It doesn't matter

[claire631]

It doesn't matter if you are Democrat, Republican, Libratarian, Christian, Jew, Muslim, whatever......they are coming to get you. They have declared Holy war on anyone who does not agree with their version of Islam and will willingly bomb us back to the dark ages.
All this political fighting that is going on....All throughout the world, is just fodder for the terrorists. Instead of pulling together to fight this terror. we are playing right into their hands.
Divided we are weak. They are few but they move around among us.

[Formerly FatLady]

Most Muslims do not feel this way - they view the terrorists and extremists in much the same way we view people who bomb abortion clinics and the Dividians of Waco TX. While we can understand the "underpinnings" of their beliefs, we are at a lost to figure out how they can justify their acts with those beliefs. Most people in the Arab world are as horrified as we are by both the abuse of prisoners and the beheading. They want this to be over just as badly as we do - maybe more so, because it is in their backyard.

[claire631]

I don't believe we are saying different things Former. I believe that most Muslims would want to live in peace. They are at risk to be used by these people too. They are thugs! (terrorists)

[Formerly FatLady]

All extremeists frighten me because of the potential to use the understood 'Underpinnings" to sway the judgement of those holding a less radical version of the same belief system.

[SavannahMan]

Most Muslims do not feel this way - they view the terrorists and extremists in much the same way we view people who bomb abortion clinics and the Dividians of Waco TX. While we can understand the "underpinnings" of their beliefs, we are at a lost to figure out how they can justify their acts with those beliefs. Most people in the Arab world are as horrified as we are by both the abuse of prisoners and the beheading. They want this to be over just as badly as we do - maybe more so, because it is in their backyard.
Most Arabs? Yeah you are probably right. But the number of people who support the bombing of abortion clinics and the Dividians might number in the hundreds? The number of Muslims who support this appears to number in the millions or tens of millions worldwide. While that still isnt "most" Muslims...it is certainly a pretty large number of them. While an analogy to abortion clinic bombers or the Waco folks might be correct, a comparison is not. I dont remember thousands of Christians dancing in the streets everytime an abortion clinic is bombed.

[Formerly FatLady]

Where is the info that millions or tens of millions of Arabs support this? I have seen nothing in their media, in chat rooms or IRL to suggest that mainstream Muslims support Osema's actions and certainly not the recent beheading. The are as horrified as we are by those incidents and the abuse of the prisoners.

To what incident(s) does the 'dancing in the streets' refer?

[Barb aka BC]

I think that SP may be referring to 9-11 when many Iraqis were shown on the news dancing in the streets. :(

[Formerly FatLady]

We see demonstrations that involve fairly large groups regularly in this country, yet polls show the marjority do not support their views. The most recent example were the demonstrations regarding same-sex marriage while polls show a substancial majority are opposed.

I'm quiet sure that there are a number Muslim extremists in the Arab region and eslewhere who do support the violence, but I have trouble believing that number is multiple millions. I feel there are far more conservative Muslims who feel the US should not be in their country and not have a say in who governs or how they are governed, but do not agree with the use of tactics such as the beheading to oust the US from their country.

As to the opinions of other countries - if it were only France and Germany, I would agree. Unfortunately, the majority of the world thinks the US invaded Iraq without just cause and has handled the entire war badly. Even in this country, 58% of the people are not happy with how this war is being handled (per CBS News Poll. May 11, 2004 http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm)

[Barb aka BC]

Well, you may be surprised considering the stand our PM took, but I think that the majority of Canadians (certainly in my circle of friends) agree that something had to be done in Iraq. Some may see the US as bullies but I think most don't. I do think that most want to see the US out before more soldiers die, though. :( I realize that some of you don't give a damn what Canada thinks, but some of you might. ;)

[Princess]

Whenever 9-11 happened and CNN or whatever TV station showed the Iraqi's dancing in the street, did you get the part that that video was an old one and was not shot for 9-11, the station apologized for this mistake. This really makes me so sad.

Savannahman, a true Muslim does not accept this behaviour, we are not dancing in the streets whenever a terrorist attacks the USA, or Beheads an American, or anything of the like. Any fellow Muslim that i have spoken to, has been horrified by the 9-11 attack.

Just believe what you want to believe, but it's just sad.

[Formerly FatLady]

Thanks for posting Princess. I ate at a Lebanese deli Sat night - I have eaten there for years and gotten to know the three brothers that own / run this place (and their sizeable families). It is also a gathering place for many local residents from that region and I have gotten to know several of them over the years. They are all horrified by all of the violence on both sides, afraid for the welfare of family still in the Middle East and think Osema is completely nuts. All say the same things you do about their Muslim faith. not supporting this.

Barb aka BC - I saw your comment about people agreeing that something needed to be done in Iraq. Could you explain what things that were going on in Iraq led you / your friends to feel something needed to be done?

[SavannahMan]

Whenever 9-11 happened and CNN or whatever TV station showed the Iraqi's dancing in the street, did you get the part that that video was an old one and was not shot for 9-11, the station apologized for this mistake. This really makes me so sad.

Savannahman, a true Muslim does not accept this behaviour, we are not dancing in the streets whenever a terrorist attacks the USA, or Beheads an American, or anything of the like. Any fellow Muslim that i have spoken to, has been horrified by the 9-11 attack.

Just believe what you want to believe, but it's just sad.
I agree that it is sad, and I am not about to debate what is a true Muslim and what isnt. The facts that I see though is that a large number of Muslims DO support these acts against the US. A recent poll in the UK revealed that 13% of Muslims there thought the 9/11 attacks were "justified". I would imagine that the percentage would be signifigantly higher in other Islamic countries...but even if it werent more than 13% (1 in 8) that would translate to millions upon millions of Muslims worldwide who believe the same way.

My only problem with Muslims who seem this terrorism for what it is, is that they (specifically their governments) have not taken steps to root out this evil. They HAVE accepted this behavior.

Again I dont think that the majority of Muslims worldwide think this terror is acceptable. None of the Muslims that I know here think it is acceptable, but the fact remains that in countries like Syria, Iran, Pakistan, and others there are many ~ millions in fact ~ who do think this is acceptable.

[Barb aka BC]

I'm sorry Renee. Bad choice of words on my part. I mean to say that something had to be done in answer to 9-11. I'm not sure what that should have been, but this bloody war hasn't been much of an answer to the families of the lost, has it? That said, I mean to say that since the US was going in, there was a general feeling among at least the people I know (keep in mind I was a base brat and am now a military wife) that we ought to be along side you all in whatever capacity we could manage.

[Princess]

I agree that it is sad, and I am not about to debate what is a true Muslim and what isnt. The facts that I see though is that a large number of Muslims DO support these acts against the US. A recent poll in the UK revealed that 13% of Muslims there thought the 9/11 attacks were "justified". I would imagine that the percentage would be signifigantly higher in other Islamic countries...but even if it werent more than 13% (1 in 8) that would translate to millions upon millions of Muslims worldwide who believe the same way.
Savannah, there are Millions and Billions (not sure of the exact number :p ) of Muslims in the world. The fact of the matter is, if they support this, they are not a TRUE Muslim, making them Not a Muslim. Any religiion that believes in God, in my opinion can not accept this behaviour. I also agree that we shouldn't debate what a true Muslim is.

My only problem with Muslims who seem this terrorism for what it is, is that they (specifically their governments) have not taken steps to root out this evil. They HAVE accepted this behavior.
I will say on this note that the Islamic and Arab Governments are terrible at standing up for their rights and helping one another out. I don't even want to get started on how I feel about this, but it makes me so angry (not at you, but at the governments)

Again I dont think that the majority of Muslims worldwide think this terror is acceptable. None of the Muslims that I know here think it is acceptable, but the fact remains that in countries like Syria, Iran, Pakistan, and others there are many ~ millions in fact ~ who do think this is acceptable.
I think that the Muslims in the USA probably find this unacceptable more than overseas because of the circumstances over there. Does that make sense?

Anyways, thank you for taking the time to reply to this. It is just a bit personal for me, and I respect everyones opinion.