I have known a few Muslims, and they scared the hell out of me. LONG before 9/11. They were...absolutist; always seem to proselytize for Allah and they didn't take "Not interested" as an answer. I have read about Islam, and, as far as myths and fairytales go, it may be beautiful, but, its a delusion . Sunniman, if you are "Muslim", YOU are a member of a cult that accepts people that crashes planes into buildings and blow up innocent people as a tactic to further that cult's aims. Actions speak louder than words. You might be a great guy, but perhaps you should join another weirdo cult that doesnt ACTUALY slaughter people as a tool to enforce their form delusion. Scientology is nice, I hear.
Dear Mary: I'm sorry you have had such bad scary experiences.
I have run into people from either Iran or also Nigeria who scared me.
It depends on the person, and sometimes the culture of the country they are from.
I have Pakistani friends who are beautiful Muslims, but they acknowledge there are
oppressive attitudes towards women back at home in their native country (most of the stories of honor killings are stereotypically from Pakistan)
I have a good Muslim friend from Nigeria, I would trust with my life he is so ethical and naturally wise and conscientious without being religious about it. But he is well aware of the threat of militant political groups pushing for extreme Shariah Law type justice to be enforced in the northern regions of the country and splitting off from the Christians and other groups that were getting along peacefully until these political groups try to take over.
If countries don't have enough help to enforce their democratic laws and govts, it is easier for any militant group to take over, since the peaceful people will not raise arms and attack to defend themselves by their nature of being law abiding and peaceful. This is why the Buddhists got overrun out of Tibet because they are nonviolent and can be bullied over.
The same with peaceful Muslims.
Unfortunately the militant groups will use any tactic to mobilize large numbers, so the typical strategies are to use either race or religion or both to organize around an identity.
So religions are used as tools of war, when their true purpose is to communicate among large groups for peace and harmonious relations among humanity.
Islam is another such language for laws, either used to make peace or abused to make war.
Same with our Constitutional freedoms, either used for creative purposes or abused to destroy in the name of freedom. So that is what we are dealing with today. We are all learning to use our given laws and resources for good, instead of enabling abuses for bad.
both church and state, religious and political authorities are going through this same process, of correcting past abuses and enforcing laws consistently to prevent future abuse.
I hope you see more good than bad coming out from all these issues.
None of can deny there are extreme abuses and risks with religious conflicts.
The point is how do we organize among the different populations to address and prevent problems at the source? And the more we examine the causes, we will find solutions that work in every situation, not just with Islam but any abuse of religious or political authority.
We have an opportunity for those solutions to come out now, and it will take a concerted effort of all groups working together to implement them in all communities and nations.
As bad as these problems have been, the solutions and good that comes will be even better.
I hope you can see this, so you don't worry about the past being repeated.
There are too many good people working to make sure things change, it will happen!
