“However, Fitna does not take into consideration any of the political and social motivations behind the attacks.”

Nothing can justify the cowardly actions of murderous Muslims.

“It may well be that Arab Muslims have more reasons to "hate us" than most Westerners are willing to admit.”

Most Westerners know that Muslims hates us alright. Islam is all about hate. Comparing Islamic hatred of Westerners and all non-Muslims with the actions of one lunatic anti-abortionist highlights how pathetically thin this article, defending violent Muslims, is.

Like all apologists for Islam, this author can only ‘defend’ it by trying to condemn Western values – unsuccessfully

Mr Right, I am quite alarmed that you think my article ‘justifies’ murder. Trying to explore the motivations behind human behaviour is not justification. I am simply stating that we in the West need to look beyond the obvious. The fact is that, religion is not the only motivating factor behind Muslim terrorist activity. To continue to ignore the political motives is to ensure that terrorism will continue to flourish.

You ridiculed my example involving Paul Hill but remained strangely silent on the issue of Iraq and Israel. These are not small issues to Arab Muslims, Mr Right.

Whilst nothing can justify the methods terrorists use, to say they are only acting in the name of religion is to ignore the effects of Western interference in the Middle East.

This is one of the many articles by Muslims (and/or sympathizers) to defend the violence that is propagated by the Islamic religion. Almost all Muslims are forced into their religion by birth. They have no choice of leaving Islam but to be mentally imprisoned within such a system.

Dutch MP Geert Wilders' Fitna can be accused of producing a hate-film on Islam if only the West and Islam are at war (conflict). But this is definitely not the case as there are many conflict areas in non-Western countries involving Muslims and non-Muslims

Muslims are killing many Buddhists in south Thailand
Muslims are terrorizing the Catholics in the Philippines (Mindanao)
Muslims are fighting the Chinese in Xinjiang
Muslims are killing Christians in Indonesia
Muslims have killed or driven away almost all the non-Muslims in Pakistan and Bangladesh
Muslims (Arabs) are killing black (African) Muslims and Christians in Sudan
Muslims are fighting Russians in Chechnya
Muslims bombed the Indian parliament, killed thousands of Hindus in Kashmir
Muslims demolished hundreds of Hindu temple in Malaysia

If Islam’s conflict is only with the West, they would have gained much sympathy. But the truth is that Islam is usually the main cause in a conflict involving non-Muslims or between Muslims themselves.

A better documentary on Islam is “Islam:What the West needs to know” which include s two Muslim Arabs explaining the true nature of Islam.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8105709395775858867

A very balanced and thoughtful view of all this hatred that seems to be surrounding us.

If only everybody could walk the line of reason then you can't help but think the world would be a better place.

Great Article.

Ruby,

It is a very fine hair you are trying to split, although after reading the Islamist I have some reason to believe that it does exist.

Whilst it is true that sufi style Islam, (taught by Imams/Sheiks who have actually spent some time studying the Koran) , may be the religion you claim it to be, here in the west the influence of groups like Hizb-ut-tahir and Islamic Council of Britain has rendered your point moot.

Until moderate Muslims themselves can regain control of the mosques and community centres we are looking at generations of Muslim young people reared on the hateful message of the Islamists. How can we in the west accept the danger that this poses to our way of life? What can we do? We have no influence on this situation beyond limiting muslim immigration until such times as the fundamentalist strain is defeated.

The problem you face with skeptical westeners is that, not only does the Koran actually condone violence at times, but radical Islamists have somehow found themselves representing their communities, appropriately or not.

Your points about Christian fundamentalists are self defeating. We aren’t facing waves of Christian suicide bombers flying aircraft into skyscrapers, detonating themselves in restaurants and schools and beheading journalists on TV. And in relation to Iraq and Israel I would stick to your argument that muslim anger isn’t derived from the Koran, but from geo politics. However even this becomes untenable when you say that the British bombers murdered people because they had been shown pictures of dead Muslims. The only connection there is religious.

We can’t live with radical Islam in our midst. It’s too much to ask of any liberal democracy.

I agree Louie, it IS a great article, (as is your site Ruby S!)

I applaud ANY attempt at balance;- at cause and effect, but you are nissing into the pind I fear, as evidenced by your first two replies;-and there WILL be more.

Phillip Tang's last post on OLO is as you see. This is his first:-

1. Muslims fight Christians in Philippines in Mindanao.
2. Muslims fight Buddhists in south Thailand. Recently, they killed 2000+ people.
3. Muslims fight the Hindus in India, especially in Kashmir.
4. Muslims fight the Russians in Chechnya.
5. Muslims in Muslim-majority Indonesia are killing the Christians by the thousands and even beheading school girls!!
6. Muslims fight between themselves; Sunnis and Shiites are killing each other in Iraq. Before that Sunni-controlled Iraq under Saddam Hussien fought a war with Shiite-Iran
7. Muslims in secular Singapore have special laws e.g (childhood marriage and polygamy)which do not apply to non-Muslims. This is against a true democracy where the "rule of law" is sacrosanct.

Islam as practised today is against democracy and intolerant of other religions. It must be viewed as a political system that invokes the name of "God" for its many violent actions
Posted by Philip Tang, Monday, 12 March 2007 3:22:50 PM

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TBC.,