Submitted by Gautieri(United States), Sep 5, 2007 at 15:34
I agree with Mr. Pipes that these cases are "troubling" for the simple reasons that it deteriorates the separation of Church and State and clearly is in some cases advancing an Islamist agenda.
As a counterpoint though, I do prefer public and therefore publicly accountable "Madrassas" to a possible backlash of private underground Madrassas closed to public scrutiny (although those very well may exist anyway).
In a broader sense I think that as the Islamist agenda is publicized (whether it be a suicide bombing in Saudi or Religious crack-downs in Tehran) throughout not just the West but the Muslim world, rational Muslims (cross your fingers!) will ultimately reject it.
Its tenants are clearly regressive, sexist, bigoted and violent - and with the information pipeline getting bigger and the world getting smaller it will surly subside. This is my hope (my Prayer?).
The only question is whether this is only "clear" to me and like minded people or will it be left unchallenged until a violent worldwide showdown.
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