Democracy and Islam....Hard Questions
Reader comment on article: The Citizen of the 21st Century: How Far, How Fast?

Submitted by D. Walls (United States), Jul 29, 2002 at 12:27

I keep hearing our President and his Administration talking about establishing Democracy in Islamic Countries. I also hear him talk about American muslims being just like us:

What about the Islamic practice of polygamy? Our legal system and democracy do not allow for that practice...even from Mormons. Many American women have married Muslims only to find out there is another wife in another country.

What about the fact that Muslims are not allowed to adopt a child as their own child (adopted child cannot take on the adoptive parents' name or inheritance)? President Bush just promoted adoption, but how can Muslim Americans participate in it?

How come American children are being kidnapped by Muslim fathers, being taken to Islamic countries, and forced to become Muslims? The State Department takes a back seat to Islamic Law on this one.

How do horrible Civil Rights records and abuses for many years fit into a democratic society??

I lived in Saudi for 6 years and just wonder where all the Americans are who will stand up and ask these hard questions. And how will these questions be answered by the Islamic community?

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