Rant: Global Jihad?

(By Jafira)

There is one thing that has been getting on my nerves since September 11th 2001. Before I continue, please understand that I listen to talk radio and frequent news sites, read the newspaper and what ever else it takes to keep informed in this increasingly ignorant world. So, baring in mind that I pay attention to the world around me, I cannot stand the fact that I cannot go one day without hearing from one source or another how Islam is going to destroy the world, or is a religion of hate and intolerance, or a threat to every free nation, and so on and so forth.

Let me make this clear! Every religion has it's group of extremists that cause their particular belief systems to look bad, and every religion has it's group of fundamentalist elite who dictate to the rest of the world what they believe their religion means and in so doing, silence the moderates among the systems believers.

Hinduism has many practitioners in power who still believe in, or try to follow a cast system which oppresses “the untouchables”, does that mean that all Hindus believe in that? No. That is just one example, Christian elitists try to dictate morality for their entire country, does that mean all Christians are theocratic zealots? No. If a group of Mormons are polygamists, does that mean that all Mormons are? No. If a group of Christian extremists blow up an abortion clinic does that mean all Christians will? No. If the Catholic pope declares that catholicism is the only true path to god does that mean that all his followers believe him? No. If a Jew goes to court because he is offended does that mean that all Jews are whiners? No, and if a Scientologist rips off your money by offering you membership into an exclusive cult, does that mean that all Scientologists are brainwashed crooks? Well, yes. Yes it does. But you get the point!

My point is, that there are many Muslim countries and not all are oppressive like Iran and Iraq, they do follow sharia law in some cases, but that is because their religion often doubles as there political system, and it's worked for hundreds of years so it is not our place to dictate their culture. As well, in regards to the Christian persecution that occurs in Muslim countries, the same goes for all the other countries where christianity is not dominant, the reason that Christians are persecuted in these countries is simply because Christianity would destroy their traditional cultures. Traditional Cultures which have existed for hundreds or thousands of years, of course the governments of these countries would strive to protect their cultures and disrupt any influences that may threaten their way of life.

Just because some Muslim countries want to destroy Israel and Zionism for taking land from them in the name of an opposing religion doesn't mean that all Muslims hate Israel! Just because some isolated groups of Muslim tribes hate America for invading their territories doesn't mean that all Muslims hate America, and just because some Muslims flew planes into some buildings and blew up a train does not mean that all Muslims want to. There are wackos in every religion, as well as every political ideology, every group, and so forth.

But to blame the entirety of a belief system for the actions of the extremist minority is wrong and simply another excuse to discriminate. You can't complain that Muslims want to convert the entire world to their belief system, because Christianity wants to do the same thing, only through other means, you can't call Islam a religion of peace because it isn't, but you can't call Christianity a religion of peace either! Want to debate that? I have a list of over a thousand religious acts of violence that occur in the KJV bible as well as many historical atrocities some as recent as the last decade.All religions and ideologies have their moderates and their extremists, and the second that you choose to focus on the actions of the extremists over the actions of the moderates you are judging discriminatingly.

Understand that Islam is one of the worlds largest and fastest growing religions, and to judge all of the millions of Muslims as a threat due to the actions of a small percentage, or the actions of an extremist government is simply proof that you are ignorant and intolerant of the world around you. By your act of hating any majority for the actions of a minority you are becoming no better then those you hate. You spiteful fools, you may not be hurting anyone, but by choosing to generalize entire cultures by the actions of the few you are only prolonging hate.

Furthermore, I would like to ask this, what is the logic of groups antagonizing Muslims by mocking their prophets then repeatedly showing the same mockery over and over again with full knowledge that they are inciting violence and anger? Then when the Muslims get angry and resort to violence, the same groups use the Muslims anger as proof that they are a hateful belief system?! What is the logic to that?! Why are people instigating them in the first place? The extremists are already angry and by instigating the entire religion the perpetrators are only making more extremists! What do you think would happen if an Islamic or Hindu organization repeatedly mocked Christ in such a manner? You don't think the Christian right would riot as well?

Anger is a human trait, not the fault of a belief system, Islam and global jihad are not a threat, discrimination and intolerance are a threat because they fuel the hatred of extremists. Understand that Islamic jihad is a joke, it's a Islamic minority. There are millions of Muslims in every country, if Islamic jihad were an actual threat we would have already lost! So don't tell me Muslims are a threat. However, Islamic jihad will become real, if you keep fearing, hating, antagonizing and attacking Muslims! Stop fueling the hate! Understand that I do not agree with many aspects of their political system, sharia law, their treatment of women, or many other Islamic policies. I think their primary prophet had many unrightous flaws, and I feel that it is a very distorted path to divinity. However to my understanding the Judaic law of the old testament was fairly strict as well and many strange and contradictory acts occured in the christian texts as well..

Whether or not I agree with their theocratic views, I feel that Muslims are a faithful people and I respect them immensely, understand that muslims pray to Allah several times a day, how many times a day do you pray to your creator? I envy Muslims for their spirituality and devotion, they pilgrimage annually, they work hard and have a traditional culture in our modern world. They may be backwards and violent in many ways when compared to our western society but they are still a diverse people and should be allowed to live their lives in peace, just as you too should be given peace, change by example, not by force. Abrahams God is God by any other name, and he has many, “A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet” forgive and forget, to each their own. Live and let live. Leave them be.

~Jafira Dragon