Daniel J. Pipes

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nice to hear a sane voice..

Reader comment on item: On Islam and Islamism
in response to reader comment: Islam is not to blame

Submitted by BR (United States), Apr 10, 2008 at 00:05

But let me guess, you're Indian?

The problem, pal, is that extremist and fanatical exhortations have a deathly attraction for many people (regardless of religion), even in the best of times (how do you explain Jonestown otherwise). Unfortunately, much of the Muslim world currently lives in a rather advanced state of poverty and illiteracy, and we are at a stage in history where there are many demagogues willing to channel their angst into unacceptable activities. This tarnishes the muslim image in the world's opinion, who then say bad things about muslims and generalize to islam, which then creates outrage and produces a fresh set of fodder for said demagogues, and so on.
A sense of outrage combined with the sense of helplessness that arises from poverty and illiteracy is very easy to misdirect.

Once that cycle goes far enough, even the moderate muslims will react. Its human nature. It could have been any group, not just muslims/islam.


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Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

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