I mix with Muslims from different countries on a regular basis, have lived with them for a few weeks, travelled with them. I find them unerringly polite, courteous and considerate. My experience seems to be very different from that of other posters.

I am not denying there are serious problems, of course not. But it is with a minority. Comments like " Paint them black and send them back” and “Muslims are intellectually dishonest and morally corrupt.” don’t help. Reads to me that whatever is said, it will be disbelieved if it’s a Muslim saying it.

My experience of belonging to a minority group is if the wider community is hostile, the minority group is less inclined to want to mix. Which isn’t helpful to anyone.

So maybe to further the discussion, can we establish common ground? Maybe Philo’s comments “The issue is not Muslims in Australia” could be a startig point.

Well the minority is like a cancer cut them out or it will spread. So put all the Muslims in jail. And only let the ones that don’t fail the interrogations back into the community.

In the current climate I think it would be helpful if we look at the sort of muslim leader that ordinary Australians would admire. The greatest of these, in my opinion, would be Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey, who was responsible for creating Turkey as a modern secular state where the muslim religion could be followed without it being a theocracy. One of the ironies of war is that when it is fought cleanly, as the Gallipoli campaign was, both sides respect each other afterwards. Of course Australia had a special relationship with Ataturk, as we gave him his start, as he was the commander of the forces opposing the diggers at Gallipoli. I am sure he would be as mortified at the perversion of the muslim religion that is being practiced by the terrorists as we are.

* And they wonder why I don't call myself Australian.

Boaz_DAVID, quite obviously it wasn't clear and defined, but thank you for the clarification. It is an extraordinarily broad brush you are stroking with here. Indeed, a lot of the posts here are, where we define an entire community by the actions of a few. You give no room for decency, compassion, respect or honour that is profound in the Islamic religion TODAY. And this is my point, David. You're backlash is based on interpretations of centuries old literature. You take no account of the evolution of the religion. And to say there hasn't been any, is a profound misconception. I'm not saying for one second there aren't any bad elements in Islam, and sure some of those elements exist in Australia - but I don't find them any more dangerous than the WASP's who gathered at the Sydney Forum last week to talk about - amongst other things - the return to the White Australia Policy.

Feel free to post links to whatever documentation you like David, I won't be reading any of it. Simply put, there is no absolute truth, there is no absolute interpretation. And historically, Christianity's treatment of women is only marginally better than that of Islam and certainly nothing to be proud of. Maybe that's not the why Christ wanted it - but in most circles, that is how it was interpreted. Get it?

Clearly we are divided into those who will vilify Islam no matter how succint, erudite, reasonable, rational and accessible an article may be. Such as the latest from Waleed Aly. Why take time to consider what muslims such as Waleed and Irfan are saying whan there is an opportunity to sink the boot in.

What creates hatred? Tolerance and acceptance or alienation and vilification?

Rhetorical questions - not seeking answers. Should be bleeding obvious even to the bigots on this forum.

NOW - back to the thread. John Howard's meeting was little more than a publicity stunt to give the appearance of 'doing something'. If it was serious about creating a highway for communication he would not have selected 'certain' muslims over others - Waleed states >>In particular there was a notable absence of women and young people<<
How true. But then Johnny wants a meeting on his terms - not anyone else's. Hence a meeting the went nowhere and achieved nothing. It was all about grandstanding.

Waleed points out that Islam is >>a very diverse set of communities hailing from about 70 different nations, featuring a mind-boggling number of different cultures and languages<<

A valid point, something women fighting for equality should be able to identify with. Not all muslims are the same, they are not a single cohesive homogenous group. This is why Howard's meeting went nowhere - it was mission impossible.

However, the diversity of muslim people is also a strength - they are not, in unity, campaigning for a take over of the western world - any more than feminists are vying for world domination. They are, to once again point out the bleeding obvious, human beings and like most of us are simply trying to get along.

It is only a MINORITY who are terrorists. Just like in Ireland it was only a MINORITY who caused havoc and terror.

To all who have thus far used this thread to vilify Islam, PLEASE read the article. Give an opinion - just for a change. Leave your hatred at the door. It achieves nothing and goes nowhere.