Poirot: But you decided to post it anyway because it aided in the prosecution of your view.

Yes, of course. You do exactly the same with any of your posts. We all do, otherwise there would be no reason to post. Would there, Duh!

It's a view shared by most Australians. However, not a view shared by, Muslims, the Academia, Loony Greenie, & the Anti-Social PC crowd. They are unAustralian anyway. So I don't really give a R@T$ @r$3. Build a bridge.

There is a difference between mere personal opinion and failing to check the veracity of information chosen to support one's argument.

But, no sweat, Jayb....accuracy is seen as overrated by some.(as is the use of the term "unAustralian")

Thanks, Jayb… There hasn't been much in 75 pages to raise a smile or (pun intended) the spirits, but – "because deep down regardless of how much they claim they are a peace loving people, it is only towards fellow Muslims that that peace is truly focused" – did it for me.

Whatever we feel justified in fearing is as nothing to the concept and practice of *collective punishment* inflicted by some groupings of Muslims upon others of the same religion – it's a similar bloodsoaked history and reformation as we saw with Christendom – aided and abetted by ignorance, vendettas, regional population pressures, inequalities both imagined and real, modern technology and particularly the Internet.

Yes, Wm, I'm trying to work out if Islam is 500 years, 1000 years, or 1300 years, behind the rest of the world.

As for a religion of peace, that's wearing a bit thin: it appears that it's not sufficient to attack Christians and Christian sites, and Hindus and Hindu sites, but also - most unpardonable! - Buddhists and Buddhist sites:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/15006058/mobs-attack-bangladesh-buddhists-again/

Either the entire world is involved in a conspiracy against peace-loving Muslims, OR there is a slight paranoid, even psychotic, streak in some - but probably not all - Muslims, wherever they are.

One thing is for sure - it must be extremely difficult trying to be a secular-oriented Muslim, let alone a left-wing secular-oriented Muslim, in a Muslim country these days. Incredibly brave people.

Not even the Left elsewhere would stick up for you :(

32 Muslims died at the hands of other Muslims in Iraq last night our time.
I saw a different thread than some others here.
Sydney,s infamous act let the boil bust.
It is more than apparent many thought about our increasing troubles long before it.
And while the PC crowd convinced many to forget YEARS of taunts that lead to Crunulla, we did not let it stop mainstream voices being seen here.

Thanks, Belly - that's Christians, Hindus, Buddhisits, Muslims of other secs 0, the pure and peace-loving Muslims 1.

Okay, what have we learnt so far, from the news, and from this thread ?

Firstly, let's agree that Muslims are as intelligent, and potentially as kind-hearted to their fellow-humans as anybody else.

But:

* Islam is NOT a religion of peace, except towards followers of one's own sect;

* Islam is NOT a religion which promotes equality, for Muslim women or for non-Muslims generally: slavery still exists in Mauretania - presumably only for non-Muslims - (but they could vote at the last elections);

* Islam is not a religion which fits easily into the framework of a separation of chruch and state, religious and secular authority.

* It is now 2012. What the hell happened in 1100 AD, or 323 AD, or 10,000 BC. is neither here nor there.

Hopefully, we can stay on topic, but some can feel free to divert, obfuscate, chat about shoe-sizes, film, etc. The rest of us will plough on, trying to make sense of the actions and attitudes of our fellow-Australians.

Joe