Feck wrote:I think there is a little too much hysteria about Muslims .
Not enough, actually. There are too many apologetics and excuse-makers out there, in my view.
Feck wrote:
There is a tendency to show the worst they are capable of, look at christians killing witch children in Africa . Most christians are not like that.
The statement "Islam sucks" does not mean "Christianity is good." Christianity sucks too, just as a matter of degree, Islam sucks way worse because even in its "moderate" versions it is still horrid. Christianity in its moderate sense, like Unitarians, Quakers, Methodists, run of the mill Lutherans, and even most Catholics, live in generally Western, live and let live, fashion because there has been progress and change and reformation within Christianity at least to some degree. In the heartland of Islam, however, like in Saudi Arabia and other areas where Islamic law applies, they do stone adulterers, and do sanction honor killing, and they do repress women and homosexuals, and they do repress non-Muslims and limit their freedom of religion and speech.
sure, Christianity sucks, and many Christians do crappy things. That doesn't mean there's too much hysteria about Islam. Islam is god-awful, plain and simple.
Feck wrote:
There are political (and social) problems that mean Islam can be used as a justification for anti western actions but remember there are also a lot of muslims living happy and profitable lives in the west.
Sure, but there are plenty also that believe their religion really means that if you insult the Mighty Mo that you should be killed. Look at the stats in the UK. The so-called "moderate" Muslim ain't very moderate.
Feck wrote:
In ten years we could be watching the muslims tear each other apart Sunni vs Shiite .
Who knows? Might be. It doesn't change the fact that Islam is a horrid, discriminatory, misogynistic, homophobic religion that brings with it Islamic or Sha'ria law which codifies principles and prohibitions that are anathema to Western Enlightenment Liberalism. If Islam gets its way, if it gets the chance, it will enact the worst of its laws - like death to apostates, etc. It will set itself up as superior among religions, and will not tolerate irreligion. We can see that by many examples, including the efforts by many Muslims, including "moderate" Muslims, to outlaw blasphemy.
Feck wrote:
911 scared the shit out of Americans and stirred up a lot of righteous anger.
9/11 should have scared the shit out of people. It was the largest attack on U.S. territory by a foreign enemy since the War of 1812. Thousands of innocent civilians were butchered without warning, when they were just trying to go to work in the morning. Thousands of families had to bury the charred and unrecognizable remains of family members. And, everyone had to acknowledge, finally, that the enemy that declared war on us several years previously, openly and without apology, really meant it.
When someone hijacks planes, murders civilians and destroys billions of dollars worth of property, it is something worthy of getting angry about.
Feck wrote:
I also think just like at Pearl harbour your pride has been wounded and that has stirred you into action .
Sure, of course. But, it's not JUST pride. Limiting it to pride and poo-pooing it as "righteous anger" is unjustifiably minimizing it. The event was an unprecedented and massive attack on innocent civilians. It's not a mere embarrassment.
Feck wrote:
I just don't think the muslims are going to tear our world apart .
40% of British Muslims want Sha'ria law in Britain:
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/146
That's an alarming statistic, and would qualify, I think, as "tearing our world apart," at least the piece of it that is Britain (that is, if they were to succeed). And, 40% is big time. That's not just a "fringe" minority of Muslims in Britain.