I once heard an Muslim scholar say that Islam hasn't offered the world anything positive since the 15th century. I'm sure he wouldn't say that on TV, but it's interesting that there are Muslims other than Walid Shoebat who truly understand their people's failings. The catch is, even these people are mostly anti-Israel to a virulent degree. It's like anti-Semitism is a kind of fatal attraction for these people, much like militant facism seems to be for Germans, (most Germans will still tell you privately that there were a lot of good things about Hitler. I mean they tell me that when they know I'm Jewish and when they don't).

Obviously, non-Muslims can't fix this. We can start defending ourselves better and stop worrying about hurting peoples' feelings when we do, but that will only be putting out fires. The Muslim people themselves will have to address their backwardness, violent nature, and lack of hope for a future in the modern world. I don't see this happening, not when so many of them approve of suicide killing. I can't think of any other people who supported this kind of killing for so long. I know the Japanese had Kamikaze fighters, but this was something that only lasted a year or so at the end of WW II, and I don't think many Japanese civilians were aware of the practice in the way that Muslims are today about suicide Jihad.

Maybe after more of their cities lie in ruins, the world has moved on from oil, and the get one or two leaders who decide to build rather than destroy, things will change. I am 35 years old, I don't expect to see even one of these things occur in my lifetime.

Jake:

I first caught a glimmer of Jihad years and years ago when I did my very first TV series. I was doing research in Sing-Sing prison. I discovered that the most violent and crazy men in prison were converting to Islam--en masse.

BTW, Walid is no longer Muslim. He converted to Christianity.

You must realize that the same rules that apply for Christians and Jews do not apply to Muslims. It is very easy for a Christian/Jew to condemn, criticize/protest against his religion. But Muslims are not immune from the rath of other Muslims. Therefore, while we may be disgusted by the sight of our co-religionists making a mockery of us, we are unlikely to savagely kill them. Muslims, however, have a different modis oporendi - they easily slaughter their own.

Now, I'm not excusing their silence, not at all. But after seeing what is done to "collaborators" and keeping in mind their own dislike/hatred of Jews, it doesn't surprise me that there aren't many moderate Muslims willing to speak out.

Shayne:

Such was the case for Jews during the Roman occupation. The Zealots made quick work of many Jews who tried to reform from within and lumped them in with out-and-out collaborators.

My point is, it is something we Jews faced 2,000 years ago. Christians, while not completely finished killing each other, (see Northern Ireland), are also many centuries removed from "fixing" each other by the sword. The world needs to realize that as terribly racist as it sounds, looking at the Muslim people today is just like observing some tribe in the Amazon that's been isolated from the world for the past 10,000 years. They're that backward, no matter how many al Jazeeras they have or oil-rich Sultans with Bentleys.

Well......I can't prove you're not right about the lack of moderate Muslims. Perhaps all of them approve of what is going on, even if they aren't committed enough, or brave enough, to join in.

But, I can think of a less horrific reason for the silence of the majority of Muslims today....a really good reason they keep quiet about their (hypothetical) detestation of the violence and murder practiced in the name of their religion.

They're afraid, Robert. They've seen folks murdered for a wrong word. They've seen that even high-profile people like the author of The Satanic Verses (inciplient Alzheimer's here - I cannot remember his name) and Ayaan Kirsi Ali (sp) do not escape. They wish to live, they wish their families to live, and they haven't the means or the notoriety to make it to the U.S. where they might be safe.

What would I do in their place? Probably the same thing, if you must know the truth. One of the strongest urges is survival, and if the price is silence, most of us will pay it. That may not be as noble as you would like them to be, but I don't think it fair to demand it of them or assume that they are approving of what is going on.

Robert, I'm not commenting much but I'm watching this site closely. It keeps me informed and keeps me praying. I see my emotions swings as if they were on a bungee cord, from sympathy for those caught in this horror (Muslims not in accord with the terrorists and the desire to just see this end and peace to reign...silly huh?) to anger and resolve to stand with Israel. My heart is with Israel always, my fear causes me to waffle so I see the conundrum for the world. The lame stream media flog us with "oh the humanity!" pics and moral equivalence and keep us off kilter. Yet we know, evil will reign unless good men confront it. Back to prayer. Suz

Remember what Winston Churchill said:

“How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men. Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities - but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.”

—Sir Winston Churchill, from The River War, first edition, Vol. II, pages 248-50 (London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1899).

Quoted in Little Green Footballs

Mordechai

Bill O'Reilly (the O'Reilly factor) seems to tell it like it is, without the usual pc spin.

Thanks for linking. I've linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms.blogspot.com/2006/08/re-its-islam-stupid.html

We knew many Germans didn't agree with the Nazis but we held them culpable anyway for keeping quiet. I thought that was a recognized principle: "I was only following orders" is not an excuse.