Dear Bob: Islam cannot be described as a monolithic, unitary social organism. It has its good guys (in large numbers), and it’s murderous crackpots (in much smaller). Pointing accusations and guns at each other just strengthens the crackpots on each side, at the risk and expense of the reasonable people who outnumber them overwhelmingly. I’m sorry you believe your own words; or rather, I’m sorry you don’t understand that the same nasty conclusion can be applied to any in-group of frightened human beings (your chosen in-group included), which makes us all that much more brothers than any nicey-nice, touchy-feely bullshit. We have merely to share our fears and rage and compare them to each others’ openly, for most of them to evaporate. It’s a question of communication, above and beyond propaganda and high explosives. You have an in-group you feel safe among … it is our task and survival obligation to make our in-group 6+ billion strong, and make everyone in it believe in sharing that same in-group honestly. People can still hate and kill each other, the way stray brothers sometimes do, but organizing in large numbers to come after each other would become unthinkable. We have the means, motive and opportunity to do this right now, we have merely to talk ourselves down from our shared bad trip. We live in a global village, and it’s about time we started thinking that way. Your attitude makes about as much sense as saying that the inhabitants of one neighborhood in your city are organizing specifically to get you and yours. I’m done trying the persuade you; there are a lot more people out there, who understand all this already. I need to network with them, preferentially, so that we can demonstrate this reality to you in realtime. Then, perhaps, you and many more like you will change your minds, join us, and free yourselves. Until then, your attitude condemns us all to fearful weapon slavery and eventual military omnicide (as weapons keep growing more powerful and cheaper). Mark
Thanks Mark. One of our objects is World Peace.
Unfortunately, despite what they may say openly, Islam sees force and violence
as the way to convert the world, Bob Burns
To: mark mulligan
Subject: l'Islam
Hello Mark,
We are well aware that Islam is not monolithic, for example the Sunni and Shia
are killing each other in Pakistan (See "Left Shoe News”)
But you are making the mistake that fundamentalism will go away if we do
nothing or say nothing negative. On the contrary, our only hope is that the
moderate Muslims will stand up and struggle against the nasty guys. For this
Islam will have to undergo a Reformation and reject the intolerant and
bellicose teachings of Muhammad. Yes it is the moderates who are the "bad
Muslims" (and I have been told this in emails from hardliners) Perhaps an
article attached, "The Hardening of Muhammad" will help you see this
point? Fundamentalism/terrorism is not an aberration but application of his
teachings.
Also neither of us has any idea what percentage of Muslims are tolerant and
peaceful and what are not. The article, "Religion - a force for good or
evil?" makes the point that there are good and bad in all religions but
...
Finally we do not know their real views because many adherents hide their true
feelings. The time is not yet ripe for the Islamisation of the world and a
premature attack as in the case of Osama bin Laden is bound to fail. See
"Lying for the sake of Allah".
Bob Burns
Grad Dip Islamic Studies