We as Americans have been a bit sheltered; living on day by day in our normal routine. Once terror cells here in the US have been activated, I suspect that all will change. They are already here, but they lie in wait. There has been an estimated 20 – 50,000 non-Mexican immigrants crossing the Texas border every year for the past 10 years. Ranchers in the south have reported that many appeared to be middle eastern crossing as if they were Mexican illegals. We talk a lot and point a lot of fingers when it comes to funding terrorists; but we are all funding terrorism when we pull up to the gas pumps. Who do we think is making all the money in foreign oil?

We are all stuck in the catch 22 of all times. We cannot stay in Iraq, but we cannot leave. We cannot do anything in Iran because we are spread so thin, but we really need to do something there. It is apparent Iran my already have a nuclear device, which they may have recieved through Soviet channels.

And I will not even go into the problems arising out of North Korea. In all this I keep a close eye on the world, seeking those so called signs of the times, and I am sure many of you can see where the world is heading. I will do as Christ taught, follow the road less traveled and do unto others as I would have them do unto me. I find balance in the middle.

You forgot to bring up the Crusades. lol! Try living in the here and now. How many people were beheaded by Christians or any other religion besides islam the past few years?

The crusades was part of that statement. Have they beheaded…maybe not, blown people up, kidnapped people, assasinations…SURE HAVE. So have several terrorist groups.

Right. That’s why the majority of terrorists are muslims.

This is the current list from the state dept on Foriegn Terrorist Organizations. http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm This means they were designated within the LAST TWO YEARS. This doesn’t account for any before that. There are a lot of Islamic groups on there, but there are also a lot that aren’t. Do you believe that any of these groups accuraltely depicts the culture/religion that they claim to be fighting for?? Hardly at best.

Islam treats women worse than chattel. And there have been many reports of “honor killings.” Jordan has a big problem with them, as does Pakistan. They have occurred in Italy, the Scandinavian countries and the UK. I suspect in most muslim countries it isn’t even treated as a crime.

If you truly believe that they don’t appreciate their women, go to a Muslim country and disrespect one of their wives, see what happens to you. Have you even been to Muslim country??? As for Honor Killings, it states in your own link above (to Wikapedia) that the estimates are about 5,000 per year. Do you know the current estimates on the Muslim population??? Try 1.3 BILLION. http://waytoislam.jeeran.com/islamstats.htm
Hardly an epidemic or a widespread problem that could be used to label an ENTIRE culture. As for laws in THEIR countries, I don’t know so I won’t “suspect” anything.

Try opening up your eyes instead of becoming an apologist.

Is that necessary? To assume I am an apologist? I don’t support terrorism, I’m not a Muslim, I don’t defend their beliefs and I sure don’t push any belief on anyone. I threw in my two cents to have an educated debate with someone who is obviously interested, to some degree, in the subject. If your only posting to bash or degrade a group of people then I won’t bother you. You aren’t worth my time IF thats the case.

Robbie:

From it’s inception, Islam has been a religion of violence and intolerance against non-believers.

Weren’t most religions violent against non-believers of their religion? I think so, it brought on crusades and all that non-sense.

Do the majority of Muslims engage in terrorist acts? No, of course not. Do the majority of Muslims believe these terrorist acts to be righteous and permitted acts against evil infidels in accordance with the teachings of their prophet and the words of their holy book?

I believe so.

I disagree but there is really no way to prove either way. I can’t imagine there are any real statistics on that. If you happen to find some that’d be interesting.

Hope you both are having a great day.

SSG
USA

My whole point, and what I have been pointing out for a very long time, is that these “extremists” are not the minority in Islam. From it’s inception, Islam has been a religion of violence and intolerance against non-believers.

Do the majority of Muslims engage in terrorist acts? No, of course not. Do the majority of Muslims believe these terrorist acts to be righteous and permitted acts against evil infidels in accordance with the teachings of their prophet and the words of their holy book?

I believe so.

A death cult? Really?

Yeah, really.

How many lives were taken by Christians, Catholics and Jews throughout time…and don’t forget it was to convert “the heathens of the world.”

You forgot to bring up the Crusades. lol! Try living in the here and now. How many people were beheaded by Christians or any other religion besides islam the past few years?

In general, muslims are as peaceful as everybody else.

Right. That’s why the majority of terrorists are muslims.

Women are not viewed as less of a person than a man. They are viewed as precious and worth dying for.

Islam treats women worse than chattel. And there have been many reports of “honor killings.” Jordan has a big problem with them, as does Pakistan. They have occurred in Italy, the Scandinavian countries and the UK. I suspect in most muslim countries it isn’t even treated as a crime.

It seems you like to do research, try doing some with an open mind and try not to brand an entire culture based on the minority extremists.

We have. The culture sucks. Try opening up your eyes instead of becoming an apologist.

A death cult? Really? Islam is not anymore a deathcult than many of the other major religions in the world. How many lives were taken by Christians, Catholics and Jews throughout time…and don’t forget it was to convert “the heathens of the world.” In general, muslims are as peaceful as everybody else. Its extremist, in any religion, that are dangerous to civilization. I wouldn’t brand an entire religous group as a death cult based on the extreme minority of extremist that are in the news today.

“I read stories of how you subjugate your women, and how “honor killings” are an accepted and encouraged practice to “keep your women in line”. ”

These are probably the most missunderstood practices of the Muslim religion, including by myself until I took the time to learn about it. Women are not viewed as less of a person than a man. They are viewed as precious and worth dying for. The practices often criticized, such as walking behind the man, covering themselves to varying degrees etc, are ways of showing respect (VERY important in Islamic culture) to the man. In turn the man does other things to show his admoration and respect for the woman. Do Honor Killings still happen, yes. Do Christians/Catholics/etc commit murder, yes. Honor Killings are not as widespread as the western world might believe. As Americans, we tend to focus on a “news story of the day” and believe that one story encompasses the entire religion/country/culture. It is just not that way.

It seems you like to do research, try doing some with an open mind and try not to brand an entire culture based on the minority extremists.