How fine a line, or, where's the cameleon?

Submitted by yonason (United States), Nov 26, 2003 at 16:51

B"H

Just how much effort do we have to expend in making what increasingly appears to be an artificial distinction? If the difference is so difficult to discern, does it really exist?

Of course there must be truly moderate Muslims (I can actually name a few). But how then are the violent ones able to blend in so well with their fellows as to virtually disappear.

It occurs to me that, in fact, we non-Muslims are only forced to take such great pains to ferret out the 'bad apples' because the so-called moderate Muslims are either unwilling, or unable, to do so themselves.

I find this very disturbing.

Equally disturbing is that we let them 'off the hook,' and attempt to shoulder the burden all by ourselves.

If someone is giving your organization a bad name, you discipline him, or throw him out. If you tolerate him, how can you pretend to disassociate yourself from his actions?

There has to be some sort of accountability, and it has to be commensurate with the level of involvement, or lack thereof, in shouldering this immense burden.

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