The American Muslim Movement.

A local wrote in a smalltown newspaper: "It would be a simple matter for every Muslim in the nation to simply step out the door and begin shooting every non Muslim in sight." My point being, you can take concern over Muslim intentions a little too far.

And Farrakhan's version of Islam bears as much resemblence to the real thing as Bush's version of Christianity does.

I can speak with no authority at all on how much of that sort of discord and animosity might exist within Muslim communities in North America. Other than Farrakhan, I haven't bumped into any.

But it is certainly possible, even likely, that there is some. The strain of radical Islam which Usama represents is growing. But it may well be that extremism in other faith communities is growing too. George Bush does represent something new. And there is no shortage of extreme views in Israel.

And there surely is religious discord elsewhere in the world, though I don't have enough education in the history of these places to know whether that is growing or not.

It is possible, that as the world moves into a new set of circumstances with electronic technology and transportation advances, that we are in a period of turmoil that is a consequence of cultures intermingling and traditions placed at risk. We might predict, I think, that fundamentalisms will rear their head at such a time.

So, even if sofia's notion reflects something real, it is not that that faith is causal.

Farrakan, and moreso the local Muslim minister who was fomenting hatred, are guilty of hate speech, IMO.

I think sometimes we're so busy bending over backward to tolerate so-called minority religions/people/thoughts/ideas--we are glossing over things, which should at least be dealt with judiciously.

I am all for free speech, but what must the speaker at the KKK rally say to be deemed as 'hate speech'? Where do you draw the line?
I guess, maybe, suggesting murder.
Anyhoo, that sermon was a new experience for me. If a pastor at my church said something like that, I'd walk out. I hate to see a pulpit being used like that.

But, it happens. I'm sure, at some degree, in all religions.

I agree with hobitbob, that guy is probably not representive of Islam.

I have known some Muslims in the past on the boards and I have know a few in real life. They are ordinary people, usually hard working and polite.

Farrakhan is a joke. His "Nation of Islam" is associated with militant African American rhetoirc, not Islam. this is another of those timew when doing some small amount of research prior to posting would have been beneficial for you. Your first clue should have been that there is no such thing as a "Muslim minister."

To Blatham's comment--

I think you're probably right. The anger didn't start with the Muslim religion--as with the jailhouse conversions--a palpable anger and dissonance existed--but seemed to find a place in the Muslim religion.

The Islam preached by Farikan is not true Islam. Anyone familiar with the Autobiography of Malcolm X knows that what changed Malcolm for the good was when he came face to face with true Islam in a Muslim country.

Farrakhan's cult owes more to the southern charsimatic Christian tradition than to Islam.

Farrakan is referred to as Minister Farrakan all the time.

If you would resist personal insult, you and I wouldn't get so angry so often.

And, edgar, I am very familiar with Malcolm X's biography, but that doesn't change the thousands of American Muslims who think a word from Farrakan is like a word from Allah. He is very influential. That fact shouldn't be dismissed.

And, listen. If Farrakan was an anomaly, it wouldn't be worth bringing up.

He's not.

Just pointing out that his agenda is not in keeping with Middle East terrorists.

Not fussing.

nor I

Sofia, if you consider pointing out erros to be "insulting," perhaps you should lock all the doors, draw the shades, and never interact with anyone.

I'm not sure that the expressed qualm is about pointing out errors so much as the way it's done hb.

Indeed. The major clue that he has little to nothing to do with real Islam


whatever


But Farrakhan's influence is not among Muslims. In Baltimore, which has a high number of both Farrakhan's NOI loonies, and real Muslims, the two groups are barely on speaking terms, with the real Muslims spending a large amount of time explaining to the rank and file that Farrakhan isn;t one of them. I doubt he would even get along with OBL, since he would consider him to be "white."

The other major clue you should have had was when Farrakhan tore up the picture of Jesus. Muslims consider Jesus to be a prophet, and would no more tear up an image of him than they would of Abraham, Moses, or any of the others. Again, doing research before posting is usually beneficial.

It is true that Farrakhan is not a real Muslim. But, the dean of American Scholars concerning Islam, namely, Bernard Lewis, has written a prophetic essay- The Roots of Muslim Rage( found in Atlantic on line 1990) which states in part--

"Islam is one of the world's great religions which has produced fine civilizations. Islam, like other religions, when it influenced some of its followers to hatred and violence. Sometimes there is a surge of hatred that begins with hostility to actions and degenerates into a hostility to the United States as such, not only what is does but what it is and the principles and values that it practices and professes. These principles are values are seen as innately evil and those who promote and accept them are seen as the "Enemies of God".
In the classical Islamic view, to which many Muslims are beginning to return, the world and all mankind are divided into two: The House of Islam, where the Muslim law and faith prevail, and the rest, known as the House of Unbelief. Ultimately, the struggle of the fundamentalists is against two main trends- Secularism and Modernism."

I would suggest, Sofia, that you read Bernard Lewis for a balanced account of Islam. Lewis tells us that the radicals in Islam do not, by any means, represent the true Islam. For example, most Muslims agree that Suicide is a serious sin. However, the presence of the radical extremists is, as you well know, Sofia, causing great problems for the USA in Iraq.