Quote:
Originally posted by Hayashi:
Islam is one of the main stream, major religions in the world. I believe a sizeable proportion of the world's population are Muslims. But looking at the images and reading the news reports, the image of Islam that is being presented to the world audience is scary.
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I would urge you to remember that the picture painted by the media is not always (or ever, for that matter!) the true picture. The American media is famously and traditionally biased against Islam, always has been. If you want to know more about that, there are literally hundreds of websites on the subject, some most scholarly in tone. Go have a search....
The ‘war’ between Islam and the West has been all over our newspapers too, at least, the more popular mainstream papers. Likewise the television. Radio 4 coverage (the thinking person’s radio station) – is far less dramatic and scaremongery. The word ‘war’ sells papers. Pictures of buildings in flames, the inflation of every event to catastrophic proportions, it's all good for business.
If your papers and TV are not presenting the views of moderate Muslims, that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there in their hundreds of millions. It just means your papers are feeding an appetite for a certain point of view. Let’s not forget, their proprietors have their own political objectives/vested interests to serve.
The silent majority can only speak out when someone holds a television camera in front of their faces. If that doesn’t happen, you aren’t going to hear it or see it. As for the respected Islamic scholars, again, go to the web sites and see what you can find. The left wing Guardian newspaper in the UK has had several interviews with noted Islamic personages, to my certain knowedge. In fact, go to guardian.co.uk and do a search. You’ll find all kinds of different viewpoint pertaining to Sept 11th and post events.
Hope this helps!
PS. You are right about the Taliban brand of Islam not being that in general use. There are two main ‘flavours’ of Islam, I believe. One is the moderate form practiced by 90% of Muslims, the other flavour, practised by 10% is somewhat less moderate, although it is not extreme in the way the Taliban are. (Why are the Taliban the way they are? Interesting question. Go find out. No-one is born ‘evil’. You will find the American government played its part, which was not a small one. Mistakes were made, and now the consequences come home to roost.)
Also, Jihad, these days at least, refers more to the struggle within, the holy war with the ‘self’, rather than taking war to other countries. The terrorists want the West OUT of Islamic territory, - they do not give a flying ■■■■ about bringing Islam to America or the rest of the world, - at least, that is my understanding. There may be exceptions, of course. I don’t know them personally, so I can’t speak for them.)
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Most Ecstatic and Exotic Mistress of the Illuminati
[This message has been edited by Silver Cheetah (edited 10-11-2001).]