The WaPo reports that a recent poll shows "a growing proportion of Americans are expressing unfavorable views of Islam, and a majority now say that Muslims are disproportionately prone to violence." The poll found that nearly half of Americans -- 46 percent -- have a negative view of Islam, seven percentage points higher than in the tense months after the Sept. 11, 2001. This shouldn’t surprise us, of course. You Americans are still looking for the moderates. Keep looking.
One of the reasons that 90% of Americans don’t hate Islam is because our President keeps assuring us that it is a religion of peace. Please, save us from the PC and cut to the chase--Islam was founded in violence and has remained a violent, backward, and foolish religion to this day. When America/the West has a leader who will stand up to Islam in this manner and define it for what it is, a few moderates may redefine the religion when it comes between that and extinction.
But I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that leader
I agree...the GOP has been playing "nice" on this issue. That perception won’t help us in the next two elections.
A moderate Muslim is one who has run out of ammunition.
Prof. Omar Altalib, who used to teach Sociology at Ashland University was a
"moderate". I wish I could hear imput from him, or find out where he is...
What happened to this Prof. Altalib? Did Ashland fire him, or did he move on to greener pastures? I would think a truly moderate Muslim would be a rare commodity at any university.
According to this link, it looks like Professor Altalib is fighting the good fight in his native land:
"Omar Altalib is taking on one of the most dangerous and daunting tasks one can imagine. With his Iraqi Institute for Law, Liberty, and Prosperity, he wants to bring freedom to his native country, which has so suffered under a heinous dictatorship.
Altalib’s family brought him to America when he was a young man, allowing him to experience freedom firsthand. He studied at George Mason University, and his work in the United States included a stint teaching at Ashland University in Ohio, where he assigned Ayn Rand’s For the New Intellectual as one of the class readings. Altalib sees Rand as a clear-thinking philosopher who is easy to understand and who offers valuable insights, especially into philosophy and the free-market economy necessary for personal liberty and economic prosperity.
Following the overthrow of the dictatorship in Iraq, Altalib believes the current violence in his country comes from three groups: criminals and thugs who were released from jails by Saddam Hussein before the war, ex-Baath Party members who wish to regain power, and foreign terrorists who can easily infiltrate the country. Altalib recognizes the risk that, as the price for peace, some otherwise peaceful Iraqis could acquiesce to a return to a strongman government or even some kind of regime dominated by religious fanatics. He therefore believes it is crucial to educate the people of his country about the virtues of a free, open society.
Altalib is bringing his considerable knowledge to the real-world task of creating a free Iraq. He maintains an office in Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., but spends much of his time in Iraq. Altalib thinks one thing that could help his country and the rest of the Middle East would be to have works by Ayn Rand translated into Arabic.
After murders of Olympic athletes, kidnappings of diplomats, hijackings of airplanes, killings, bombings of embassies, killings, bombings of military barracks, killings, bombings of tall buildings, bombings of naval ships, killings, bombings of tall buildings, killings, bombing of trains, killings, bombing of subways and busses, killings, bombings of restaurants, killings, bombings of hotels, killings, bombing of another hotel, killings and killings of Christian school girls and did I mention killings? all in the name of allah, all by muslims for the sake of islam, one might, just might mind you, become a little, just a little mind you, jaded against islam. That view is not improved upon by cair, other organizations and individuals holding muslims out to be the victims here.
There are, however a handful of Professor Altalibs out there. They are appostate...and I mean that in a good way. They will reform islam and bring it into the 21st century...or else.
It would appear that there are plenty of moderates in the United Arab Emirates. And the U.S. Congress has basically given them the finger.
Thanks AU grad...do we know each other? If so send me an [email protected]
Dr. Moser, send me your mailling address and I will send you a UAE Starbucks mug with a picture of myself there.
Folks, thanks so much for your kind comments! I am alive and well, living with my wife Nina in Reston, Virginia, outside of Washington, DC. After serving in Iraq in 2003-2004, I worked for SAIC in McLean, Virginia as a senior knowledge engineer from 2005 to 2006. The contract I was on was not renewed so I am now job hunting. Please feel free to call/text message me at your convenience. Sincerely, omar Cell:(703) 944-3567