Yesterday there was a service at a local mosque in protest to the hearing in Washington on the radicalization of Muslims. A local rabbi attended and symbolically declared himself a Muslim in solidarity. Also yesterday, Rabbi Udi Fogel, his wife, two children and their new infant were stabbed to death by terrorists, as they slept in the West Bank settlement of Itamar. Candy and sweets were handed out in Gaza in celebration of the massacre. Tomorrow the family will be buried. Will a Muslim cleric symbolically declare himself a Jew?
Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteStand out question!
ReplyDeleteThe local rabbi is indeed a courageous and moral man. In the long run radical fundamentalist Islamic terrorism will only end when moderate Muslims prevent it. When Imams speak of peace and brotherhood, as contained in the Koran, the world will be a safer and better place.
ReplyDeleteThat being said I worry that demonizing Muslims, like the posting of a baby killed by Muslims on a local blog (I do however realize that "Molovinsky on Allentown" probably has few Muslim readers,) contributes in the long run to more terror.
There are over one billion Muslims world wide and 99 percent are peaceful and contributing members of their communities. The numbers alone gives cause for discretion.
Mike, great post.
ReplyDeleteGary, I agree completely with your first point on moderation. But I couldn't disagree more with your second, that calling out abhorrent behavior is a mistake.
Too often we don't call people out in the name of safety or civility, or in politics for fear of appearing weak. The only way to end abhorrent behavior is to confront it everywhere.
But you're right, moderate Muslims need to be the leader in this initiative for anything good to happen.
is discretion something like fear and intimidation? the israeli's don't have that option. although i have no doubt that most muslims are moderate, let me know when the imams speak out to encourage peace and brotherhood.
ReplyDeleteSome would exceptionally inclined to dispute the bogus 99% claim, especially when it comes to sympathy and support, moral or materiel.
ReplyDeleteCheck out recorded responses of contemporary attitudes in the Islamic world sometime.
Passing out candy is about right.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteToo many in the West believe that demonstrated tolerance and acquiescence will have the effect of having the same returned in kind by those who have demonstrated a hostility or hatred towards us. This kind of thinking is at best Pollyannaish and naïve. It is also dangerous. We must understand there is no misunderstanding here that can be bridged with an extended hand of friendship. The Western Democracies must understand the danger that confronts them. Simply put; religious fascist/extremists are coming to view our freedom and liberty as a threat to their way of life and goals of sharia Law. In short they will not tolerate any tolerance. They have demonstrated many times and at the cost of many lives that they are prepared to act on their beliefs. It is therefore simply prudent to investigate those who seek to recruit fellow Americans into such extremism.
Scott Armstrong
Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteBlaming one billion Muslims and Muslim clerics for terrorism is like the yahoos that blamed the Jews for killing Christ. Yes, those who supported the killing of Jesus were Jews. Yes, the priests of the Temple were complicit.
ReplyDeleteDo we blame Italians for the acts of the Mafia? Do we blame Irish Catholics and their priests for the IRA?
I certainly believe in confronting evil and calling out the evil doers as GWB would say. My only issue is making sure we call out the correct ones. Hezbollah, Hamas, and Al Qaida are to be condemed.
Hey Neville!
ReplyDeleteYou left out the Muslim Brotherhood...
...and many, many others.
How is that NASA outreach program working out for you?
I am not ready to condemn the Muslim Brotherhood yet, too soon to know.
ReplyDeleteNeville
Ah, Neville.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you haven't changed a bit!
Stay well, Friend, your unwavering faith and unsolicited willingness to speak out is desperately needed to help us continue with our most important Agenda item.
M. AHMADINEJAD
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ReplyDeleteI believe in appeasement. ...sorry MM for not showing proper respect.
ReplyDeleteNeville
the above post was me---I don't want anyone to think Idon't care.
ReplyDelete