people, would not define religious opposition to Islam as a "lack of respect", or "persecution", would you? Of course not...because if you did, the Qur'an dictates that you must respond, right? Oh, wait, I must not be understanding that correctly, because Islam is a religion of peace, and your religion would never require such a thing of you...right?

You write "...the bible claims that God made vegitation and plants then God produced light - how the hell can plants live without sunlight?"

Really? So, the Bible doesn't mention light existing before plants...yea, that's a true stumper, a real doozy... Oh, wait, I get it now: the earlier verses that read "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night." really weren't describing the sort of light that plants need to live...right?

You write "The reason why Islam is targeted so much - is because religion no longer exists in the modernised European 'way of life' - you don't wish to practise your religion and you mock those who practise theirs. You can argue all you wish but in your heart of hearts you know you do not implemnt religious beliefs in daily life."

Really? Yes, the Europeans must have "targeted" Islam so much because of their mean-spiritedness and desire to mock practitioners of any religion; it couldn't have anything to do with the actual message of Islam itself, right?

You write "Islam is a beautiful religion".

Really? I confess: I have a cultural aversion that keeps me from seeing beauty in teachings about human beings being sons of pigs and monkees and the need to exterminate Israel...it must just be my problem...I'm sure no one else feels the same way...right?

You write "Islam is a beacon of hope for humanity. So many people wonder where these so-called 'Islamists' come from and the answer lies in people like you.", and "...the truth is Islam isn't the disease - you are."

Really? So I am a disease? That must be one of those examples of your respect for others you mentioned earlier...I get it...that must be one of those sentiments of Islamic "beauty" that I just don't understand, being a Westerner and all...

Really?

"If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck"

---

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".