http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11212/1163874-109-0.stm?cmpid=newspanel

The above article is interesting... but ultimately incorrect and naive.

Since the despicable act of violence perpetrated in Norway, people are coming out of the woodwork to opine that Militant Islam is no threat to Europe, or for that matter, anywhere in the world.

Let's note that the 9/11 terrorism alone, which is but a small slice of the worldwide Militant Islam violence frenzy, CONDUCTED IN THE NAME OF THE ISLAMIC RELIGION (misguided or not) resulted in the deaths of more Europeans than the tragedy in Norway.

Do we have alot of non-Muslims wrecking havoc in the world today?  Absolutely.  However, the number of them who do their deeds in the name of Christianity (or for that matter, any non-Muslim religion) are extremely few and far between.  Islam stands unique in the modern world as the religion of choice for people who like to kill indiscriminately in the name of their religion, on all continents and in spectacular ways.

The dude in Norway?  Off with his head, I say.  But to use his violence to excuse away (or bury one's head in the sand in the face of) Islamic violence will ultimately result in more deaths than this jerk ever thought of causing.  Note that he did not do his deed in the name of Christianity or any other religion.  (Much like the guys in Oklahoma City, while ostensibly 'Christians', did not do their dirt in the name of their religion.).

Are most Muslims violent, blood-thirsty killers? Of course not. But we cannot use the Norway attacks as an excuse to ignore what is breeding in the Islamic world or a reason to not deal with it decisively.

Muslims are political underdogs.  If roles were reversed, Christians would prosecute terrorist attacks in the name of Christianity at far greater numbers.  When America kills people it's called "conflict" or "war," not terrorism.  Islam presents much for fiery rhetoric than, say, Buddhism, but Muslims could not garner such support for violence if so many of them didn't live in such great privations. 

As the article points out, the demographic shift in the long run might favor Muslims over Christians in Europe.  I'm not for it -- but that's like saying I'm not for an earthquake.  Not to cast negative aspersions on Islam, I'm just not in favor of political states identifying any religion over any other.  That's my liberal American prejudice in deference to freedom of religion. 

Why should it matter what they do it "in the name of"? 

the muslims have yet to figure out what the christians and jews figured out a while ago, which is, when you murder in the name of your religion, you're supposed to say it's about something else, and you're supposed to pretend it's regrettable and you didn't mean it and yadda yadda. but when you do the math, the richer religions (christianity and judaism) get more people killed commensurate with their greater resources. it's just that they talk a better game in terms of claiming they didn't mean to do it.

the muslims have yet to figure out what the christians and jews figured out a while ago, which is, when you murder in the name of your religion, you're supposed to say it's about something else, and you're supposed to pretend it's regrettable and you didn't mean it and yadda yadda. but when you do the math, the richer religions (christianity and judaism) get more people killed commensurate with their greater resources. it's just that they talk a better game in terms of claiming they didn't mean to do it.


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