First, Perciful, your first post makes a large number of assertions and accusations that are very dubious as to their basis in fact. Can you refer us to a body of study that bears out your claims, or even one of them? One glaring example is the last line; Saudi Arabia does not compel all its residents to practice Islam, although their law is based on Sharia. They do not kill non-Muslims (although some radical interpretations of Sharia claim that apostates should be put to death).
Secondly, the war in Iraq, although involving Muslims, really has nothing to do with religion so I’m not sure why you’re bringing that into the conversation.
Maybe it’s futile to respond to Perciful’s bizarre anti-muslim rant, given that it’s one of the…most misinformed screeds I’ve ever read on this board, but I’ll have a go at a few parts of it anyway.
No one has been ‘censored’ on this issue. The preacher who wanted to burn Korans on 9/11 in fact has been given enormous amounts of media space to air his views.
You, Perciful, can verbally, and in many cases by physical action, offend whomever you want, whenever you want, in public. I believe that right is enshrined the Constitution somewhere. Who is it you wish to offend, why do want offend them, and what benefit will you, personally get from offending them?
Actually, he was perfectly within his rights to do so. It is to his credit that he finally got it through his thick skull that perhaps responding to a perceived offense by a small group by reciprocal offense to a much larger group may not be the most helpful action.
Also, what relevance does any particular protest action to the US occupation of Iraq have to do with issue?
You have been told in more than one previous thread that the proposed mosque in Manhattan is neither on the site of the World Trade Center, nor has it ever been intended be opened on a September 11 date. If you don’t believe anyone here, this information is widely available in the media. Please acknowledge that you understand these facts and for fuck’s sake please stop making these false claims.
What are the extinct host cultures in Pakistan and Indonesia?
Some googling reveals that it actually appears to come from the book Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat by Dr. Peter Hammond. Which was, btw, published by Christian Liberty Books. Some more googling reveals that Peter Hammond is a professional Christian missionary, and a Rhodesian (white Zimbabwean), which means he grew up in a brutal apartheid regime. He then moved to South Africa, served in the South African Defense Force under apartheid. His doctorate is in Missiology, from the Cape Town Baptist Theological College.
Pardon me if I don’t take this guy seriously as a legitimate and unbiased analyst of Islam.
Reading some of the misinformation that some posters spout would be hilarious if it weren’t so sad. I don’t identify as Muslim but most members of my family do, and to be honest, most of them (save a couple devout ones) are pretty low key about it. My parents used to fast during Ramadan but sort of half assedly, way back in the day, the way that a lot of my (not terribly devout) Jewish friends do during their holidays. Most of them would say they’re Muslim if asked but don’t really go around talking about it all that much. Again, not too different from Christians who go to church a few times a year. Yes, there are Muslims who are very religious but from the way some of you talk, being Muslim is this hardcore identity. But to be honest, it really runs the gamut. It’s a religion, like any other. Not (necessarily) a way of life.
My wife’s family is Muslim, and I converted before we got married. Your description sounds very much like most Muslims living in the U.S. that I know. However, I have found in my visits to Egypt that Muslims are much more devout in their practices, such as praying five times every day, and strict fasting during Ramadan. I know several people who mave made the pilgrimage to Mecca. And Egypt is relatively liberal. My impression is that in certain countries, especially those with a majority Muslim population, the Muslim identity is much more important and integrated into the culture.
Who said he couldn’t? He can burn as many Qurans as he wants, no one’s stopping him. However, the rest of us also have the right to tell him he’s being a jackass for doing so. (As are the people in Iraq for what they’re doing.) If he wants to state his opinion, he’d better prepare for others to state THEIR opinions.
If these dickheads want to burn flags and Bibles? Let them. Like wise, if this asshat wants to burn Qurans, let him. The more fuss you make over it, the more you validate what they do. This guy is getting exactly what he wants: attention. He’s a troll. Plain and simple.
Your “plan” is disgusting.
Why not do what we did to the Japanese during WWII – stick 'em in “internment camps”? Think that’ll work?
If we’re supposed to be the “good guys”, well, then we need to act like it.
