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Radical Islam as Its Own Antidote

Reader comment on item: Radical Islam as Its Own Antidote[, Argues Reuel Gerecht]

Submitted by Illuminati (United States), Jun 23, 2005 at 10:47

I enjoy reading your posts and believe you are one of the most knowledgeable people in the West about Islam. However, I'm not sure your hopes in "moderate" Islam is going to work. Although I'm not as knowledgeable about Islam as you, I have spent considerable time reading Islamic sites. So far it appears the most moderate Muslims are about where Europe was 500 years ago.

For instance a site I recently visited which was supposed to be "moderate" had a discussion about the events of 9-11. Some of the writers had the usual statements about it was sad so many people died but then they turned to discuss the positive side of the event. The event had drawn people's attention to Islam and they had additional opportunities to spread their religion among Westerners. In fact one soon received the impression they thought it was a positive event since it was working out in favor of Islam. No one seemed the least bit concerned that it is immoral to support the slaughter of over 3000 innocent people to propagate the religion. If it was good for Islam, then it was overall a positive event. If you have any information that even the most "moderate" Muslims actually abhor what happened then I'd be interested in your information. This is just one example. I could name others.

From my own study, I believe Islamic thought is very fragile and the best approach it to attack them where it hurts, philosophically. If we in the west would publicly promote the contradictions and philosophical weakness of their positions it would probably enable those who are more open minded to move into a genuine moderate position rather than to the pseudo-moderate position many now take. I believe the reason Muslim society suppresses dissident opinions is because they realize just how fragile their ideology really is. The more we talk about Islam as a formidable foe and discuss them as if they were important players, the more it strengthens them. If we pointed out just how absurd many of their beliefs really are, and made light of them, the weaker they would be. By spending his entire presidency preoccupied with the war on terror, I believe George Bush has inadvertently elevated the Islamists in the eyes of their compatriots.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (36) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
1Islam as an ideology [249 words]Paul Smith NavelOct 11, 2005 00:0526774
Islam not a religiion [7 words]Ja HAug 5, 2008 18:1526774
Militant Islam Burning [7 words]MordechaiJul 11, 2005 01:2023315
Mr. Pipes may be right [65 words]Stephen BlockJul 3, 2005 22:5623093
A pox on both ideas [77 words]ron thompsonJun 27, 2005 20:5722891
Trojan horse [178 words]praful bidwayJun 27, 2005 00:5722882
So what do we do in the meantime? [268 words]PatJun 26, 2005 20:3022880
Radical Islam is not the cure [157 words]Dvora H.Jun 26, 2005 19:0322879
Gerecht proposes deja vu [228 words]GreyGhostJun 26, 2005 17:1822877
The situation in Iran [223 words]H. YazdiJun 26, 2005 02:3922871
Tested to destruction? [133 words]Victor StoneJun 25, 2005 18:3222868
2Al-Taqiya [570 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
YonasonJun 24, 2005 18:3722855
Distinction Without A Difference? [376 words]orange yonasonOct 28, 2009 16:1322855
Dream of Eradicating Radical Islam is Futile [99 words]JaladhiJun 24, 2005 11:3122847
1Burning the house to kill the rodents? [68 words]S.C.PandaJun 24, 2005 04:2622844
One must always fear th evils of negative nationalism! [710 words]Karole du PontJun 24, 2005 00:1022842
Radical Islam as its own Antidote [687 words]Peter J. HerzJun 23, 2005 22:3722841
Islamic Democracy: One (necessary) step backward, then two steps forward [206 words]Billy ChosenJun 23, 2005 22:3122840
Respectfully questioning your views on moderate Islam [193 words]AlwaysOnWatchJun 23, 2005 18:4622837
How Many Decades Will It Take? [432 words]Mike RamirezJun 23, 2005 18:4522836
The Reality [128 words]JohnJun 23, 2005 17:5622835
I agree - please comment on a diverging opinion [171 words]Josh GJun 23, 2005 17:4522834
A Big Story [611 words]Just a readerJun 23, 2005 16:5622833
Your prescription left out something. [92 words]Si LondeJun 23, 2005 13:2422830
Curing the disease, or merely mutating it? [166 words]Joshua TruaxJun 23, 2005 12:2822829
Gerecht critique [166 words]george rosenbaumJun 23, 2005 12:1722828
Democracy vs Republic in Iran (part II) [734 words]Tom MartinJun 23, 2005 11:1822827
What is the solution? [193 words]Roger RickJun 23, 2005 11:1122826
Radical Islam as Its Own Antidote [383 words]IlluminatiJun 23, 2005 10:4722825
Moderation in Islam is flawed [257 words]Arvind MadhavanJun 23, 2005 10:4422824
Full agreement with Arvind Madhavan's comments [88 words]Daniel SchultzDec 30, 2005 10:2922824
1There is no solution [120 words]Dr. Richard TombackJun 23, 2005 10:2822823
The freedom epidemic in the mideast and Iran [320 words]Tom MartinJun 23, 2005 10:2022822
Homeopathic Remedy in Islam courts disaster [202 words]David SabghirJun 23, 2005 10:0922821
Thank you so much Dr Pipes [30 words]Neila Charchour HachichaJun 23, 2005 09:5122820
This is the kind of journalism that I like! [191 words]Octavio JohansonJun 23, 2005 08:1622818

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