Your opinion on Islam?

[NYBamaFan]

and 80% of Pakistanis consider Osama Bin Laden to be a hero.

Is this a bad thing?

 

[bamacon]

Is this a bad thing?

No. Not at all. We deserved what we got. We are after all the great Satan.

 

[NYBamaFan]

They were so "disgusted" that it took public pressure for many of them to come out and condemn it...

I had muslim friends who died on 9/11 in the WTC. I personally saw muslims crying after it happened. They were as much victims as anyone else - maybe more. On that date, their religion went from one that was criticized for local strife to one hated the world round - all because of the acts of a few of their "members".

 

[BamaInBham]

I had muslim friends who died on 9/11 in the WTC. I personally saw muslims crying after it happened. They were as much victims as anyone else - maybe more. On that date, their religion went from one that was criticized for local strife to one hated the world round - all because of the acts of a few of their "members".

There were also accounts of "moderate" Muslims (ironically the ones I remember were in NJ) who openly cheered when 9/11 occurred. I don't know how prevalent this was, but my impression was that this was not rare. That doesn't mean that they would have done such a thing, but they were happy that someone had.

Any individual's set of friends is not necessarily representative of the larger group. The ones who would befriend you would be far less likely to sympathize with such behavior. I know mine certainly did not. Those who would sympathize would be much more likely to remain aloof from non-Muslims. Also, some of the animus is cultural or personal (real/perceived slights, etc.) and not religious, though at some point it usually becomes intertwined.

Part of the problem is that Islam does prescribe this behavior. Whether any individual actually buys into it is another matter (many Muslims would get out if they could easily). But the official sanction is there from "divine dictate" and history, including the history of the founder.

 

[JackDaniels]

Agreed. I usually play the Devil's Advocate in defending Islam here, but I hope these jokesters drawing pictures of Allah increase. What makes Islam any different in ridicule than other religions?

The difference is that you can criticize other religions without the fear of being killed.

 

[NYBamaFan]

There were also accounts of "moderate" Muslims (ironically the ones I remember were in NJ) who openly cheered when 9/11 occurred. I don't know how prevalent this was, but my impression was that this was not rare. That doesn't mean that they would have done such a thing, but they were happy that someone had...

There were also many non-Muslims cheering. This happens when you tamper with people's lives all over the world.

 

[NYBamaFan]

The difference is that you can criticize other religions without the fear of being killed.

Islam is the most criticized faith in the world. This "fear" seems a bit contrived sitting on my couch.

 

[cbi1972]

Islam is the most criticized faith in the world. This "fear" seems a bit contrived sitting on my couch.

It seems less contrived standing in line at the airport.

 

[NYBamaFan]

It seems less contrived standing in line at the airport.

We have extra security at airports because Americans criticize Islam?

 

[CrimsonChuck]

and 80% of Pakistanis consider Osama Bin Laden to be a hero.

That's about right. I've heard about 20% of Muslims are extremists, although I would guess that to be 10% or less in the US.

But it really is the other 80% that we to do everything in our power to help. It is the moderate Muslims that are going to convince the extremists to put their arms down. The problem is that that there are really no great moderate Muslim leaders right now, who have the respect of Islamic society. It sure isn't Karzai.

 

[cbi1972]

We have extra security at airports because Americans criticize Islam?

We have extra security at airports because we have an international war between cultures, one with violent religious fundamentalist extremists, the other with soft, pansified consumerists who prefer the illusion of safety to actual freedom.

Criticism of Islam on Tidefans.com from your couch may be safe, but the fact remains that there is a generalized fear of backlash from radical Islam, justified or not, and the evidence is there in every freedom we sacrifice to feel safer, whether we actually are safer or not.

Exclusive: Profiles in Cowardice – Comedy Central, Islam, and Christianity

You see, Comedy Central execs know that Christians who might find this show offensive will boycott the program and complain to the network. They may even take it to the next level and write letters to advertisers to complain. Shocking, I know. Peaceful protest? Where are my smelling salts?

Christians won’t threaten death or dismemberment, so it’s easy to make them “uncomfortable.”

Comedy Central censors South Park because of death threats from Muslims with no sense of humor, and introduces a new show making fun of Jesus.

Collectively, we need to grow a pair, and stand up for freedom. We must refuse be cowed by threats, instead of just letting the ruthless threaten their way into getting what they want.

 

[NYBamaFan]

We have extra security at airports because we have an international war between cultures, one with violent religious fundamentalist extremists, the other with soft, pansified consumerists who prefer the illusion of safety to actual freedom...

I agree with this post - was confused by the last.

 

[bamacon]

Islam is the most criticized faith in the world. This "fear" seems a bit contrived sitting on my couch.

Go to any street corner in a major Islamic country that uses Sharia law and profess your faith in Jesus and see how "tolerant" they are of your beliefs. Islam's tenets are ones of discrimination, violence, and subjugation or outright murder of nonbelievers. Those concepts are FUNDAMENTAL TENETS in Islam, not just some wacky made-up sect that is misinterpreting the Quran. Those "radical" clerics that are accused of "perverting a peaceful religion" are experts in what the Quran teaches. Just because it is difficult for some to believe a religion would espouse such things doesn't make them not true.

Moderate muslims are the liberals in Islam. They are viewed as disgraces by the fundamentalists and I think it is why they do not speak out. They know that cooperation and friendship with other faiths is not to be tolerated by "true believers."

Qur'an (5:51) - "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people."
Qur'an (5:80) - "You will see many of them befriending those who disbelieve; certainly evil is that which their souls have sent before for them, that Allah became displeased with them and in chastisement shall they abide."
Qur'an (3:85) - "And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers."

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Winner winner chicken dinner!!!

go to any street corner in a major islamic country that uses sharia law and profess your faith in jesus and see how "tolerant" they are of your beliefs. Islam's tenets are ones of discrimination, violence, and subjugation or outright murder of nonbelievers. Those concepts are fundamental tenets in islam, not just some wacky made-up sect that is misinterpreting the quran. Those "radical" clerics that are accused of "perverting a peaceful religion" are experts in what the quran teaches. Just because it is difficult for some to believe a religion would espouse such things doesn't make them not true.

Moderate muslims are the liberals in islam. They are viewed as disgraces by the fundamentalists and i think it is why they do not speak out. They know that cooperation and friendship with other faiths is not to be tolerated by "true believers."

qur'an (5:51) - "o you who believe! Do not take the jews and the christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely allah does not guide the unjust people."
qur'an (5:80) - "you will see many of them befriending those who disbelieve; certainly evil is that which their souls have sent before for them, that allah became displeased with them and in chastisement shall they abide."
qur'an (3:85) - "and whoever desires a religion other than islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers."

 

[NYBamaFan]

Go to any street corner in a major Islamic country that uses Sharia law and profess your faith in Jesus and see how "tolerant" they are of your beliefs.

Their country - their rules. This is more a result of authoritarian government than religion. People in office maintaining power through the church. Happened all over Europe for centuries using Christianity. How many "heretics" died in Europe during those years?

 

[cbi1972]

Their country - their rules. This is more a result of authoritarian government than religion. People in office maintaining power through the church. Happened all over Europe for centuries using Christianity. How many "heretics" died in Europe during those years?

Under sharia law, they are the same thing.

 

[ValuJet]

Whatever happened to the old NYBF, who'd respond to anyone defending Islam with this?

 

[bamacon]

Under sharia law, they are the same thing.

Exactly. The Quran is the law of the land.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Under sharia law, they are the same thing.

My point is that the people did that, not the religion. The religion is an excuse to sieze absolute power.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Whatever happened to the old NYBF, who'd respond to anyone defending Islam with this?

I lost 295 friends and coworkers on 9/11. It twisted my mind for years. The loss of my father helped me move past some of that garbage that was cluttering my mind.