Moderate Muslims are the average Germans of WWII
Reader comment on item: The Dobbs List: "Militant Islam Reaches America"

Submitted by David Rosenberg (United States), Sep 1, 2002 at 13:55

Mr. Pipes,

I read with interest all of your articles. I am surprised that you have not driven home one point stronger. You always equate Islamist with Fascist and the other totalitarian "ists" of the 20th century. You go to great pains to differentiate Islamists from average moderate Muslims. What I don't understand is why you don't spend more time equating the average Muslim with the average German or Italian during WWII.

As you are aware, the Nazi Party was a small minority of Germans. The average citizen was simply trying to survive while the Nazis rose to power. Since the Nazi's evil wasn't directly pointed at the average citizen, they choose to ignore the Nazis and in doing so allowed one of the most evil regimes in recorded history to arise.

The average Muslim is in much the same predicament. With the exception of a few Islamist states such as Iran, few Muslims are directly affected by the actions of radical Islamist. They go about thier lives like the average German did while Jews, Gypsies and others where being harrased, beaten, killed etc. by the Nazis. The average Muslim, I believe, is turning a blind eye to the problem and they won't know its a problem until it is too late.

I believe your prominence could help educate the moderate Muslims and get them to get off thier collective behinds and help in the war against radical Islamist. With their help, this scourge can be stopped before it is too late. If the Islamist get a foothold in a country, such as Iraq, that has WMD we are in for WWIII.

Thank you for "listening".

Dave Rosenberg

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Daniel Pipes replies:

I accept the rough analogy between Germans in the Third Reich period and Muslims today. I am doing what I can to urge Muslims do resist and oppose Islamism.

DP