What should the world do about Islamic Extremism?

Question

I have no doubt that 90% of the replies will be the usual "Islam is a religion of peace" party line that everyone feels the need to spout off. It's not the people who think it's a peaceful religion that I'm worried about. It's the people who fly airliners into buildings, strap on suicide vests, murder children in schools in Beslan, and blow up people on trains. Also, before you start the anti-Christian/Jew mumbo jumbo, please know that I am an atheist. I'm not advocating a religion. It does, however, seem to me that while not all Muslims are terrorists, almost all terrorists are Muslim. I can see it now, ignoring my question and mentioning anomalies like Tim McVeigh or Hitler. I don't think those people were right either, but they are not the topic at hand. I'm particularly excited to read responses of the people who deny Islamic Extremism's existence. Should we stifle discussion before it starts? Can we please have a little intellectual honesty on this subject?

Answer 1

I am not a Muslim but a Hindu, who is born and bred in Malaysia, an Islamic country that is both modern and moderate, where Muslims, Christians, HIndus and Buddhists have co-existed in harmony for years.

I do think that you are making sweeping statements by saying all terrorists are Muslim. You seem to have forgotten the existence of the IRA, the Sikh terrorists and Hindu fundamentalists in India and even the ultra-Christian Ku Klux Klan? What about George Bush, who had the temerity to use the word "Crusade" when when referring to hunting down Bin Laden after 9-11?

Of course, I don't deny that the world is grappling with the problem of various groups of Muslims who seem to fighting their own versions of "jihad" everywhere. It would also be a mistake to call the Hezbollah Islamic terrorists because the Middle East problem lies rooted in political differences arising from the creation of Israel and the resultant people who were displaced.

In other parts of the world there seems to be a communality in the pockets of countries where Al-Qaeda seem to be thriving, and that is a lack of education and poverty. Look at Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia. The lunatic Bin Laden thrived here, and there are still millions of would be terrorists hiding out in these parts.

Most of my friends are Muslims, but educated and not poor. In Malaysia, Muslims and non-Muslims alike sit down together to despair over what the world is coming to.

Perhaps the answer lies in reforming Islam and bringing it into the modern day and age. There should be a broader definition of "jihad" . There should be a world council of learned Muslim clerics who should and could redefine and give broader interpretations of the Koran.

Once the core teachings of Islam is articulated clearly , then perhaps the alienated young Muslim men who are living in closeted communities in modern societies such as England, and other modern European countries will not be tempted to be guided by fundalmentalist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the like.

Answer 2

Islamic extremists are religious fanatics and they have one thing in mind: destroy the Great Satan (The United States).

(Note that I do not believe the U.S. is the Great Satan. I am a Disabled Veteran who proudly served.)

Religious fanatics are like rabid animals: they are not thinking clearly and don't give a damn about anyone, except how to kill more people thinking their idiotic, murderous, insane actions will make a super power change its policy worldwide. See the insanity?

I fear as long as Islam exists extremists will exist, and I do not see the end of terrorism in my lifetime.

It is unfortunate that we, all free nations who are allies with the U.S. and the U.S. itself, must take extreme actions to protect the innocent from the murderers.

There is not now nor has there ever been a religion that condones the senseless, merciless slaughter of innocent people, man, woman or child en mass. Islamic extremists are NOT Muslims. They are NOT the servants of their....their....Mohammed, or whatever they call him.

They are simply and nothing more than cowardly murderers. Even their leaders, their clerics, encourage the murder of innocent people, yet these so-called Holy men claim Islam is the religion of peace. These so-called clerics are exactly the same as gangsters like Al Capone.

I wonder what they think about themselves when in the privacy of their bedroom. Do they really think their "god" approves of their words?

Sadly, I see no way to rid the world of Islamic extremists, unless you rid the world of all Muslims, which is totally ridiculous.

All we can do is bite the bullet and become as extreme in protecting ourselves (meaning enough of the "bleeding heart liberal" s h * *) as the extremists are about killing the Great Satan.

I motto regarding the terrorists is -- "No Mercy."

Answer 3

Actually Hitler was very much influenced by Islam. But as you said that's not the point.

In this country we have a right to worship freely. Or at least we are supposed to be able to. There are many laws that exist that force Christians to alter our method of living. For example we must comply with IRS policies and federal election laws. Yet for some reason, our govt is afraid to pass any laws that would affect Muslims. There is a completely different set of rules for them. Right now, at Club Gitmo, ( the luxurious vacation resort for captured terrorist) our tax dollars are being spent to make sure these killers can practice their religion as accurately as possible. Meanwhile, Americans in our own prison systems are not allowed to participate in several prison ministries that are funded by Christians. Why are there two completely contradictory policies? Because we are bending over backward to show that we think Islam is a religion of peace. I would just like to see one country that is predominately Muslims, that does not want to kill Christians. There isn't one.

Answer 4

I have a similar stance to you - I only believe that religions are true *as metaphor.*

So anyway, I have two ideas...
1. Promote Sufism and supress Wahabism. Sufis are the whirling dervish types of Muslim. They're more into the spiritual aspect - ie dancing yourself dizzy can lead to a religious experience. Wahabis are like fundamentalist Christians - no spirit, all literal translations. Both groups are big on punishing others. But yeah, I'd much rather see less legalistic and dogmatic influences in Islam. It would be refreshing. Plus they need to get over the fact that Israel isn't going anywhere. It's called "getting over it."

2. I'm very concerned that the deeply anti-chivilric methods of terrorist violence, (hiding among civilians, attacking civilians randomly, suicide attacks, disrupting and distabilizing) only has one real solution - genocide. I'm very concerned that those fighting against Islamic Extremism will finally become so fustrated that they will become ok with the idea of mass murder. You have to consider the reality of just how restrained the US has been in the Middle East, respective to the destruction it could unleash.

Answer 5

Every religion does have people who goes far to the left, or to the right, even Buddhism, the most peaceful religion in all.
Somebody will do something to protect their belief when they feel their religion is violated somehow. Remember the guy (Rushie???) who wrote a book about Islam not in the acceptable words?
The more they are to the left/right, the more violent they would be either to themselves, or other. Hence the suicide bomber. As long as they are taught that way by their mentor(s), they are always extreme.

Answer 6

Let's see what is the only thing they understand. Death to Innocent people in the name of religion. Let the President finish what he promised after 9/11 with no limits. No asking permission of the UN. Let them know we will go to the ends of the earth to make sure they know that killing works both ways. Look at the way their leaders hid when it comes to them getting caught. Even the Iraq leader hid in a hole. It's great to preach to the youth of their country about killing for their god. Their young killers should really look at what their leaders are doing. the young are not the ones who are on the planes in the fight. Oh no their leaders are hiding in a cave or under ground.

Answer 7

About the same chance of reasoning with Muslims as there
was with the German Nazi's....
Seems like there we are running out of solutions other than
WW3 between the Western Civilized World and the world
of Islamic Barbarians...
Like the Nazi's, there are a few Muslims trying to distance themselves from their Islamofaschist brothers but they are too
few and are too quiet about it...
Can't really blame them for being quiet...
Their fanatical brothers will kill them..

Answer 8

Really Its up to those Muslims who are not terroristic...They are the only ones with the power to discredit and shame Osama and Fiends to cut off their power base.

All we Christians/Jews/Atheists/Westerners and other non-Muslims can do is kill off the bastards who keep trying to kill us...the problem with that approach is that there will always be at least one Islamist fiend out there who always escapes...like cockroaches you know.

Unless all of Islam (the ordinary Muslims...not the insincere and inutile governments and imams) finally tells the world who's side their really on...then the hate and suspicion of Islam will never end.

Answer 9

Islamic Extremism is like any other religious extremism. You only have to look at history. It comes about because people think they can exact change through force. It has some principles of utopia if only this happen or that happened. It is just like communisim. The good side of things is you only have to look at the millions of Islamic peoples which don't resort to it.

Answer 10

We need more International Aid to properly educate all the world's children. Religious extremism appears to be poverty and lack of good education related, where only religious groups provide the basic needs & schools for desperately poor communities.

We need all the non-extremists in all religions to unite in friendship to help suppress or make obsolete the radical element.