Beware the clamour of the intolerant.

Submitted by CanadianChris (Canada), Jan 31, 2007 at 12:00

I can appreciate the frustration at not being able to engage in an amicable dialogue, but it is important to not allow extremists on either side of the ideological fence to be the only voice that is heard. The moderate voice must make itself heard, otherwise only the extremists will be representative of the will of the people. Islam has shown itself to be force that cannot be ignored. We are coming to an historical confrontation that will determine the next stage of humanity. Will the voice of reason, fear, superstition, or hate be yours? I choose to believe that humanity is redeemable, and that a man or woman with different culture or place of birth is still my family.

In the end, it is the cultures that inspire people that will lead humanity into the future, and it is cultures that seek to control or dominate that will be demonized in history.

America used to inspire the world, and now America is experiencing a need to control and dominate, it is surprisingly attempting the same ideological dominance that it is trying to control. History books will show that the dominant will have been the 'righteous' force regardless of the methods. I would, in an ideal world, have USA return to a place where they are an inspiration to the world again, because wherever they would go, they could leave the place better for having been there. Instead of the travesty that lies in the wake of their attempts. Abu Graib is an event that will not be forgotten for the violation of human rights by people representing America, and the transferring of prisoners around the world to bypass human rights,which were being ignored by american officials. The suspicion that the world has for America now, is due to the voices of the radicals that are loudest on the side of USA. I read on this board a statement that struck me as so important...I will paraphrase; 'It is wrong to violate the principles you support, to protect the principles you support.'

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