Jihadism, Nazism, Communism; three popular movements embraced by moderate human beings who were sold by extremist elements. But all three movements represent threats to the United States in particular. As a result, black and white thinking is really a response for our survival, as a threatening enemy forces us to reassess our own faith in our own country as well as ourselves, and making us reject the enemy, his culture and what he believes in. Regarding the current threat of global Jihad, we cannot afford to wallow in the grays of self-reflection and self-loathing, while a movement is on the offense that sees only black and white. Our "understanding" will only encourage their global resolve. The movement has declared war on us and we must respond with decisive controlled rage, which I hope will "encourage" the Muslim world to get out of its denial and cleanses itself from its home-grown virulence, before we have Total War.
Rage, either controlled or allowed to run wild, is not necessary for justice to be served. I certainly don't want law enforcement officers decision making blinded by rage. I see this as a police action, therefore all that is required is dispassionate efforts to enforce the law, coupled with better intelligence efforts. Your comments on self loathing, I don't know who they apply to at all, perhaps neocon regressives.... Oh, and all isms you mentioned were/are at their foundation ideologically driven and put into practice by those with political ambition who practice generating an "other" to demonize and focus on. These ism based movements are/were not founded nor successful without a "devil" to generate a common cause to rally the troops behind. I would hope that America is more evolved, and doesn't see it necessary to demonize criminals in order to enforce the law. We need not succumb ourselves to a rabid ism based ideology for the purpose of achieving national security. By understanding the goodness of Islam that is perverted by radical fanatics, we can achieve greater cooperation with Muslims who also seek a non violent existence, so demonstrating our understanding of the legitimate political issues that are felt in the Middle East will go a long way to help civilization continue.
In the Muslim Arab world, Bin Laden's terrorism has a higher percentage of support than the Democratic Party has in the U.S. Koran huggers like Zten keep trying to hit me with Pew Global's surveys, as evidence that terrorists do not represent the majority of Muslims. Let's take a closer look at the Pew Global data: <Img SRC=http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/attachment.php?s=&postid=792757> Muslim Arabs compose the bulk of the world's terrorists, yet Pew purposely picked the most Liberal & moderate of Muslim countries- and only one (Jordan) has an overwhelming Muslim Arab majority. The survey results from Lebanon are worthless, as the Lebanese population is divided about 50/50 between Muslims and Christians- and these groups live mostly segregated from each other. From the poll results, I think you can guess in which area of Lebanon this poll was conducted. No survey results from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen or Syria- The places where the most Muslim Arabs (and Islamic terrorism supporters) can be found. Fortunately, some data from Saudi does exist, but not from Pew: http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/08/poll.binladen/ Poll of Saudis shows wide support for bin Laden's views Why do I claim that Bin Laden's terrorism enjoys even more support from Arab Muslims, than the Democratic party has from Americans? Only 18% of Jordanians surveyed had absolutely no confidence in Al-Qaida. Draw your own conclusions. http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=248
Well, that's the very issue Muslims will have to work out among themselves in dealing with bin Laden's popular movement and his interpretation on what a good Muslim should be. But I'm not implying that that moderate peaceful Muslims who mind their own business are not real Muslims or people with no faith. I merely generalized that African-Americans who assumed Arab names and converted to Islam (at least years ago) don't do the anal retentive practices of praying 5 times a day, fast, and certainly are not interested in waging Jihad. "Having Faith" is about an individual and his/her connection with God, rather than someone telling you that you are not faithful enough and therefore not close to God. --that's the folly of Religion. Both Christianity and Islam are guilty of this.
Right, there is room for some cautious optimism regarding the trend among <b>Muslims who are not Arabs.</b> My point stands.
There is just no way America can defend itself from a hostile enemy movement by using its legal system and law enforcement. Besides, I'm not looking at the people who blow themselves up and commit the crime of terrorism. I'm looking at all the people who support them and their cause and the infrastructure and all the propaganda and indoctrination going on all over the Muslim world that motivates young people to wage a holy war. Understanding does not mean being uncritical! We criticize them precisely because we ARE understanding them. By the way, Americans have been hammered with the "goodness of Islam" right down our throats for as long as I remember. Before 9/11, there was practically no criticism of Islam, thanks to the likes of CAIR and MPAC, which preempted a whitewashing PC campaign that worked brilliantly. Americans now see through the smoke screens and are wondering why The Religion of Peace wages violent holy wars, and more are rejecting the usual Leftist-Marxist CAIR-whitewashing self-loathing excuses like "because of U.S. policies and its imperialism," and all the issue-avoiding moral equivalencies like Christianity's past.
Bigotry & hate, Bigotry & hate, Bigotry & hate.... The Standard Liberal response when they know they are beaten. At least most libs who resort to this pathetic defense are not gay-bashers themselves.
There is just no way America can defend itself from a hostile enemy movement by using its legal system and law enforcement. Yes it can, as long as other countries cooperate. If they are not being cooperative, then we deal with the reason they are not cooperating, and put pressure on them to cooperate with the help of our allies. The unified efforts against the aggression of Saddam Hussein was essentially a police action to enforce international law, and it worked. Saddam was defeated, then contained. Besides, I'm not looking at the people who blow themselves up and commit the crime of terrorism. I'm looking at all the people who support them and their cause and the infrastructure and all the propaganda and indoctrination going on all over the Muslim world that motivates young people to wage a holy war. Understanding does not mean being uncritical! We criticize them precisely because we ARE understanding them. Gaining the support of moderate Muslims will go further than inflaming all Muslims by the type of common hate speech heard on talk radio by neocon regressives and practices like those seen in Abu Gharib. By the way, Americans have been hammered with the "goodness of Islam" right down our throats for as long as I remember. Before 9/11, there was practically no criticism of Islam, thanks to the likes of CAIR and MPAC, which preempted a whitewashing PC campaign that worked brilliantly. It is fair to criticise unlawful behavior, it is not "fair" to engage in bigotry and hate speech against Muslims as a group. Americans now see through the smoke screens and are wondering why The Religion of Peace wages violent holy wars, and more are rejecting the usual Leftist-Marxist CAIR-whitewashing self-loathing excuses like "because of U.S. policies and its imperialism," and all the issue-avoiding moral equivalencies like Christianity's past. Your position on "self loathing" is incorrect. I don't know of anyone who suggest the USA hate themselves for their wrongs, simply admit them and change the behavior is what the left wing desires. The level of denial of our own part in the process is indicative of facist myopianism. Americans are succumbing to the fascist tendency to demonize "the other" in order to feel righteous, a classic sign of real and geniune self loathing by the right wing.....