I disagree Jeff. It most certainly is eminently rational to single out the Muslims for this type of behavior, in the context of this discussion. It would be irrational to ignore the relevant truth about the group being discussed for no reason save that it is not exclusively true of them. That something can also be said about people who feign Christianity or Judaism in no way lessens the truth of the statement about Muslims.

But, there is one fundamental difference. Christ NEVER told His followers to go out and kill those who reject Christianity. And if someone takes up arms in Christ's name he is directly violating the explicit teachings of Christ. Anyone who takes up arms in the name of Christ is anathema. But Muhammad DID tell his followers to take up arms and put to the sword all who reject Islam. And he did not do so in metaphoric terms which are open to interpretation. He did not do so in the limited context of a particular group in a particular place at a particular time. He was explicit, and he gave the dictate to all who follow his teachings, in all places and at all times. So today, when people try to insist that they are Muslim AND that they also believe in tolerance for all beliefs it is they themselves who are anathema to the explicit teachings and examples of Muhammad and the Koran. That you or I may think them the better person for it doesn't change that fact.

So what? Why should I or anyone else care? Because once you set aside the desire to be politically correct, and analyze the facts as they are known and observed, one is forced to conclude that there are fewer "peace loving" Muslims than you or they will admit. By intent or not, those peace-loving souls who feign Islam help the militants when they cloud the issue with their outrage over the so-called persecution of Muslims. They claim that it is a militant minority that is hi-jacking their peaceful religion. If this is true where is their collective outcry of outrage?

Some weeks after 9/11 a group of three Islamic men were traveling back to university in Miami. They stopped in a restaurant (in Georgia I believe) and thought it would be amusing to let the locals overhear them talking about blowing up the buildings at the University of Miami. The waitress, and some customers, heard the comments (as the men intended) and reported the matter. The three men were later stopped, detained and questioned while their car was searched. They were not arrested. They were not persecuted. In the end, the authorities determined that they had indeed intended only a prank, a joke if you will, and sent them on their way. For the next three days Muslim groups were crying out across this nation and on every network about how terribly Muslims were being treated in this country. This is the point here. When they wanted to, the Muslim community had no difficulty whatsoever finding their collective voice.

So why then, if the mainstream Muslim community really believes that these so-called minority militants are hi-jacking their religion, do we not hear their collective outcry? They have proven that they can make themselves heard when they want to, so I can reasonably conclude nothing, save that they do not wish to be heard. Their silence is thunderous.

Moreover, it is also telling to note when they do make themselves heard. Anytime they have the opportunity to demand tolerance of their religion, they are heard loudly. But the religion they demand tolerance for is without exception the most intolerant world religion ever known! No other religion was founded on the tenet of sword-tip evangelism. No other religion has ever called for the global extermination of those who reject it. These were Muhammad’s examples, and they are Muhammad’s teachings. This is the irrefutable history of Islam. Name one nation where Islam has gained controlling power without oppressing all other religions. It is telling that the so-called peace loving Muslims of contemporary western culture obfuscate these facts with cries of outrage and demands for tolerance at every opportunity.

There is one final fact that has gone unnoted. The so-called peace loving Muslims of western culture, the ones who claim that the militants are the fringe minority, are themselves the minority (if they indeed are as they claim). In the Islamic world, Muslims do not feign tolerance for other religions. This is why I would be imprisoned if I taught the Gospel of Christ in Tehran. This is why Muslims celebrate in the streets with the desecrated corpses of their victims. This is why they celebrated in the streets on 9/11. They feel no compulsion to feign tolerance. And these are the majority of Muslims, not the few who live and work in the western world. Why then, if they are so concerned with tolerance for others, do they not start by cleaning up their own house?

Recently a group of American soldiers humiliated and apparently tortured (for no good reason save their own amusement) a group of Iraqi prisoners. Not as an excuse, but note that the prisoners weren’t killed. I’ve found no one (myself included) who was not vocally outraged by this event. Moreover, the soldiers involved are currently on a b-line for prison and their commanding General is facing the untimely demise of his career. What happened to those who murdered, desecrated, mutilated and then celebrated in the streets with the corpses of those four Americans? Who in the Muslim world has turned them in? And while we’re on the subject of prisoners, what about those being held in Cuba? They are provided with an Imam, prayer times, Muslim worship services and they are even provided their Islamic dietary requirements. If I were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel of Christ in Tehran (apparently a far worse and more offensive crime to Muslims than murdering non-Muslim children) would I be provided a preacher and a Sunday morning service? Could I even get a cheeseburger to eat? These are the majority of Muslims. Not the few who live here in the western world.

And this brings me to you (and others of a like mind). Why do you ignore all of this. Why do you ignore over a thousand years of history? Why do you ignore the fact that Islam has been engaged in open warfare against us for decades? Do you believe that we will be safe if we just try to get along? Are you really that short sighted? Do you remember a few years ago we went into Bosnia, or maybe it was Serbia (I forget), to protect the Muslim population from being slaughtered by Slobodan Milosovic (sic)? Do you think the Christians in that country now enjoy a peaceful coexistence with their Muslim neighbors? No. Now the Christians are the ones being oppressed and killed. Do you think the Spanish are now safe for having capitulated to terrorism?

I for one will not ignore the facts. As a group, Muslims have been waging war against us for decades. Of course they’ve been waging war against whoever was most convenient since Muhammad walked the Earth. We’re just their current target. So do not be deceived, it has nothing to do with us being prosperous.