Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Extremism (what I believe)
One of Merriam-Webster’s definitions of extreme is: “exceeding the ordinary, usual, or expected”
I note lately that it is increasingly difficult to discuss the “ordinary, usual, or expected” without being contradicted by well meaning but misguided people who focus on the extremes. I am as guilty as anyone else. We tend to be the product of our environment that forms our beliefs and our judgments. Some people are influenced by daily newscasts, some by pop culture, some by their personal daily contacts, some are influenced by all or a combination of the above.
A case in point is the impression of Muslims.
If you watch daily newscasts you see suicide bombers, kidnappings and beheadings by Muslims on a daily basis. It would be reasonable to conclude that Muslims are violent fanatics.
If you are exposed to Muslims in the US on a daily basis you see peaceful, gentle, hardworking people. It would be reasonable to conclude that Muslims are peaceful, gentle and hardworking people.
I believe both of these views are in the extreme and do not represent the “ordinary, usual, or expected”. I believe that Muslims in the US are not representative of the vast majority of Muslims who happen to reside in countries that are governed by Islamic law. All of these countries are autocracies and most are theocracies. (Note that some of these countries CLAIM to be democracies but they are no more democratic than was soviet Communist Russia in the 60s that also held elections periodically but surprise, surprise, the communists always won.)
This is what I believe:
1. I believe the vast majority of Muslims are very religious and feel so strongly about their religion that they are contented to be governed by people of a like mind.
2. As such, they do not crave freedom as we know it (i.e. freedom of religion and speech).
3. They hate (may be too strong a word) the west because we are non-believers and tolerate decadence.
4. I believe that some verses of the Qur'an in their historical and literary context sanction military action against non-believers as a whole. I also believe some verses of the Bible condone the same thing but there are fewer strict Bibelists (new word) than strict Islamists.
This is what I believe based on my environment. What do you believe?
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4 comments:
I can agree with all four points.
What do you suppose Bush believes? Where is his evidence that Muslims desire the democracy which we are attempting to install? I remember back in 2001 Chalabi telling us that everything would be peaceful when the US would install him in as a US favorite in Iraq. When he went to Iraq the people promptly rejected him. The people were not peaceful, are there other shiboleths that we should discard?
shiboleths???
From Wikipedia
Shibboleth is any language usage indicative of one's social or regional origin, or more broadly, any practice that identifies members of a group.
I believe that to generalize any group is to do a disservice to yourself.
Going into the world with a generalization of a group of people, doesn't allow you the freedom to really get to know someone from the inside.
As for your points they could all be stated about any religious faction, no?
Has the US ever had a non-Christian President?
The craving of freedom. Maybe we have too many freedoms. When children are brought up, they secretly desire boundaries and rules while outwardly screaming for freedom.
Our tolerate decadance. Isn't that why everyone 'hates" Paris Hilton? Because she is famous for nothing and is decadent and free spirited and can play all day and party all night. Whilst we have to work and drudge to make a living?
Fewer strict Biblist (good word... isn't the KKK a "Christian" group?
Just a little of what I believe. One of the greatest freedoms of this country is the freedom to believe what you want and to even agree to disagree with your family and still be loved and respected.
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