Blaming Capitalism, Colonialism and Anything Un-Islamic

Submitted by Bob Wilkinson (United States), Mar 20, 2003 at 20:20

We can blame Capitalism and free enterprise. We can blame Colonialism (throw the word around liberally even when it doesn't fit). We can play the victim role to ascend to power. Reality indicates that there are those in the Islamic world that want to control the minds and beliefs of others and concentrate power in the hands of a few and are willing to put the blame where ever they can acheive their power aims. Government is a physical power system designed to use compulsion (hopefully for protection and the common physical good a system in which we can pursue happiness) and Religion can be very much a non physical source of power (hopefully for spiritual protection and spiritual good). The one (Government) protects the environment for the freedom of the other. In a democratic system with power dispersed we can all retain individual liberty and the agency to choose. A system which allows for choices of good or evil balanced with justice to prevent individuals, institutions, and government from infringing on individuals "unalienable rights"(there is a term for you) can we really prove whether we "are" good or evil. In a free system he who chooses good is good and he who chooses evil is evil. Those that violate the laws of government will receive the corollary consequence. Those that violate the laws of their religion will receive the appropriate consequences from that arena. A System which concentrates power in the hands of a few or in a rigid strict hierachy with all our acts put under strict judgement, control, and punishment will not ensure good. It will only ensure behavior based upon fear. Such a system must be seen as evil and contrary to the common good and must be eliminated. This applies to Communism, Socialism, Facism (whether religious or secular) or any other ism that may arise. God help us all when Government and Religion combine here on earth and take away our agency. If this happens our liberties will evaporate.

Those Muslims that see themselves as equal to others and believe in the voluntary expression and practice of those beliefs, even if they believe that they have the "true religion", such will prosper. Those Muslims who believe in the superiority of their beliefs and are willing to "allow" it to be enforced on others, such must be dealt with.

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