To Dhimmi - fair request

Submitted by Michel (United States), Feb 5, 2007 at 22:38

My dear Michel I did forget to ask you would it be possible for you to invite your so called moderate Muslim friends (the pakistanis that is) that you work with for a chat with us infidels? Would this be asking for too much?

Dhimmi, a fair request which I expected for some time.
I'll try to give you an honest answer:

The reasons why I have not invited my personal friends is, that they are.

A), as personal friends of "michel" their opinon will be dismissed right away .

B) None of them is a scholar, versed enought to answer my questions, as far as theology is concerned.
In a way too bloody normal to be able to enter into a debate of this kind. They lead by example, but do not talk about it.

C) I do not want to see someone I care for attacked in the same way I was.

D) I did lose my trust in you guys to give it a fair listen. Look at your responses to the tiniest baby step efforts..... can you blame me?

In light of the above, I prefer the "anonymity" of the internet and a fresh voice by someone who has no connection to me. Ideally a US Muslim of second generation. Since that person is already here, he may as well take a stand. But actuallly bringing people here ..... just can not do it.

I am sure it does make no sense to you or will be called cowardice.

Yet, In the context of my analogy of the gangrape in NY, all I will say is that I can't bring it over myself to throw sheep I care for to the wolves. I am furthermore deeply ashamed for the quality of this debate and do not want them to see me as some sort of Robin Hood, as they are a proud people who live in the (mis-) conception of equal treatment in the home country of their choice. They are productive, tax paying peaceful members of our society. By introducing them to this blog, I'd be shattering their illusions, as they live in the bliss of ignorance concerning the opinions of so many amongst us.

Can you accept that or will this response also find noting but acrid cynicism?

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".