Dear mikk,

I'm so pleased that you read the Robert Fisk
interview in the website I quoted.

It's interesting also that the quote that grabbed
you, resonated the most with me as well.

I've actually now contacted my regional library -
they've got about 20 books on the subject of
Islamic findamentalism, including ones by Robert
Fisk. I've reserved several - and intend to do
more research on the subject. I'm finding that
my previous assumptions were made by my naive
"Western" mentality. I need to actually read more on
the topic - especially works written by people
who like Fisk - have lived in the area and
better understand the multi-faceted problems
involved.

Dear Poirot,

Thanks for the information about Friedman.
I wasn't aware of his bias. It makes me
look at him in a somewhat different light.

Dear King Hazza,

Discussions on public Forums such as this one
take many twists and turns.
Still, I find that getting a variety of opinions
is not only to be expected on this topic but -
as someone warned me prior to my starting this
thread - "It goes with the territory."

mikk,

<This is why people turn to violence, because they have no other avenue left>

Yes, that must be why Abdulmutallab tried to blow up Flight 253!
Abdulmutallab was one of nearly 100,000 Muslim students in British Universities.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/world/europe/30nigerian.html?_r=1
32,000 of those Muslim university students believe killing in the name of religion can be justified.
33,000 of those students support the introduction of a global caliphate based on Islamic Law.
24,000 of those students believe that men and women are not fully equal in the eyes of Allah.
6,000 of those students believe that apostates should be punished in accordance with Sharia Law,
which advocates death.
http://www.socialcohesion.co.uk/files/1231525079_2.pdf
Abdulmutallab paid $25,000 a year for his engineering degree course and reportedly lived in a $10,000,000 apartment in Central London.
http://www.saharareporters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4631:northwest-flight-253-leg-bomber-is-son-of-drumaru-abdul-muttalab-former-first-bank-chairman-from-yaraduas-home-state-katsina&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18
So, tell me again mikk, was it oppression, lack of education or poverty
which drove the Islamic fundamentalist Abdulmutallab to try to blow up a passenger airplane?
Poor fellow, he had "no other avenue left".

What's the weather like in Cloud Cuckoo land?

How about we consider the Greek concept of 2 opposing triangles, and apply it to this topic.

Then, psychodramatise and imagine ourselves "in the shoes" of the Islamists.

..

Now, let us pretend (for some of us) that we believe in an eye for eye, a tooth for a tooth and reckon things by the number of "innocents shed" say since the time of Gulf War I.

So, can anyone hazard a reasonable guess?

How many dead "Moozees" and how many dead "Westies?"

..

For a backdrop, I would suggest to you that people of all creeds and colour tend not to be particularly rational when they have the pain of loss of Luved Ones inflicted upon them.

You of course refer to the adamic nature Dreamon which no doubt you display well.

ReamOn,
I'm truly sorry for your loss of Luved Ones
and am now more understanding of your tendency to irrationality.
Yes if we could all just psychodramatise ourselves into the shoes of the Islamists,
Then perhaps jihadists like Richard Reid would not feel so all alone.

Dear Herman,

I don't know if you're aware of this
but lately I've noticed a parallel
between you and some of the qualities you
ascribe to Islamic fundamentalists.
I haven't worked out if this is intentional
or accidental.

For example Islamic fundamentalists according
to your posts believe that there is no virtue
or truth but their own. As do you judging
from your posts.

You ascribe bigotry and intolerance to Islamic
fundamentalists. Yet you appear to be guilty
of the same thing.

It's very uncharitable of you to put people down.
People are entitled to their opinions -
even if they happen to disagree with yours.
And these people are not necessarily wrong or
irrational.