Flossing a Dead Horse

Leslie Wier wrote:

I am content to leave most of the latter be because it is obvious that there is no swaying your ambivalance. At times I can see when that's an admirable trait, and at other times not so commendable, for I think that diplomacy is one of the best survival tools; however, that is not the issue.

TMB: It's an admirable trait when you agree with my stance, and not so commendable when you disagree with it. I think we've covered this extensively in previous installments.

I am writing you in response to your opinion concerning "the warlike nature of the Muslim culture." I am a European/American Muslim, a convert through familial relations, and you must imagine that I am rightfully defensive of my religion.

TMB: Converts to anything -- religion, latest health fad, trendy activist viewpoint -- are often too blinded by the newness of their conversion to see any negatives. If there were any negatives, why would you have converted?

If you knew a true Muslim, you would know that this assertion is unprecidented.

TMB: What is a "true" Muslim? One who subscribes to your view of Islam? To a secular Bosnian's view? To a fundamentalist Pakistani's view? It seems that your "true" Muslim -- one who is as fluffy, cute, harmless, and lovable as a bunny -- doesn't exist. Because no human, sans one with a mental deficiency, is that one-dimensional. You take the good with the bad.

You cannot attribute a culture to Islam only because so many different types of people are Muslims.

TMB: But if there is such a thing as a "true" Muslim, and Islam is an easily interpreted religion that perfectly governs every aspect of one's life, why could there not be an Islamic culture? If it's more than a religion, if it's a lifestyle, why wouldn't Muslims share certain common bonds?

Arabs are not the same as Egyptians,and they are different than Europeans and Indians. All Muslims have different cultures, thus a "warlike...Muslim culture" cannot exist.

TMB: Then, why does it appear that many Muslims are unable to accept that Judaism is not the same as Zionism? Jews from Buenos Aires to Dusseldorf to New York City are considered fair targets, even though there are a number of Jews who disagree with Israeli policies. Even if they didn't disagree with Israeli politics, they're still not Israelis, so why target them? If there's one trait that Muslims share, it's that every ill that befalls them is due to the Jews or Americans, and Americans are just pawns of the Jews, right?

If strictly adhered to -- something to which religions never should be -- a follower of Islam would embrace a warlike culture, and there are far too many Muslims who would like to see just that and far too few Muslims trying to fight against it. Islam encourages fear and stagnation.

And the relative newness of Islam is irrelevant. You don't see Mormons running rampant in the streets of NYC, smashing every cafe and tea bar they come across. Islam has had more than enough time to grow into a more palatable, secular belief system that improves the lives of its followers rather than restricts them.

It is the current inflexibility and lack of analysis that makes Islam so dangerous, and it's the defensive position that people, such as yourself, take when their beliefs are questioned that makes religion itself dangerous. Countries, the United States included, that weave specific religious mandates into national policies have a difficult time evolving.

Unfortunately, people like you are brainwashed by the media into believing that all followers of Islam are violent.

TMB: What media? Lebanese? Saudi Arabian? Pakistani? British? French? Spanish? Very few of my news sources are American in origin, but I'd hardly call American media overly biased against Muslims. (Turn off Fox News once in a while.)

If that were true, then I don't believe the members of my local Islamic community would make and serve dinner at the local homeless coalition every month.

TMB: They perform community service for the same reason all religious institutions do: to gain new followers. Why do you think they spend so much time helping those on the fringes of society? They're not stopping by Biff and Bipsy Fuckworth's McMansion in an attempt to steer them away from a meaninglesss capitalist existence. They're going after people who have a chip on their shoulder and have been pushed aside by mainstream society.

If that were true, I don't believe that we would warmly invite individuals of other faiths into our mosques during the month of Ramadan to share in breaking our fast.

TMB: Public relations. Do you think the people of other faiths are any more accepting of your beliefs than you are of theirs? It's a nice photo-op.

The same goes for many other Muslims across the world who promote peace through good deeds. If your assertion were true, do you believe that Arabs would be the most notorious throughout the world for their hospitality and generosity?

TMB: Notorious, indeed.

If it were true, do you think I would have Jewish friends?

TMB: And some of my best friends are black. Can you believe it? We're both so worldly. Let's go out for sushi sometime.

I admit, there are Muslims that exsit....fundamentalists, that abuse the religion, but that doesn't give any individual the right to say that followers of Islam are warlike. After all, who was it that fired the first shots in Iraq? Not the Muslims.

TMB: Well, technically Iraq. You know, what with invading Kuwait, killing dissidents, ignoring UN resolutions and starving civilians. George Bush is a cowboy and liar who is taking the country in a disastrous direction, but Saddam Hussein wasn't a bundle of cuddly-wuddlyness. And he was a Muslim! But that's right, true Muslims would never, ever hurt other Muslims. Or anyone else. Because true Muslims love peace and tolerance and puppies -- okay, maybe not puppies.

It is obvious you hold Pro-Israeli views, and I certainly won't attack you for that, I have no right to, for I am a firm believer in free speech, especially unprotected free speech.

TMB: Yeah, anyone who doesn't kiss the asses of Palestinians and proclaim them completely free of any complicity in their own suffering is clearly pro-Israeli. If it makes you feel any better, I think Israeli Jews of Russian descent are, by far, the scummiest, most dishonest people to walk the face of the earth. Never hire them to help you move.

But, "Even as Israeli tanks and military personnel invade the dank refugee camps they're forced to call home, they continue the struggle to form a land of their own," there wouldn't be refugee camps if it weren't for the Isralis. What about the Palestinians, whose homes were taken forcefully by the Isralis, who were forced into those refugee camps?

TMB: There wouldn't be refugee camps if Palestinian leaders in the 1940s didn't scare much of the population into leaving with the promise of one day returning and reclaiming every last parcel of land from the Jews. Palestinians need to accept that much of their fate lies in their own hands, and that for decades, they've been screwed over by their poor choice of leaders.

And without a land to call their own...what do they have left but do think that suicide will have an effect? You can't deny it hasn't.

TMB: Leaders of Palestinian terrorist groups target the young, disillusioned, and impressionable to carry out suicide bombings -- young people who, if the violence ended, could help form a viable society -- and you don't object to this exploitation?

Now, that's not to say I condone suicide, I am firmly against it, and so is Islam, but those people have nothing left to live for. What do you expect?

TMB: Peaceful resistance and insightful analysis of one's own shortcomings that not only earn the respect of the international community, but shame Israelis into implementing significant change?

And once, the notion of Jews and Muslims living peacefully together was a reality.

TMB: Hardly. Many of the Middle Eastern Jews who immigrated to Israel and the United States did so because the Muslim countries in which they lived collaborated with and supported the Nazi regime and after WWII ended, carried out pogroms against them. Granada was a long time ago.

I truely believe that both sides are to blame concerning the Israel/Palestine issue, but who is it truely that is forced to "struggle to maintain their way of life"? Suffering is not a pick and choose issue, both sides are forced to struggle.

TMB: Well, I'd say that it's the Israelis who are truly struggling to maintain their way of life because they've managed to build a life worth maintaining. Playing the part of victim only carries you so far, as Palestinians are finding. In the ensuing years of struggle, they could have put into place an infrastructure that would support a new state, but as it is, their lack of planning and reliance on terrorist organizations and regimes for support have pretty much doomed the success of an independent state. Which is to say, they'll fit right in with the rest of the region.

It's funny that you also believe Islam is an easy way out, that one is to "do what you're told, don't ask questions." because one of the most important aspects of Islam is to ask questions. Muslims are told to question, told to seek knowledge.

TMB: But not to question Islam, its holy text or the prophet Muhammed.

The Quran states that only two things are certain and are a result of destiny, the day you die and how much wealth you will gain in your life. Thus, your interpretation of "Allah's will", "With Islam, if it happens, Allah willed it. If Allah willed it, it's probably because you aren't following his rules. If you aren't following his rules, it's probably because you aren't praying hard enough for guidance, and if you aren't praying hard enough for guidance, it's probably because you're allowing in destructive outside influences, and if you're allowing in destructive outside influences, it's because Allah willed it, and if Allah willed it, it's not for you to understand why" is incorect because Islam also states that every person has free will.

TMB: And if you don't use that free will to follow Islam and the path that Allah has set for you, what's the point of having free will? You're living a false life. You can't win.

If they didn't, don't you think Allah would "will" for every person to be a Muslim, and by "will" I mean as you imply the connotation of the word "force"? Really, do you think you would have the discipline to willingly pray five times a day (because it is a choice afterall...if it weren't then every muslim would pray five times a day according to God's "will", which every Muslim doesn't), to never touch a drop of alcohol because of it's detrimental effects on your mentality?

TMB: Would you have the discipline to make choices independent of religious ideology? To do things because they're right, not because you've been told to do so? To engage in moderation instead of competely denying yourself some of the pleasures of life because you're afraid that you're too weak to stand on your own?

It's obvious you haven't read the Quran, haven't questioned or sought knowledge because the Quran provides logical and justifiable reasons for it's teachings.

TMB: Of course you'll say that because it's the kind of justification for your life that you've been seeking. Instead of being strong and attempting to explain life on your own terms, you've fallen back on an ancient text that's about as valid as any other written by man.

And, if you're going to point out the failures of a small percentage of people who coincidentaly belong to a religion, namely Islam in this case, why not also note that Timothy McVeigh was a Christian, or that a Jew planted bombs at Mosques housing innocent people all across the state of Florida?

TMB: McVeigh wasn't a Christian. He never claimed to love Jesus, and he didn't commit his act in the name of Christianity or God. For those who knew McVeigh, they say he was agnostic at best. He followed no religion. (PS: Neil Armstrong never converted to Islam. Don't believe everything that the Islamic media throw your way.)

This might throw a wrench in the cog of Muslim views of non-Muslim white people, but we're not all Christians. And if you believe the conspiracy theorists, McVeigh was working for Saddam Hussein, a Muslim, thus bringing everything full circle.

How often do you hear about Jews attacking Muslims? Or Christians? Or Hindus? Or Buddhists? Or any other religious group? They're too busy vacationing in Florida and ruling the world to bother with such petty acts. There are Jewish extremists, to be sure, but much like Christianity, the religion has been watered down over the years and it just doesn't inspire the kind of loyalty and hatred that Islam does.

Or, that there was a Mosque in the World Trade Center in addition to several thousand Muslims? Or that Catholics and Protestants mercilessly slaughtered each other in Ireland? Or that the Israli's occupy land in Syria that doesn't belong to them? That hundreds of Catholic priests sexually abused children? The list goes on.

TMB: You've proven that humans can be cruel, but what does any of it have to do with the religious fervor and extremism of Islam? The IRA doesn't build bombs because it thinks it's got the better religion. It's about home rule. Catholic priests don't molest in the name of God. They do it to get their rocks off. And Israel occupies Syria? Let's go with your tit-for-tat argument. Syria occupies Lebanon. Where's the outrage for your fellow Muslims?

You profess to be smart, to occupy a level of intelligence above most others. If this is true, then prove it by seeking knowledge instead of rooting yourself so deeply into a set of opinions. Be flexible, listen. That is the true exhibition of intelligence.

TMB: Which won't exhibit itself until I bow before Islam as the one, true way. You people need to get better arguments than "real intelligence is displayed only when you agree with me."

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