Submitted by Uni student(New Zealand), Aug 14, 2006 at 07:09
I can't help but wonder if the people replying to this have any idea about the culture and religion they're condemning. I have no desire to be an apologist but nor do I have any desire to condemn those who have a different religion and culture to the "judeo-christian" culture to which I belong. Need I remind people that Islam comes from the same stem as Judaism and Christianity and at its root is a peaceful religion.
Yes, extremists are scary and the threat to our way of life may be real, but antagonising the faction who are that radical is only going to prolong the struggle. Arabic countries were once among the most advanced civilisations in the world, making Islamic beliefs blend with modern thought. Maybe all they need is a little understanding and patience to get back to that point. Stigmatising the whole community could only be detrimental to any long term peaceful solution
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