| Topic Name: |
No Bigotry please |
| Message Name: |
Wahabbism |
| Date Posted: |
11/20/2001 |
| In Reply To: |
I understand what you are saying. You believe that if we trust Muslims, then we open ourselves to the chance at being victimized in the same way the Nazis terrorized the world. You believe that despite their small size, a few terrorists could convince a Muslim majority to wreak havoc upon the world. However you have not taken a lot of factors into consideration.
1.) Prejudice against Jews already existed in Germany prior to Hitler's action. Hitler merely played upon the fears of Germans and exploited their existing prejudice against Jews.
2.) Hitler was an eloquent and educated speaker. Bin Laden may come from a wealthy family. However, most of Al Quaeda are not sophisticated people.
3.) The people who are drawn to Al Quada's wahabism are not educated Muslims. Their audience consists of poor and uneducated young men who was taught only the Koran as children. Most Muslims don't even consider Bin Laden as being Muslim.
4.) American Muslims were killed in the attacks as well. There is a deep resentment toward Bin Laden due to these deaths.
5.) The white German Christians made up the majority of the German population. The oppressed Jews made up the minority. Muslims make up the minority in America. If anyone has a chance of being oppressed it's Muslims. Suspicious Americans are already using American Muslims as scapegoats since Al Quaeda isn't ready to be found.
6.)Their beliefs are different. Bin Laden and Al Quaeda believe in a rare form of Islam called Wahabism. It's a very conservative and literal meaning of the Koran. Most Muslims don't follow this form of Islam. That is why Muslims find the notion preposterous when they are compared to Bin Laden. Therefore, Al Quaeda won't have an audience if they are tying to convert no-wahabist Muslims. However, the poor uneducated Muslims can fall prey to this.
7.) You mention that giving them the benefit of the doubt is harmful. Yet you never mentioned how being suspicious of them is helpful? How will being suspicious of them protect you from harm? Are you not aware that our government is working around the clock monitoring and investigating Muslims. Do you really believe that you can do a better job than our government of protecting yourself? Do you really think you will discover something about Muslims that slipped past our government, especially now after Sept. 11?
To me, I don't think there is any point in being suspicous of them and disrespecting them. I don't see any advantages in being suspicious of Muslims. On the other hand, I would hate to alienate some good people due to these unproven fears.
|
| Message: |
Whabbism is not just some "rare form of Islam". It's the official state religion of Saudi Arabia.
Does the average Muslim on the street view the "holy warrior" types as a bunch of idiots, or with respect and guilt for not being as religious as them? I think the answer for most Muslims is the latter.
One should at leas look at the Koran and see what it says before making uninformed opinions about Islam . I've done that, and I find the Koran to be disturbing text. Mostly it's about how Allah is great and those who follow him will be rewarded, while infidel will be punished. There are many passages endorsing violence against non-Muslims. I don't see where there is any benefit to this religion. GWB has to say it's a "religion of peace" for political reasons, I can say whatever I want and I don't in any way see it as a religion of peace. At best, I can say that a majority of Muslims aren't fanatic believers of it. But a pretty large minority are and we should be worried about that.
|
|
