NationStates Jolt Archive

Obviously every American has his own opinion, but I'm askin in general if Americans tend to blame 9/11 on Islam. This isn't a simple question as I see it. My personal opinion is that the religion of Islam isn't directly responsible for 9/11, but I think it's influence on much of the Muslim world made the extremism that leads to terrorism possible.

I think that most Muslims want only to live normal lives in peace, but that the history of Islam as told in the Ahadith has inspired some to become violent extremists and has encouraged others to remain isolated from other cultures and people. This leads to misunderstandings which make one vulnerable to recruitment by extremists. Still, I don't think that most Americans, especially in more multicultural parts of the nation, blame all Muslims for 9/11. I just think that most Americans are distrustfull of Muslims because they don't know who's an extremist and who's a normal guy.

I heard recently that the country with the highest muslim population is Fiji,yet they seem to have none of the problems with extremism that plagues iraq and other countries.

the way i see it this means that islam has almost nothing to do with all this extremism,no more than christianity would if some of its followers went on another crusade without the support of the pope.

I blame fundamentalism for 9/11

I heard recently that the country with the highest muslim population is Fiji,yet they seem to have none of the problems with extremism that plagues iraq and other countries.

the way i see it this means that islam has almost nothing to do with all this extremism,no more than christianity would if some of its followers went on another crusade without the support of the pope.

Same thing really. Terrorists are known as bad people and radicals, but the general thing is be weary of muslims as they associated with it, but not on the level it used to be. We know that people of all colors and backgrounds can be extremists and aren't even true 'Muslims' to begin with then.

I don't blame anyone but the people who did it. I think it is idiotic to blame an entire religion for what a few crazies decided to do. Similar to the people who hate all Christains because of Jerry Fallwell, noted that he isn't a terrorist, but he is a nutjob. I know many Muslims, none of them seem dangerous or particularly angry. Although I don't agree with them spiritually I really don't think that they (Muslims) are "out to get us"

I heard recently that the country with the highest muslim population is Fiji,yet they seem to have none of the problems with extremism that plagues iraq and other countries.

the way i see it this means that islam has almost nothing to do with all this extremism,no more than christianity would if some of its followers went on another crusade without the support of the pope.


Dont you mean Indonesia, where they have muslim extremist rebels?


At any rate, I dont blame arabs any more for 9/11 than I blame the french for the french resistance or the americans for kicking out the british.

In a democracy, the will of the people is the policy of the government. Culpability for american policy with regards to israel and the middle east is shared by the american public.

I heard recently that the country with the highest muslim population is Fiji,yet they seem to have none of the problems with extremism that plagues iraq and other countries.

the way i see it this means that islam has almost nothing to do with all this extremism,no more than christianity would if some of its followers went on another crusade without the support of the pope.
Indonesia was the most populous Muslim nation last I heard.

I disagree with you. If Christians, independant of the pope, used Christian tradition or the Christian bible to justify terrorism I'd say that the religion was indirectly involved with terrorism. Since "Christian identity" racists have in the past used the bible to support their terrorism I'd say that Christianity is indirectly responsible for their terrorism.

I blame Osama Bin Lauden and AlQueda for 9/11.

Dont you mean Indonesia, where they have muslim extremist rebels?


At any rate, I dont blame arabs any more for 9/11 than I blame the french for the french resistance or the americans for kicking out the british.

In a democracy, the will of the people is the policy of the government. Culpability for american policy with regards to israel and the middle east is shared by the american public.
Is culpability for Palestinian terrorism then shared by all the Muslim people who attend mosques where hatred of Jews is propagated?

The really, really, really out there right wingers do. I've lived among them (I spent two years on a far-far-far right wing board before I got banned (actually, a 3 year suspension) for making comments about this), and trust me, they can get really scary at times.

The really, really, really out their right wingers do. I've lived among them (I spent two years on a far-far-far right wing board before I got banned (actually, a 3 year suspension) for making comments about this), and trust me, they can get really scary at times.
Yeah, I've read Ann Coulter's thoughts on the subject.

Indonesia, being the largest muslim democracy in the world, has an extremest muslum party, however they only get around 5% of the vote. This says that most people of the islamic faith do not support extremism.

lots of these backwards ass rednecks I go to school with blame what they call "towel heads". it sickens me

Indonesia was the most populous Muslim nation last I heard.

I disagree with you. If Christians, independant of the pope, used Christian tradition or the Christian bible to justify terrorism I'd say that the religion was indirectly involved with terrorism. Since "Christian identity" racists have in the past used the bible to support their terrorism I'd say that Christianity is indirectly responsible for their terrorism.

Aren't all the Muslim Extremists claiming their holy text(forget the name) supports their Jihad?

and someone mentioned it it may very well be Indonesia,my source on this is a man who was giving a talk in our school about how not to get sucked into a cult.

Obviously every American has his own opinion, but I'm askin in general if Americans tend to blame 9/11 on Islam. This isn't a simple question as I see it. My personal opinion is that the religion of Islam isn't directly responsible for 9/11, but I think it's influence on much of the Muslim world made the extremism that leads to terrorism possible.

I think that most Muslims want only to live normal lives in peace, but that the history of Islam as told in the Ahadith has inspired some to become violent extremists and has encouraged others to remain isolated from other cultures and people. This leads to misunderstandings which make one vulnerable to recruitment by extremists. Still, I don't think that most Americans, especially in more multicultural parts of the nation, blame all Muslims for 9/11. I just think that most Americans are distrustfull of Muslims because they don't know who's an extremist and who's a normal guy. Historically, Islam has had a better record in certain fields (namely tolerance) than the Christian empires.
Ultimately they've amplified their grievances through twisting the Qu'ran, and most of them aren't like that.

Any Christian who persecutes Muslims for 9-11 and such is about as close to the teachings of Christ as the terrorists themselves are to Islam.

Ever heard about the Westboro Baptists? Owing to recent events such as protests at the funeral of a soldier killed in Iraq (they see it as God's punishment for our heathen nation - sound familiar?), I'd say they rank right next to Al-Qaeda.

There are some backwards uneducated Americans that blame all Muslims for 9/11. Of course they don't know that most muslims are'nt Arabs, think Afganastan is in the Middle East, and generally are'nt aware of the outside world. That said there are a lot of mis-educated Americans that hate christians too. Of course they don't know that most christians are'nt Caucasians, think Thomas Merton is a Baptist, and generally are'nt aware of the outside world.

Historically, Islam has had a better record in certain fields (namely tolerance) than the Christian empires.
Ultimately they've amplified their grievances through twisting the Qu'ran, and most of them aren't like that.
Granted in the 14th century Islam was much more tolerant than christianity, but that's not quite relevent to the discussion today. If judged by the standards of today Islamic laws in the old days would be seen as brutal and repressive. The extremists want to return to those laws from what I've seen.

Aren't all the Muslim Extremists claiming their holy text(forget the name) supports their Jihad?

and someone mentioned it it may very well be Indonesia,my source on this is a man who was giving a talk in our school about how not to get sucked into a cult.

That man should be checking his information before putting it out. Indonesia has the highest Muslim population in the world.

Granted in the 14th century Islam was much more tolerant than christianity, but that's not quite relevent to the discussion today. If judged by the standards of today Islamic laws in the old days would be seen as brutal and repressive. The extremists want to return to those laws from what I've seen. I realise that; the point I was making was that the fault does not lie with Islam. The fault is with the people… WHY they have the insane ideas I don't really know, but I believe in understanding terrorists' motives - "know thy enemy".

No, I do not.

Osama bin Laden is not a Muslim, everything he does and lives for violates the sacred writings in the Koran (lots of ways to spell that, I chose the easiest) but I can't help but notice that a lot of terrorist organizations seem to call themselves Muslims and claim to fighting to free the Muslims from the yolk of America, the West, Zionism or Russia, you take your pick.

Is Islam responsible? No, it isn't. Blaming a whole religion or persecuting individuals for acts committed by terrorists in its name is irrational, cruel, and reduces you to the level of any terrorist.


However, the Islamic world has failed repeatedly to fight terrorism, and in many cases (in the Middle East) turns a blind eye to it as leverage against the West; they also allow the perpetuation of corrupt dictatorships and monarchies that oppress the people and create this climate of hatred, poverty, and forced ignorance that allows terrorism to flourish. The Islamic world needs to fight for democracy in the Middle East, promote economic opportunity, and wholeheartedly condemn terrorism and fight it, and then they will both destroy the terrorist threat and remove any blame they recieve for failing to stop terror.

Osama isn't really all that different from a corrupt politician if you think about it.

That man should be checking his information before putting it out. Indonesia has the highest Muslim population in the world.


well that little fact had very little relevance to the talk he was giving,so he can be excused for it being wrong.

I blame 9/11 on Canada.
*dancers and choir come out*
"Times have changed,
Our kids are getting worse
They won't obey their parents,
They just want to fart and curse.
Should we blame the government,
or blame society,
or should we blame the images on tv?
No!
Blame Canada! Blame Canada!
With all their beady little eyes,
their flapping heads so full of lies
Blame Canada! Blame Canada!
We need to form a full assault, it's Canada's fault!
Don't blame me, for my son Stan, He saw the darn cartoon,
and now he's off to join the klan!>
And my boy eric once, had my picture on his shelf,
but now when I see him, he tells me to fuck myself>"
etc.
No, I really can't take an issue seriously, I know, but at least I admit it.

Aren't all the Muslim Extremists claiming their holy text(forget the name) supports their Jihad?

and someone mentioned it it may very well be Indonesia,my source on this is a man who was giving a talk in our school about how not to get sucked into a cult.

Fiji might have the highest percent of Muslims than any other country, maybe that is what he was getting at.

Look up jihadwatch on google, and you'll find dangerous ignorance and bigotry. Some people really DO blame Islam for 9/11.

Do I blame Islam for 9-11? Well the people that hijacked the airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were not Asian Buddhists, they were not African animists, they were not European Christians, they were Arabs who happened to be Muslims. Did their religious beliefs have any influence on what they did? Perhaps, but I will not blame the religion of Islam for what a few misguided members of the religion did. I won’t blame all Arabs for the same reason.

Why in the world would you blame CAnada , Blame Capitalism its ivade the way of life and make them pretty angry :sniper: :mp5: :gundge: :mad:

Look up jihadwatch on google, and you'll find dangerous ignorance and bigotry. Some people really DO blame Islam for 9/11.

Some people also think that the War on Terror is a modern day Crusade.

Why in the world would you blame CAnada , Blame Capitalism its ivade the way of life and make them pretty angry :sniper: :mp5: :gundge: :mad:
Let me buy you a ticket to "The Joke", population: you. I was being sarcastic. The song is from the South Park movie. They were joking about an issue too.
THE END. :fluffle:

Is culpability for Palestinian terrorism then shared by all the Muslim people who attend mosques where hatred of Jews is propagated?


Palestinians are the equivalent of the french resistance.

Israel is a democracy, its citizens are just as resposnible as its conscripted soldiers for what it does to the palestinians.

Palestinians are the equivalent of the french resistance.Israel is a democracy, its citizens are just as resposnible as its conscripted soldiers for what it does to the palestinians.

Yes, the French resistance blew up buses with bombs strapped to them, blew up restaurants filled with children, murdered people at nightclubs, and so on. The Palestinians fighting the army are a resistance, the ones who are murdering civilians are terrorists.

Obviously every American has his own opinion, but I'm askin in general if Americans tend to blame 9/11 on Islam. This isn't a simple question as I see it. My personal opinion is that the religion of Islam isn't directly responsible for 9/11, but I think it's influence on much of the Muslim world made the extremism that leads to terrorism possible.

I think that most Muslims want only to live normal lives in peace, but that the history of Islam as told in the Ahadith has inspired some to become violent extremists and has encouraged others to remain isolated from other cultures and people. This leads to misunderstandings which make one vulnerable to recruitment by extremists. Still, I don't think that most Americans, especially in more multicultural parts of the nation, blame all Muslims for 9/11. I just think that most Americans are distrustfull of Muslims because they don't know who's an extremist and who's a normal guy.

No. I do not blame Islam at all.

I blame Communism.

Obviously every American has his own opinion, but I'm askin in general if Americans tend to blame 9/11 on Islam. This isn't a simple question as I see it. My personal opinion is that the religion of Islam isn't directly responsible for 9/11, but I think it's influence on much of the Muslim world made the extremism that leads to terrorism possible.

I think that most Muslims want only to live normal lives in peace, but that the history of Islam as told in the Ahadith has inspired some to become violent extremists and has encouraged others to remain isolated from other cultures and people. This leads to misunderstandings which make one vulnerable to recruitment by extremists. Still, I don't think that most Americans, especially in more multicultural parts of the nation, blame all Muslims for 9/11. I just think that most Americans are distrustfull of Muslims because they don't know who's an extremist and who's a normal guy.

As an American or USIAN take your pick, I do not blame Islam for 9/11. I blame those Muslims that corrupted it to suit their own means.

There are some backwards uneducated Americans that blame all Muslims for 9/11. Of course they don't know that most muslims are'nt Arabs, think Afganastan is in the Middle East, and generally are'nt aware of the outside world. That said there are a lot of mis-educated Americans that hate christians too. Of course they don't know that most christians are'nt Caucasians, think Thomas Merton is a Baptist, and generally are'nt aware of the outside world.

.... you realize that Afganastan can be considered in the middle east because of its proximity to it right ?

here is a little geography lesson for you

http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/me.htm

but your right.. some people arn't aware of the outside world :|

Palestinians are the equivalent of the french resistance.

Israel is a democracy, its citizens are just as resposnible as its conscripted soldiers for what it does to the palestinians.
So the French resistance blew up busses full of working folks, shot people driving down the road, and sent snipers to kill ordinary people in their houses?

The Palestinians are definately not blameless, nor are the imams who encourage other Muslims to support groups like HAMAS, nor are the Muslims who actually do support HAMAS. Those people are engaging in a futile strategy that will only cost them lives, money and opportunity in the long run. The victims are not just Israelis, but average Muslims who want to live in peace and prosper.

No. I do not blame Islam at all.

I blame Communism.
Though the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan laid the groundwork for Al Quaeda, the ideology behind Al Quaeda and the people willing to carry out acts of terrorism already existed. Hassan Al-Banna was using similar justifications for terrorism well before the Soviet invasion.

No, I do not.

Osama bin Laden is not a Muslim, everything he does and lives for violates the sacred writings in the Koran (lots of ways to spell that, I chose the easiest) but I can't help but notice that a lot of terrorist organizations seem to call themselves Muslims and claim to fighting to free the Muslims from the yolk of America, the West, Zionism or Russia, you take your pick.

The problem is Osama and his followers claim to be Muslims. They claim there is justification in the Koran for what they are doing. They site chapter and verse to justify what they are doing. They embrace the Muslim religion and the world sees them as Muslims.

Moderate Muslims may disclaim the radicals but that doesn't change public opinion
.

Palestinians are the equivalent of the french resistance.

Israel is a democracy, its citizens are just as resposnible as its conscripted soldiers for what it does to the palestinians.

Palestine is today also a democracy... and terrorist groups either have direct ties or directly make up political groups (like Hamas) ... Do you then also the palestineas are so equally responsible for all those terrorist attacks killing innocent children ?

And concurrently... do you also think children are an acceptable target..e ven though they have not the right to vote for their representatives ?

I don't blame anyone but the people who did it. I think it is idiotic to blame an entire religion for what a few crazies decided to do. Similar to the people who hate all Christains because of Jerry Fallwell, noted that he isn't a terrorist, but he is a nutjob. I know many Muslims, none of them seem dangerous or particularly angry. Although I don't agree with them spiritually I really don't think that they (Muslims) are "out to get us"


I agree. It's just the same as one of my morals, "You can't punish a room full of people for a single person's mistake." Obviously, this was way more than a mistake, but it's also way more than a roomful (If I'm correct, there are (in the world) 1,200,000,000 (1.2 billion) Muslims in the world. The idea that people fear them and hate them, because of terrorism is infuriating. Islam teaches peace. For the life of me, I can't think of a single religion that doesn't. These terrorists are not Muslims. They are going about as far against their relion as is possible, short of nuking Mecca. Nor are they religious extremists, because their religion hates and fears them more than we do. These terrorists are not Muslims. If we start showing people that, and showing them that these are really anti-Islamic extremists, then maybe we can slow recruits. In the mean time, I just want to add that hating someone because of their religion, is seriously wrong. It's racism. I just want to make that known.

The problem is Osama and his followers claim to be Muslims. They claim there is justification in the Koran for what they are doing. They site chapter and verse to justify what they are doing. They embrace the Muslim religion and the world sees them as Muslims.

Moderate Muslims may disclaim the radicals but that doesn't change public opinion
.

the real problem is Islam is all relative... They have no formal leadership to define the bounds of the religion itself. Every government makes up another sect...has different laws for what is acceptable.... and some islamic groups transend nations themselves. Catholisim on the other hand uses the pope to define the boundries of the catholic religion... even though people outside those bounds CLAIM to be catholic.. they really arn't

Palestine is today also a democracy... and terrorist groups either have direct ties or directly make up political groups (like Hamas) ... Do you then also the palestineas are so equally responsible for all those terrorist attacks killing innocent children ?

And concurrently... do you also think children are an acceptable target..e ven though they have not the right to vote for their representatives ?


The only mode of viable resistance for the palestinians is that which they employ. They have no conventional military with which to fight the israelis. The illegal israeli occupation is the root of the conflict, the israelis are in the moral wrong.

Again, because israel is a democracy, its citizens are entirely culpable for its policy. They occupy the same position as soldiers on the spectrum of legitimate targets. When israelis vote for ariel sharon and his ilk, they offer their children willingly as sacrifices.

Some people also think that the War on Terror is a modern day Crusade. What? Crusade? Where? What religion? Against whom? Can I join up?

The only mode of viable resistance for the palestinians is that which they employ. They have no conventional military with which to fight the israelis. The illegal israeli occupation is the root of the conflict, the israelis are in the moral wrong.

Again, because israel is a democracy, its citizens are entirely culpable for its policy. They occupy the same position as soldiers on the spectrum of legitimate targets. When israelis vote for ariel sharon and his ilk, they offer their children willingly as sacrifices.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had no army, but he helped force a superpower to do the right thing. Lee Harvey Oswald didn't have an army but he managed to kill the president of the USA without killing a bunch of women and children. I don't accept your argument that the Palestinians are forced to kill regular people.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had no army, but he helped force a superpower to do the right thing. Lee Harvey Oswald didn't have an army but he managed to kill the president of the USA without killing a bunch of women and children. I don't accept your argument that the Palestinians are forced to kill regular people.


Neither martin luthur king nor lee harvey oswald lived under military occupation. Nor did gandhi to the extent that the palestinians do. They are confronted daily with one of the most powerful and modern militaries on earth, and only by making occupation intolerable to the israeli people, whose policy it is, can they free themselves.

Neither martin luthur king nor lee harvey oswald lived under military occupation. Nor did gandhi to the extent that the palestinians do. They are confronted daily with one of the most powerful and modern militaries on earth, and only by making occupation intolerable to the israeli people, whose policy it is, can they free themselves.
Bullshit. They can behave themselves like civilized human beings and remove all justification for Israeli punishment and reprisal. Then they would be able to bring incredible international pressure to bear against Israel, and would defeat every argument that Israeli hardliners make to appeal to Israeli security interests.

Osama isn't really all that different from a corrupt politician if you think about it.

I'd also say he isn't much different than TIMOTHY MCVEIGH. Islam was not the cause of 9/11. Extremism was the cause of 9/11. It could have just as easily been a nutjob group from Waco or Ruby Ridge or any of a dozen other radical anti-government, anti-US para-military(aka. terrorist) groups, right here in the USA.

I blame Osama Bin Lauden and AlQueda for 9/11.
me too

I'd also say he isn't much different than TIMOTHY MCVEIGH. Islam was not the cause of 9/11. Extremism was the cause of 9/11. It could have just as easily been a nutjob group from Waco or Ruby Ridge or any of a dozen other radical anti-government, anti-US para-military(aka. terrorist) groups, right here in the USA.
Thanks for bringing that up. This is why I'm sick of all this "war on terror" crap. I fully believe that our own politicians are using terror to consolidate and control the way Americans think and react. That's why you almost never hear about McVeigh and militias anymore. It's hard to get Americans to rally against Americans. But against outsiders who don't speak English, don't worship christ, don't dress the way we do, and -- never forget -- are somewhat swarthy (big assumption there, but, hey, we're Americans!) -- yeah, pull a couple of race and religion strings, and Americans jump like puppets. Result? The government gets to pass any bill it wants without question, the country is pulling itself apart socially, we're no more prepared for a terrorist attack than before 9/11, and extremism is the in-thing for every ideology, increasing the danger everywhere.

Except Fiji.

I blame the media blamers.

I don't blame it on Islam. Nobody I know blames it on Islam. They blame it on a few misguided individuals. I've got nothing against Islam- so what if a few hundred hate me a want me dead? Out of millions?

I blame Marilyn Manson because someone has to.

The problem is Osama and his followers claim to be Muslims. They claim there is justification in the Koran for what they are doing. They site chapter and verse to justify what they are doing. They embrace the Muslim religion and the world sees them as Muslims.

If the Koran is anything like the Bible then they could justify anything by siting verse after verse. Just like Nostradamus, the key to both books is their length and vagueness.

If the Koran is anything like the Bible then they could justify anything by siting verse after verse. Just like Nostradamus, the key to both books is their length and vagueness.The Bible and the Koran both contain the Old Testament, if I am not mistaken...

I blame the media blamers.

I blame the people that blame the media blamers.

The Bible and the Koran both contain the Old Testament, if I am not mistaken...

Not exactly. Qur'an contains some of the stories in Torah, told from a different point of view, but contains none of the Nevi'im or Kethuvim that make up the rest of Tanakh (old testament).

I blame the people that blame the media blamers.

D'oh! I knew it was somehow my fault. Damn.

D'oh! I knew it was somehow my fault. Damn.

Yes, Keru, everything is your fault. My unnatural flatulance is your fault!

Yes, Keru, everything is your fault. My unnatural flatulance is your fault!

So voodoo does work! Yes!

So voodoo does work! Yes!


Ouch! Dammit, Keru, never put your finger there again!

Ouch! Dammit, Keru, never put your finger there again!

Oh ... ummmm ... sorry ... how about here?

Oh ... ummmm ... sorry ... how about here?

Much better.... a little to the left...ahhhhhhh.

I blame fundamentalism for 9/11
Agreed.

No, I do not.

Osama bin Laden is not a Muslim, everything he does and lives for violates the sacred writings in the Koran (lots of ways to spell that, I chose the easiest) but I can't help but notice that a lot of terrorist organizations seem to call themselves Muslims and claim to fighting to free the Muslims from the yolk of America, the West, Zionism or Russia, you take your pick.

...Or India, or Serbians, or the Phillipines...

If you ask me it's a question of money. What's the one thing that correlated almost perfectly with the rise of Muslim Extremism? The tapping of the world's largest oil fields under Arabian sands in the 60's and 70's. That's when all the middle eastern terrorist crap started.

A large portition of the Muslim world is on a crusade right now to destroy the western world. Read of of thier newspapers, attend some of their "religious ceremonies"....today the religion has so much fervor that it is on par with the christians during the crusader area...there is no such thing as a moderate muslim anymore in the middle east. The ones that truely are moderate are intimidated to the point that they dont say a word about anything because they know what would happen if they spoke out. What i find funny about you westerners is you turn a totally blind eye to what is going on...it is like a virus that started some 30 years ago in Tehran and it continues to spread all the while you ignore it because its spreading slowly.

If any of you have time, watch on discovery tonight the sucide bomber: cult of death.

The Bible and the Koran both contain the Old Testament, if I am not mistaken...

You are mistaken. The Koran does not contain the Old Testament.

Dont you mean Indonesia, where they have muslim extremist rebels?


At any rate, I dont blame arabs any more for 9/11 than I blame the french for the french resistance or the americans for kicking out the british.

In a democracy, the will of the people is the policy of the government. Culpability for american policy with regards to israel and the middle east is shared by the american public.
Feel free to accept your share of that responsibilty... as soon as possible.

I noted someone say something to the effect that terrorists used Muslim scripture and religion to justify their acts. They certainly DID NOT. They do claim to use the Qu'ran to justify teir actions, but any Muslim scholar would tell you that the Qu'ran specifically forbids the actions terrorists have carried out. Terrorism is a political response of fear. The US has drastically changed the Arab world over the past century, and so we see many of the terrorist groups coming from that region. That explains why we don't see Indonesia as a threat, regardless of their burgeoning population of Muslims. Did you know that abut 100 years ago most of the Middle East lived under one ruler, and most were perfectly happy with that? Nationalism didn't spring up until the British decided to demarcate the Middle East into "nations."

Muslims as a whole, no.
Brainwashed extremists, yes.

Brainwashed extremists, yes.

Yeah ... but you must admit ... if it wasn't for brainwashed extremists, we'd have *nothing* to discuss on this forum. :D

Obviously every American has his own opinion, but I'm askin in general if Americans tend to blame 9/11 on Islam. This isn't a simple question as I see it. My personal opinion is that the religion of Islam isn't directly responsible for 9/11, but I think it's influence on much of the Muslim world made the extremism that leads to terrorism possible.

I think that most Muslims want only to live normal lives in peace, but that the history of Islam as told in the Ahadith has inspired some to become violent extremists and has encouraged others to remain isolated from other cultures and people. This leads to misunderstandings which make one vulnerable to recruitment by extremists. Still, I don't think that most Americans, especially in more multicultural parts of the nation, blame all Muslims for 9/11. I just think that most Americans are distrustfull of Muslims because they don't know who's an extremist and who's a normal guy.

As an American, I don't blame Islam. In fact, I'm willing to learn more about Islam. I have a lot of close friends who practice Islam. I've found that it has a lot of common roots in Christianity (I'm Roman Catholic) and Judaism. It's an interesting religion and definitely not one anyone should give up a chance to study. I just blame the people who carried out these acts.

I do find it oddly coincidental that Islam is a factor in most of the world's violent conflicts.

.... you realize that Afganastan can be considered in the middle east because of its proximity to it right ?

here is a little geography lesson for you

http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/me.htm

but your right.. some people arn't aware of the outside world :|

Don't need a geography lesson. But here's a reading lesson for you:
"they don't know that most muslims are'nt Arabs, think Afganastan is in the Middle East...."
I already knew that. Y'know technically Iranians are'nt arabs either. They're Persian.

The only mode of viable resistance for the palestinians is that which they employ. They have no conventional military with which to fight the israelis. The illegal israeli occupation is the root of the conflict, the israelis are in the moral wrong.

Again, because israel is a democracy, its citizens are entirely culpable for its policy. They occupy the same position as soldiers on the spectrum of legitimate targets. When israelis vote for ariel sharon and his ilk, they offer their children willingly as sacrifices.

That is hogwash.. pure and simple.. Why is it Gandi was able to drive out the British empire which occupied their nation through non-violent efforts.. but the only means open to the palestineans is terrorist tactics which targets civilians.

Palestine is a democracy so on your own line of thinking its citizens are equally culpable for the killings of innocent children who have no right to vote for their israeli leaders, or direct the foregin policy.

And how was it Palestine came to occupy Israeli.... an Illegal invasion from Palestine and its allies. Who is in the moral right again ?

Don't need a geography lesson. But here's a reading lesson for you:
"they don't know that most muslims are'nt Arabs, think Afganastan is in the Middle East...."
I already knew that. Y'know technically Iranians are'nt arabs either. They're Persian.

I fail to see your line of thinking.. as your comment stated "they" as in Americans.... "Think Afganastan is in the Middle East". But TECHNICALLY it IS in the middle east.. Im not disputing who is arab or not. But the Middle east is not only made up of Arab nations is it now...

The people who follow politics and all of that tend to be more logical about who they blame. The other half of the population blame Muslims just because they are Muslims.

A large portition of the Muslim world is on a crusade right now to destroy the western world. Read of of thier newspapers, attend some of their "religious ceremonies"....today the religion has so much fervor that it is on par with the christians during the crusader area...there is no such thing as a moderate muslim anymore in the middle east. The ones that truely are moderate are intimidated to the point that they dont say a word about anything because they know what would happen if they spoke out. What i find funny about you westerners is you turn a totally blind eye to what is going on...it is like a virus that started some 30 years ago in Tehran and it continues to spread all the while you ignore it because its spreading slowly.

If any of you have time, watch on discovery tonight the sucide bomber: cult of death.

Im rather interested to know what you think it is the Western World should do to address this muslim crusade you claim is being waged. Can you really sway the finatic by trying to help him ? surely he would only see this as an intrusion and defilement of his land. Can you ignore the fanatic and hope over time his influence will diminish? Meanwhile having to wage a defenseive war costing hundreds if not thousands of lives. If the western world truely saw the situation such as this, it would mean our very way of life were threatened, and if we so saw fit could very well purge ourselves of this problem. But not through means which some might hope to be.... humane...

I fail to see your line of thinking.. as your comment stated "they" as in Americans.... "Think Afganastan is in the Middle East". But TECHNICALLY it IS in the middle east.. Im not disputing who is arab or not. But the Middle east is not only made up of Arab nations is it now...

'They' did'nt refer to Americans so much as the sort of Americans that would blame Muslims. And I don't know where you bought your atlas but on mine Afganistan's in Asia. Hold on a sec I'll double check........Yep still there right above Pakistan. Is Pakistan in the Middle East in your atlas?

I blame isolationism in all forms for 9/11.

Cant blame one group of people for what a few tarts did.. Even though some rednecks blame Islam, I dont think we do.

'They' did'nt refer to Americans so much as the sort of Americans that would blame Muslims. And I don't know where you bought your atlas but on mine Afganistan's in Asia. Hold on a sec I'll double check........Yep still there right above Pakistan. Is Pakistan in the Middle East in your atlas?

Actually yes it is.. and i suggest you get yourself a new atlas rather then the outdated thing your looking at. Undefined regions like the "Middle East" which technically IS ASIA to begin with are formed by political and economic trend similiarties... Just as Russia MAY or MAYnot be considered a part of Europe at any given point of time throughout history

Welcome to the wonderful world of Political Science... :eek:

Your limited view of world realities only shows you as close minded as those "Americans" you scoff at

Here is yet another source for you to view...
http://www.mideastweb.org/maps.htm

Ignorants and powerwhores are to blame for any religious attacks.
Powerwhores use religion to make ignorants do things they usually wouldn't
if everyone would try to think logically, no one would blow himself up, because let's face it: blowing civilians up doesn't really encourage them to convert does it?
All it does is making people more and more upset.

gahh, why isn't everyone as smart as me? :D

Obviously every American has his own opinion, but I'm askin in general if Americans tend to blame 9/11 on Islam.

I don't know Drunk commies, do Americans blame Christians for the Oklahoma city bombing?

I would guess probably not. Same should be true of Islam.