Lawrence, Jon, Platt, All,
Sorry to butt into this discussion, but I haven't said anything in a while
and I have some time before class starts. So here goes. . . .
Platt wrote:
We don't hear much from Muslims leaders who admire the West. Who
are they? What do they admire about the West? How come Muslim
clerics don't speak out against the Taliban?
Didn't you see all those imams on TV denouncing the terrorist acts of the
Taliban? What about Pakistan pledging support to the US in finding Osama bin
Laden?
Also:
Radical Muslims are against Christianity, the religion of the West. US
policies in Arab and Muslim worlds have largely been supported by
other Western nations. The last few American interventions abroad--in
Kuwait, Somalia and the Balkans--were all conducted in defense of
Muslims. If Israel is what you have in mind, let us not forget that the UN
created it.
Radical Muslims are against foreign policy of the US, such as the sanctions
in Iraq, more than they are Christianity. Also, whenever Israel violates the
UN security council resolutions, the security council vote to reprimand it is
always 14 to 1; the US being the only nation that lets Israel get away with
these violations. There have been more than 69, if I am not mistaken. (I'll
know for sure when Jonathan starts going off on me.)
Platt:
Hate is no excuse for terrorism. The only possible conversation
between intellect/society and biological acts of terrorism is a soldier
with a gun.
No matter how many times you keep spouting this phrase, it is still the
responsibility of the US to examine its foreign policy. I am not saying that
this has anything to do with the attacks on the US; this is a completely
different subject. I am not blaming the US for being attacked. However, we
should be aware of how powerful hate is and we should take steps to present
our country and what it stands for truthfully to the people of other nations
in order to quell their hatred. How can you blame them for hating us when
their media are constantly bombarding them with images of us being the 'Great
Satan?'
Platt:
Please name the countries in the Muslim world which are liberal
democracies
Egypt and Pakistan are two, i believe.
As a sidenote, let me say that I have heard plenty of offensive jokes that I
won't repeat about Afghanistan and the Middle East in general where I am, and
it makes me sick. It's this kind of stereotyping by supposedly intelligent
people that is the cause for much of the ignorance about the Middle East.
There's the attitude of, "They weren't born in the richest country in the
world, so I can make fun of their culture and then enjoy watching Britney
Spears dancing around like a filthy whore."
And I am afraid to say anything against them because I may be perceived as a
supporter of terrorism.
Platt:
Let us agree at the outset that it is "openess and
inquiry"--the very things we value so highly--that the Tailban wants to
snuff out.
Agreed.
Rasheed
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