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| The myth of the 'moderate' Muslim |
| 2005-07-26 |
| ince at least Sept. 11, 2001, the non-Muslim world at large has been waiting for that segment of the Muslim population designated as "moderate" to resolutely denounce terrorists who, in defiling its faith-tradition, have subverted Islam into a cult of death. The expectation there is a large, identifiable segment of "moderate" Muslims is a transposition to the Muslim world of the idea of "moderation" in politics and religion that sustains democracies. There has been no spontaneous or organized demonstration of Muslims across the Arab-Muslim world, nor in European or North American cities where Muslims reside in increasing numbers, in support of victims of such terror and in unqualified condemnation of extremists who exploit Islam for their criminal purposes. The truth is there does not exist an identifiable body of Muslims, substantive in number or an outright majority, who could be described as "moderate" by their repudiation of Muslim extremists. Consequently, what might pass for "moderate" Muslims, the large number of Muslims unaccounted for as to what they think, in practical terms constitute a forest within which extremists are incubated, nurtured, given ideological and material support, and to which they return for sanctuary. But there are Muslims who, at great risks to themselves, unapologetically condemn the culture of violence Muslims have bred for extremists among them to exploit. They work alone, or in small groups of like-minded Muslims, despite being maligned and ostracized by fellow Muslims, to dissect and expose Muslim extremism to the world at large while striving against immense difficulties to keep faith in the ideals of Islam. Their effort, irrespective of any effect in advancing Muslim reformation, remains real, while "moderate" Muslims being nowhere to be found confirm their existence is a myth until proven otherwise. EFL. Emphasis added. Found via Jihad Watch. |
| Posted by:Robert Crawford |
| #9 Damn, I do hope you are wrong .com. I hope the answer to be obvious one way or the other within 10 years, I've got 1 kid that will need to be prepared, one way or the other. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-07-26 18:26 |
| #8 This is where the fact that Islam *spit* is an all-encompassing ideology, a prepackaged social and political system, rather than a religious belief system, comes into stark relief and seals its eventual fate, IMHO. Oh, and did I mention it's based upon world dominion and the petty hatreds and personal ticks of a truly dysfunctional merchant from an ancient Moon God worshipping era? My bad. But I don't have any strong opinions based on experience, of course. I believe in the MSM / Alladin / CAIR version. They're really swell. Just ask anyone who I already have a mantra, mhw, thanks. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-26 17:32 |
| #7 I'll know a "moderate" Moslem when I meet one who openly rejects taqiya, jihad, and sharia -- and who acknowledges Israel's unconditional right to existence. Whether such a person would still be a Moslem is the question. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2005-07-26 16:59 |
| #6 Interesting notion, here. He seems to be saying that WE have concocted the existence of a "moderate" muslim middle. And we wait, expectantly, for them to rise up and take back their religion. But they don't. Not after 9/11, 3/11, 7/7. Because there is, in fact, no such thing as the "moderate" muslim group. WE've created the myth. Sure, there are muslim mouthpieces, who decry the violence (always with a "But you need to understand where it comes from"). ... But 1. these mouthpieces are not furious about the violence, as they should be and 2. they don't seem to speak for their coreligionists. So I'm really not sure there is a moderate muslim wing -- at least not as we would be "moderates" in the west (think of "the silent majority" who became anything BUT silent, reacting to the status quo vocally and with passion). There's no evidence they are appalled at all by these events. Perhaps the muslim masses are, in fact, not "moderate" but "secretly-supportive-muslims-who-do-not-blow themselves-up." The idea that they are troubled by violence in their name isn't a factor. Because they're not. Which means that appealing to them to "take back their religion" is a pointless exercise. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2005-07-26 16:05 |
| #5 Most victims of Islam are moslems. Most victims of Islam are moslems. This is what makes the silence of the masses of Muslims so frustrating. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-07-26 14:49 |
| #4 But let us not forget that there are thousands, if not millions, of Moslem friendlies, some of whom are risking a lot more every day than most of us just to be on our side. Certainly. They're what -- 5%? How many people showed up for the Free Muslims Against Terror march? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-07-26 14:40 |
| #3 One key to understanding is that you can legitimately critique, even to some extent trash, Islam while praising individual moslems. Repeat this over and over: Most victims of Islam are moslems. Most victims of Islam are moslems. |
| Posted by: mhw 2005-07-26 14:32 |
| #2 Don't forget the Northern Alliance . . . the Iraqi police . . . the Kurdish Pershmerga . . . the Iraqi bloggers . . . Mohammed Odeh al-Rehaief, who helped in the rescue of Jessica Lynch . . . the Afghans who helped that wounded SEAL . . . Look, I understand the frustration at the lack of visible support for the war among Moslems living in the West. I also think it fair to ask if mainstream Islam is truly a religion of peace, or just Wahabbism with a veneer of civilization. But let us not forget that there are thousands, if not millions, of Moslem friendlies, some of whom are risking a lot more every day than most of us just to be on our side. We owe those people something a little better than to trash all Moslems categorically--often in the same way that the moonbats trash "the Jews" and "the neocons." |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-07-26 14:24 |
| #1 Bugger. Forgot to add back the 'S' at the beginning of the quote. I'm sure someone will think his last comments, about the Muslims working against the violence, is contrary to my position. It's not. I've always acknowledged the existence of the few. I just don't think they amount to enough to make a difference. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-07-26 14:03 |