How Many Decades Will It Take?
Reader comment on item: Radical Islam as Its Own Antidote[, Argues Reuel Gerecht]

Submitted by Mike Ramirez (United States), Jun 23, 2005 at 18:45

With due respect to the subject at hand and to this article's conclusion of how to deal with Islamic terrorism, I must question the following concept as proposed by Dr. Pipes:

"...the American government should shift its efforts to slower and deeper goals: "political participation, the rule of law (including an independent judiciary), freedom of speech and religion, property rights, minority rights, and the right to form voluntary organizations (especially political parties)." Elections should only follow on the achievement of these steps. Realistically, they could well take decades to achieve."

Islamic terrorism including the mindset to accept "martyrdom" as a noble cause has been indoctrinated into the Muslim society ever since 610 Common Era. By virtue of its own belief system in the Qur'an and by decree of Shari'a Laws, Islam actually prohibits Muslims from having anything to do with the goals Dr. Pipes has suggested. For example:

1. Political Participation:
No one other than a Muslim can hold office in the administration of a truly Islamic countriy and women are not allowed to vote.

2. The Rule of Law (Judicial System) :
Islam bases its judicial system upon their accepted Holy Book, the Qur'an, from which Shari'a Laws are established. This includes inhumane forms of corporal punishment for certain crimes such as stoning, beheading, cutting off hands and feet, and killing a Muslim for converting to another religion.

3. Freedom of Speech and Religion:
Muslims are not allowed to verbally criticize the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, nor degrade nor question the teachings of the Qur'an. Muslims must remain faithful to Islam and not befriend people of other religions. Disobedience results in severe punishment and/or death.

4. Property Rights:
Only Muslims are allowed to own property.

5. Minority Rights:
Non-Muslims do not have equal rights in Islamic countries and a tax (jizyah) is imposed upon them by decree of the Qur'an.

6. Right to Form Voluntary Organizations (Especially Political Parties) :
The only organizations allowed would be those who do not contradict the Qur'an nor Shari'a.
Poltical parties challenging Islam in any way would be viewed as treasonous to the Muslim culture and in the religious view would be seen as an encroachment of the devil.

That is why America is called the "Great White Satan."

Conclusion:
Muslims will never be able to live by any other way of life until the fundamental indoctrinations of Islamic ideologies that instill hatred toward non-Muslims, glorify martyrdom, decree capital punishment for apostacy and call for world dominance are able completely abrogated from the Qur'an, Shari'a Laws and the teachings of Muhammad.

This is the only way things can change - and this will take longer than decades. Afterall, its been around since 610 C.E.

---

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 for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but comments are rejected if scurrilous, off-topic, vulgar, ad hominem, or otherwise viewed as inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the Guidelines for Comments. For informational purposes, we identify countries from which comments are sent.