Open, Can of Worms!
Okay, at least a couple of my regulars (and you know you are!) have debated this point at great length in my comments, but hey, why not stir up some trouble on a Saturday? As to the question of where are the moderate Muslims in this recent, seemingly endless controversy (and the further question of whether Islam is even conducive to moderation), Tom Bevan at the RealClearPolitics blog sees several hopeful signs, and points out a very intriguing organization called LibForAll. If you have some time this weekend, peruse its website – quite interesting, and a great idea. More of this, please…
There absolutely are moderate muslims in this controversy. Sistani, for one, has used his leverage to help keep the peace in Iraq, and he deserves our respect and gratitude for it. Also, I’d include the Egyptian blogger Big Pharaoh, who is unafraid to condemn the mobs and point out their own hypocricy.
The problem in the Middle East isn’t the lack of moderate (or liberal) muslims. The problem is our inconsistent support of them, and our failure to identify them. Just about all it takes to be considered a moderate muslim is to call yourself one. This non-critical acceptance of self professed moderates (by our media AND our government) does a tremendous disservice to the real moderate/liberal muslims, because it not only crowds them out of the debate, but it gives the average American an unfair picture of what a moderate muslim looks like.
There are some muslims who we think fall into the “moderate” category, but let’s be real here. Santy Claus doesn’t exist and neither does “moderate” “majority” Islam.
(pregnant pause)
Some muslims do believe and want peace. We call that “moderate.” That is not “moderate!” Moderates are those that straddle an issue, neither hard nor soft. In the Islamic world, moderate would be someone who views both violence and peace as acceptable in “moderation.”
What we’re looking for are visionaries. We’re looking for muslims who want to modernize Islam and abrogate the example of Muhammed.
Do visionaries exist? Sure. Some.
What’s the problem? We’re seeing a growing number of muslims turn violent. We’re seeing growing %s of muslims condoning violence and murder. I know a couple posters here will deny that and claim belief in
Santy Claus1.3 billion peaceful kumbaya muslims, but the problem is not how we view them in our mind’s eye, but rather what those muslims are learning as youths.Islamic textbooks, funded by the Sauds, teach all young muslims that Islam is at war with the West. Young muslim schoolchildren are taught that the West are all crusaders and that killing any of them brings glory to Allah.
We’re seeing the fruits of that vile effort by Saudi Arabia. Those children have grown into adults. Those that we think are “moderates” are getting older – being replaced by those indoctrinated in violence.
What we need to realize is that the visionaries are on the decline. Unless we wake up to this fact and organize our efforts to help them, Islam will be all the blood and murder that I keep harping about and other posters here condemn me for.
Yeah, see, I would actually agree with you, on this one, Musso. I think that radicals have an appeal that is on the rise, and we need to do everything we can to stem that (as a side shot, that was the point of the legislation Schumer was supporting in the link you posted).
I also agree that the view of the world espoused by the Saudis is not a good one, and that they are a regime that would be best if replaced. That’s also something that Al Qaeda argues. I just think that we need to consider what option of replacement we offer (or counter-offer, you might say?) and how well we sell it…
But, I have to say, I do agree with the gist of what you’ve said, even though we see it in different ways. Whatever I might think about your view of Islam, I agree entirely that Islamic extremism is a dangerous, dangerous theology that we need to stop.
At Gates of Vienna there is a guest poster named Eteraz. He runs his own blog as a muslim trying to reach out to the sense inside other, more radical muslims. He’s a visionary.
By his own admission, the battle is slow, difficult, and fraught with personal danger. The hosts at GoV, while applauding him, don’t hold much expectation for his success.
I believe the Islamic education system has turned a difficult situation into impossible. Islam has shown a remarkable resistance to change – basically still retaining all the vestiges of its 7th century origins. As it is, change is resisted – even to the point of death. With the current education of muslim youth (over 10,000 madrassahs) stressing war and jihad, even a perceived slight could bring violence and murder.
I may not have said it here because I visit so many sites, but Saudi Arabia should have been on our list right away. Between the Sauds, the Pakis, and the Iranians, you confront almost the entirety of radical funding. Cut the money and replace the education with an Abrogation program. Kids learn and they grow into adults.