I am not sipping any koolaid. I'm making my own decisions based on everything I've taken in. Liberals might think that all Muslims are good people and there is nothing wrong with the religion - there is a problem with a small sect of the religion and that's it. It seems you believe that every Muslim is inheritly evil. I believe that there are serious flaws in their religion (however, it should be said I think all religions have serious flaws - Muslims' flaws just happens to be a tad more serious). These flaws can lead to possible harmfull acts against innocent people & perhaps Americans, but it is still within each member's decision whether they want to commit these acts or not. Gracious acts by others could lead them to see the other side and choose not to pursue wicked acts of terrorism. You can't kill an idea and you can't kill a religion - you can only kill the people and that won't solve the problem.
I do not believe every muslim is evil, I believe as you do that their religion is seriously flawed, they are practicing a relgion that hasn't evolved from biblical times, in a modern era. Gracious acts by others won't lead them anywhere. they can't make these decisions you speak of because they are literally "brain washed" from birth. You have no way of understanding this because you were exposed to other's of other religions all your life. They don't know any different and those that do "disappear" serious repercusions result from not following the letter of Islam's law. The reason for the up scaled hatred of the west and it's culture is a direct result of the world's technology effecting them. such things as eductation, sending their kids off to school. Indonesians working in the US. Being exposed to the truth in other countries, the world is a lot smaller place. they get bombarded by our "spill over" technology. To the oridinary Muslim this is great, yet it befuddles them, for they were taught it is evil. to the fundamentalist, extremist Muslim this kindles hatred for anything Western, and he channels this through his religion. it threatnens his culture, all he has ever known. he does not under stand why women should be respected, he thinks we are crazy for doing so. You cant give charitable contributions to change his mind. he just thinks you're crazy and weak for doing that. The only thing that will change his mind is EDUCATION. and we are doing that in Iraq, building schools, airports, roads, free markets. etc.....
I have question JSracing. What would be your solution to the problem of Islamic fascist? You seem to think they will hate us no matter what we do. I'm not sure of what you believe in terms of democracy in the Middle East. Do you think it can change their hatred over time? Do you think we should just drop a bomb on the entire Middle East and take them all out? I'm not being funny, I wouldn't have a problem with it - but it will never happen and it shouldn't happen. I must say I agree with CParso on this and it's not because I was brainwashed. If we were to do nothing it would only make our situation worse. I don't care if people like the U.S., I just don't want them to wish me dead and actually act on it. So if spreading freedom and money can help the problem I'm all for it, while killing all that have acted on their hatred. Now I'm not advocating giving out handouts to every Arab country. You have to draw a fine line between appeasement and being helpful.
The thing islamics hate most about America is how we try and Americanize everything. Bringing democracy to Iraq serves a purpose for us, but just makes Iraq a target for other countries in the Mid East. In my opinion, I would nuke the region. But since we can't do that... another idea to take the target off of our back would be FREEZE all middle eastern student visa's unil a regulatory commission can be installed to do deep background checks in coordination with MOSAD and other intelligence organization, and then IF a mid eastern student is given a visa to a university, he/she must check in every week with this regulatory program and if they get an inkling that the student may be consorting with fundamentalist... deportation and black listing in the US and Europe.
Like I said earlier, coming to America to learn in our great universities is a privelege to foreigners, not a right.
"Americana" is going to spill over to the Middle East whether we instill it there or not. Um, I don't see how not letting students that want to come here from the Mid East and learn our culture and accept our values is going to solve anything. Yes, we shouldn't allow every whack job with a oozie in, but we haven't exactly seen lots of terrorism around here since 9/11. Maybe the government is doing a better job than you'd like to admit Kteam.
You could have said that the day before September 11, 2001 also... doesn't mean they aren't there. And in fact, most terrorist travel country to country on student visas... so I feel taking a protectionist stance at this point, would be alot more beneficial then our internationalist policy.
No one said YOU were brainwashed. Their religion does the equivalent of brainwashing to them. We are doing all we can do in iraq. As TE pointed out, nation building takes time, refernce japan I posted the answer to your question... Education, educate them. that's it, and it takes time to change beliefs. Simply patching up their wounds and patting them on the back wont do it.
It makes it a target, but also a model. The Iranians already want democracy. I don't see how the people of Syria, Saudia Arabia, Libya can watch whats happening today and think how horrible democracy is. Pakistan could be a problem. It would be the easiest solution. It would solve the short-run problem, but be horrible in the near future. Good idea, but it would never pass the liberal PC test, but neither did Iraq. It still wouldn't stop the extreme hatred or the wish to kill Americans. It is a privilege to go to school here and I think anyone that doesn't believe that should be allowed to come here.
Gotcha. I actually just read your point about education before I saw this. I was directing it towards your first few posts about Muslims.
