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| Olde Tyme Religion |
| Muslims want to live under democracies: poll |
| 2008-03-23 |
| A major survey that claims to represent one billion Muslims around the world has found that the majority favours democratic rights and representative government, rather than any of their radical alternatives. The overwhelming majority of Muslims strongly feels that the West disrespects both Islam and Muslims, a perception that is broadening the gulf between the world’s Muslims and the West. The United States in particular is seen as exhibiting “cultural disrespect” for Islam, as well as being out to gain political domination of Muslim countries. The acute conflicts in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan are major factors that deepen the feeling that the US has little interest in helping their resolution in a manner which ensures that justice is done. The results of the survey conducted by Gallup Inc, which forms the basis of a book – Who Speaks for Islam by John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed - were released on Thursday at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Esposito and Mogahed, the authors of the book – Who Speaks for Islam – found that when asked in 2002 what they knew about Islam, 54 percent of Americans said “not much”. In January 2007, the number of those who gave the same answer to the same question had risen to 57 percent. When Muslims were asked by Gallup what they most admired about the West, the majority replied, “Technology, liberty and democracy.” When the same question was put to Americans, they could find nothing about Islam that they admired. When asked if the 9/11 attacks were justified, 92 percent of Muslims in the 35 countries polled answered in the negative. The 7 percent that justified the attacks could not quote a single verse from the Quran to support their view. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 The primitive view of democracy: I finally get to be top dog after suffering at your hands for so long... with a Sharia gloss to give Allah's sanction to the whole thing. Oh, and we'll all instantly be as rich as Americans (completely missing the need to work both hard and smart -- and the fact that I, myself, am not rich only proves the point). |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-03-23 14:52 |
| #10 I've got a feeling our view of democracy and their view of democracy are two totally different things. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-03-23 14:15 |
| #9 Do you know what a democracy is? Yes 24% No 76% |
| Posted by: Pearl Pholuns7216 2008-03-23 13:23 |
| #8 Rugs. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-03-23 10:40 |
| #7 When the same question was put to Americans, they could find nothing about Islam that they admired. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-03-23 09:27 |
| #6 The overwhelming majority of Muslims strongly feels that the West disrespects both Islam and Muslims I do not disrespect both Islam and Muslims. I think Islam and Muslims are morally and philosophically retarded. So, contempt is probably a better word than disrespect. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2008-03-23 09:06 |
| #5 If the muzzies can't make democracy work in Iraq, they're going to have to face a very stark choice. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-03-23 08:55 |
| #4 I'll bet the problem is that wherever Muslims go, they bring their baggage with them, including their 5% (or whatever) radicals. These are the problem, and they will always be there unopposed because it's built into the Holy Krayon's DNA to at least tacitly support if not accept their radicalism. |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-03-23 08:39 |
| #3 Actions do speak louder than words. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-03-23 02:08 |
| #2 It's not that we in the west "disrespect" Islam, it's that we are judging Muslims by their behavior. The same situation occurs when Blacks are judged by behavior such as Rev. Wright's rants. |
| Posted by: USMC6743 2008-03-23 01:24 |
| #1 Muslims support Islamization, and back one time democratic elections to that end. The only secular powers in the Muslim countries are the military and quasi-military regimes. And they are declining. Muslims define "liberty" only as that which is not prohibited under sharia. Freedom of conscience, expression and association are anathema to a Muslim. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-03-23 01:08 |