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Posted on Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 4 p.m.

Where have all the good Muslims gone?

By Ahmed Chaudhry

On Friday, the headlines were flooded with reports of suspicious packages with explosive materials on cargo planes leading to mass inspections of cargo being shipped into the U.S. and United Kingdom. As this news broke, countless Muslims across the world had the same collective reaction that they had when the underwear bomber was caught in Detroit on Christmas Day of 2009 and the Times Square bomber was apprehended a few months ago: Please don’t let it be a Muslim.

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From left to right, mugshots of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab the underwear bomber, Richard Reid the shoe bomber, and Faisal Shahzad the Times Square bomber | photos courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_terrorism

ESPN.com

The verdict: the man who attempted to blow up his crotch was Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian-born Muslim, the man who attempted the failed car bombing of Times Square was Faisal Shahzad, a 30-year-old Pakistani born Muslim and that cargo came from the Muslim country of Yemen.

So good luck to all the Yemenis that have to field questions from their co-workers on Monday and answer on behalf of the entire Yemeni population. I went through it with the Pakistani Times Square bomber and I’m sure even a good number of Nigerians got the “so what’s the deal with this guy?” dialogue after last Christmas’ theatrics. In fact, when Faisal Shahzad accepted his life sentence, he told the judge “Brace yourselves, because the war with Muslims has just begun. Consider me the first droplet of the blood that will follow.” And again, countless Muslims thought to themselves, "Thanks for that last little sprinkle of gas in the fire."

These incidents rank amongst several others in which individual 18- to 30-year-old Muslim men give the rest of the group a bad name. Its like Jessica Simpson’s effect on intelligent blond women, like Senator Chris Dodd’s or Governor Charlie Crist’s effect on noble politicians, or Timothy McVeigh’s effect on young Catholic men. OK, maybe the last two are really weak examples.

Nonetheless, for moderate Muslims out there, the search for other moderate Muslims is on. That search is an easy one because they're everywhere so more specifically, a moderate Muslims that can make headlines and grab the national spotlight even for a little while. However, an 18- to 30-year-old moderate Muslim man would never make headlines because of the very nature of his moderation and its treatment by headline news.

I believe the last moderate and reasonable Muslim man to do this is still having his radical nature questioned. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf was by all accounts a moderate Muslim if there ever was one but from the second that the issue of Park 51 become a hot topic, the relentless media began to search for ties to Hamas and Al-Qaeda. When no connections could be found, a mass media in which fact-checking has become nearly obsolete twisted the information or made it up altogether. So the moderate and peaceful Muslim man became a radical supporter of terrorism and the Park 51 project was renamed the “Ground Zero Mosque” by the almost all news organization…and the media outlets increased their ratings.

It can all seem a bit overwhelming to think that millions upon millions of moderate Muslims around the world can try and spread messages of peace and understanding and, for the most part, not have one word of it heard by the larger global population. So last week when I was asked by a co-worker at lunch whether they (Muslims) want us all dead, I could only muster the response: “It sure seems that way doesn’t it?”

Ahmed Chaudhry was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and moved to the Michigan in 1994. As a recent graduate of Albion College, where he received a degree in biology and religious studies, he plans to pursue a career in public health.

Comments

ContreMilice

Sun, Nov 7, 2010 : 1:46 p.m.

I laud Ahmed Chaudhrys plea for peace and tolerance and share his desire that moderates such as he serve as the active conscience of their coreligionists. In this, I hope that the mainstream practitioners of Islam will create a permanent climate that will make it an abomination for the fanatics who in the name of Islam commit the most appalling crimes and that the moderates do all in their power to join all people of good will in ensuring that the extremists will pay a heavy price in the future for plotting and even worse, carrying out acts of violence against innocents. And it is the case that Moslems are the preponderant victims of extremist Islamist violence themselves, more so than any other religious or ethnic group so they certainly have a deep, vested interest in reforming or eliminating the fanatics. While applauding Mr. Chaudrys appeal for harmony and tolerance, I want to point out one aspect of his mainly moving guest column with which I must take exception, i.e., his defense of the Park 51 project. This enterprise is not a good one, neither for Moslems nor for anyone else. Heres why: Proposal for a mosque at site of 9/11 tragedy is nothing short of a fitna or making mischief. Was the above comment made by Islamaphobes, by racists, by bigots? Want to know? It was none other than the Muslim Canadian Congress! And whats more, they cite Quranic principles for challenging the very idea of a mosque so close to where so many innocents were brutally murdered by Islamist fanatics: The Quran commands us Muslims to, Be considerate when you debate with the People of the Booki.e., Jews and Christians [chapter 29, verse 46]. Building an exclusive place of worship for Muslims at the place where Muslims killed thousands of New Yorkers, is not being considerate or sensitive, it is undoubtedly an act of fitna The MCC challenges Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf about his claim that building the mosque will increase tolerance for Muslims when the evidence is the exact opposite. Do you not understand that building a mosque at Ground Zero is equivalent to permitting a Serbian Orthodox Church near the killing fields of Srebrenica where 6,000 Muslim men and boys were slaughtered? If Imam Rauf is serious about building bridges, then he could have dedicated space in this so-called community centre to a church and synagogue, but he did not. He could have proposed a memorial to the 9/11 dead with a denouncement of the doctrine of armed jihad, but he chose not to When we try to understand the reasoning behind building a mosque at the epicentre of the worst attack on the USA, we wonder why its proponents would not build a monument to those who died in the attack? New York currently boasts at least 30 mosques so its not as if there is pressing need to find space for worshippers, a letter sent by the Muslim Canadian Congress to Imam Faisal Rauf with the above comments concluded. http://www.muslimcanadiancongress.org/20100809.html =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This entire concept of building a mosque near Ground Zero is indeed a thoughtless oreven worsecalculated and pre-meditated provocation that is uncalled for and will have the totally opposite effect that its proponents claim for the project. When you plead for tolerance and understanding, please do it on behalf of people and causes that themselves are paradigms of consideration and compassion. The very idea of putting that building up in this location is an insensitive act of intolerance and a callous rubbing of salt into deep, painful wounds. Yes, indeed the proponents of the Park 51 mosque do have the legal right to build it there, but as the Muslim Canadian Congress declaration cited above states:...the mosque will remain a permanent sore point and a lightning rod for anti-Muslim feelings. For this reason alone not to mention the affront it is to the memories of the victims of Islamist mass murder and the permanent wound it will be to the survivors and victims family members, the project must be abandoned.

bedrog

Fri, Nov 5, 2010 : 1:39 p.m.

ahmed c.....ive read a number of your posts with enjoyment. i am an anthropologist ( retired prof) who worked extensively in pakistan ( baluchistan specifically,years ago...pre taliban/ pre al qaida/jundallah) and have frequently commented on this site re. matters of contemporary islamic extremism, with which neither of us is enamored evidently.. i hereby authorize the a2.com moderators to release to you my contact info should you wish to get in touch, (something i rarely do given my often acerbic wrangles with certain other posters on such matters)...but you seem like a reasonable and interesting guy.

demistify

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 1:41 p.m.

There are good people in this world and there are bad people, and the majority that fall in-between. Some ascribe the good deeds or the bad deeds to the imperatives of their religion (as they interpret it), others to secular ideologies. Individuals should be judged on their own merits, not by group identification (both for good and for bad). That applies to Muslims, it applies to Christians, and it applies to Jews (including the ones living in Israel). Laudably, Chaudhry confronts the existence of Muslim terrorists and deplores it. In contrast, a couple of posts here absurdly deny that the al Qaeda terrorists that brought down the World Trade Center did so because they believed it to be their duty as Muslims (Sure, many Muslims reject their interpretation of the religion, but don't pretend it did not happen). Chaudhry complains that terrorist acts make better headlines than expressions of moderation. He has a point, but he should admit that unequivocal condemnations of al Qaeda and Hamas by Muslims have been rare (probably more because of peer pressure and intimidation than conviction). We would all breathe easier if his honesty and integrity were more common.

bedrog

Thu, Nov 4, 2010 : 9:56 a.m.

I welcome this article. It took some courage to write given the treatment of muslim moderates by muslim extremists. And also it took courage since many thoughtful people...including juan williams... can justly raise precisely the kind of " suspicion" issues that appear on some of these posts ( and on mine on other threads). Commenters here who are helpful to neither the writer or the understanding of Islam in the current world include the kneejerk pollyannas who seem oblivious to current events and, even worse, the outright conspiracy theorists who deny obvious reality.

PeaceMaker

Wed, Nov 3, 2010 : 2:26 p.m.

@Rebbapragada: Wipikedia, Google, and on-line forums are the worst places to gain knowledge.Read for yourself and that too with an open mind. You will find more similarities in various religions than differences. Do not allow "religious cultures be it Judaism, Chritianity, Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism confuse you with the real messages. "No mirror ever became iron again; No bread ever became wheat; No ripened grape ever became sour fruit. Mature yourself and be secure from a change for the worse. Become the light."Rumi

robyn

Mon, Nov 1, 2010 : 9:30 a.m.

Perhaps the solution lies in WHO speaks for the moderate Muslim community. When anything happens that involves radical Muslims - we don't see moderate Muslims in the media addressing the issue of why people shouldn't confuse moderate Muslims with the radicals, instead we get white liberal political correctness pushers telling people that they are bigots if they look at ANY Muslim a bit differently after an attack or an attempted attack. Then comes the 'media Muslims' - those that are not really all that 'moderate' (normal) who secretly want Sharia Law instituted and have ties to radical Muslim groups. I can't help but think these people are NOT the 'norm' in the Muslim community. They aren't speaking the same language as the people I have come to know and like - who also just so happen to be Muslim. I see their kids at school - they are just like the other kids, I see the parents at school events - they are no different than any other parent there. That they are Muslim is NOT the first thing that jumps out at me. A conversation with them is not unlike the average conversation with any other person that is not a Muslim. But I don't see these people represented by the media. I can't imagine those that I have met and spoken with would WANT Sharia - let alone be grouped in and defined by what people see as the hardline Sharia, Jihad, fanatics... Yet the media doesn't really have these Muslims on TV to speak out against the violence perpetrated by the fanatics or the ill will those attacks cause toward the moderate Muslim community. To me - as a Christian - it would be like asking some knock off version of the Westboro Church to appear on TV to tell people that Christians are tolerant and good (yeah - right - that's totally believable NOT) and then having a bunch of non-Christian pundits arguing that everyone has to accept all Christians because if they don't - they're bigots. Not a real great representation of Christians is it? When 'normal' Christians see other self proclaimed "Christians" doing things that are NOT based upon the Christianity WE practice - we get loud and declare it wrong. An abomination of the word of God. The moderate Muslims need to get loud and make people hear them. Not the ponderings of non-Muslims that want to speak for them or 'protect them' - or the Muslims that are associated with radical groups that are pro-Sharia. If we don't really hear from the moderates - we assume that they agree with the people the media chooses to represent them. The moderates need to distance themselves from those people and send a very clear message that they are the majority and they are not represented by the voices that we keep hearing. But that's just my opinion.

M.

Mon, Nov 1, 2010 : 7:59 a.m.

I usually enjoy a lot of the posts the people here make and I'm surprised at how ignorant a lot of you are acting. People who use critical thinking before they parrot something they read in the news know that generalizing a group does not work. @Mike who said the data set points to all terrorist acts being committed by Muslims, you obviously miss the entire point of the article. The media coverage of extremist Muslims is very noticeable, but to actually believe they are committing all terrorist acts tells me you have a very narrow view of the rest of the world. I'm not sure if many of you realize there are many, many atrocities (TERRORIST ACTS) happening every day in other countries that are committed by other groups including Christians! And FYI, a moderate Muslim = a Muslim person who is not an extremist, and believes in civil discourse and humanity; a Muslim who can show the world that they can do good things, care about people, and work to erase the stereotype. I don't know how anyone here could expect "moderate Muslims" to somehow put a bridle on the extremists. In case you didn't know, the extremists consider Muslims assimilating with the West their enemy and target them as well. You cannot control violent people with reason.

PeaceMaker

Mon, Nov 1, 2010 : 7:04 a.m.

@nimbus123 perhaps you should have added this as well: "Back in the day, good Americans were in the majority, but it DID NOT MATTER, bcs the neocons were calling the shots."

nimbus123

Mon, Nov 1, 2010 : 12:50 a.m.

It does not matter that there are moderate muslims like Amed, or even that they may be in the majority. It DOES NOT MATTER. Bcs it is the violent orthodox ones who are calling the shots!! Back in the day, good Germans were in the majority, but it DID NOT MATTER, bcs the nazis were calling the shots. In the Soviet Union where they murdered millions and millions of their brethren under Stalin, most Russians were good, but it DID NOT MATTER, bcs the communists were calling the shots. The orthodox violent muslims are CALLING THE SHOTS. It doesn't matter that there are moderate muslims. Bcs obviously, they haven't been able/willing to put a muzzle on the violent ones.

Speechless

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 4:23 p.m.

"... A) the bible does not advocate the same separatism or violence and B) Christian religious leaders are not political leaders and it's anathema for a Christian religious leader to advocate violence...." What? That's historical whitewash. In earlier centuries, for example, popes condoned and/or presided over crusades and inquisitions. For a very long time, 'convert or die' was the usual order of the day. The Cathars, a "heretical" group in southern France were murdered in vast numbers under papal order, probably the largest organized genocide until the 20th century. in the mid-17th century, Cromwell sought to "cleanse" portions of Ireland of its Catholic population, and within a few years many had died. During the 19th century, as the Ottoman Empire gradually fell apart, Muslim populations remaining in the Balkans were subject to systemic persecution and murder. More recently, killings and genocide have been carried out in the name of Christian beliefs in Northern Ireland, the former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda. Too much in this discussion reminds me of this comment at the conclusion of an essay on the firing of NPR radio correspondent Juan Williams: "... anti-Muslim animus, now easily one of the most -- if not the single most -- pervasive, tolerated and dangerous forms of blatant bigotry in America." (from www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/10/21/williams/index.html — a recently featured external link on this site)

bunnyabbot

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 3:07 p.m.

well scarlet, I haven't read the Koran, but I do listen to Glenn Beck and you know, you must not, b/c in the last three years of listening to him I have never heard him say anything regarding the Koran in terms of suicide bombers, 72 virgins or the like. He talks more along the lines of diversity of faith and has never said one over the another is better, he also has callers/listerners who have identify themselves as Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs (sp), Jews and Christians as well as atheists and several religions I don't hear the name of frequently enough to repeat. So maybe you should try listening to him before you regurgitate whatever you've heard about what "he is saying" or do you believe everything of what someone else is saying about him?

AlphaAlpha

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 2:06 p.m.

"I have to agree with the other statements/questions, what is a moderate Muslim?"

michigan face

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 2 p.m.

Salaam, Shalom, Om, Peace, Bliss, Amen - Heavenly Mother, Father, Friend, Sister, Brother, Beloved All -Allah just means God in Arabic.

Scarlet

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 1:08 p.m.

Macabre, have you read the Qur'an? You said not to levy the ad-hominems until I'd read it. You didn't even spell it correctly in one of the two common forms it is written in English (Qur'an or Koran) and now you are claiming there are things in the Muslim holy book that aren't there. Where does the Qur'an mention anything about 72 virgins? It doesn't. Where does the Qur'an mention killing yourself is justified? It doesn't...in fact like the other monotheisms, its stance on suicide is clear: "And do not kill yourselves, surely God is most Merciful to you." (4:29) So have you read the Qur'an, or do you believe everything Glenn Beck tells you?

PeaceMaker

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 1:02 p.m.

I tend to "ignore" the "ignorant"! Whatever or however you may pose a question, it tends to take an "ignorant" turn when the "ignorant" start commenting on it. Whether it's a Jew,Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or any other faith, when one hurls accusatory remarks against the other the discussion becomes useless. I don't think any religion has made any progress especially when it is hijacked by the "ignorant". Wars have been fought in the name of religion by all faiths...no one is immune from it! The medias quest to feed their bottom line (the mighty $) only the idiots get face time on national and international media raising their ratings. So really the big question is why are the voices of reason subdued or never heard?

Macabre Sunset

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 12:13 p.m.

There's a difference between living in fear and pointing out that there are problems when a government is run by religious leaders who feel they are following a book, which, indeed, does support their positions. McVeigh actually had a lot in common with the 9/11 terrorists. The difference being there are far fewer McVeighs because A) the bible does not advocate the same separatism or violence and B) Christian religious leaders are not political leaders and it's anathema for a Christian religious leader to advocate violence. We like to think of people as all warm and fuzzy in general, with a few kooks here and there. The problem with that is that there are countries where religious hatred is taught from day one. They are being programmed to hate, and what we think of as terrorism is considered religious service (the whole 72 virgin thing we like to ridicule). It's in the Quoran, and it's being taught literally in many places around the world. By and large, we're not in any danger in the US. But what we do have to watch out for is religious leaders who start making that connection between book, politics and responsibility for action.

bunnyabbot

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 12:08 p.m.

I have to agree with the other statements/questions, what is a moderate Muslim? To me most people of world religions are "moderate". Even REALLY hard core religious people don't go around killing people or trying to disrupt daily life of other people, there are just a few whack jobs in every group out there. and also, what Mike said, most of the credible terroist activities of late have been committed by Muslims. North America, Europe, Asia, Africa etc, these activities have been claimed by specific terroist groups in the name of Allah or Religious War. Although it is a relatively small number of crazy (brainwashed? drug fueled? disinfranchised? delusionally sociopaths etc) commiting the crimes they can only be purged by their own communities (which most likely they have been and somehow fall prey to groups that exploit them and convince them things would be better if they blow their panties up) even the underwear bombers dad alerted on his sons odd behaviour. The death of another Muslim to them is just collateral damage. the problem is their are sleepers out there, living seemingly normal lives while waiting for a call to action, such as putting an explosive packed ink tonor cartridge on a plane. So really blame those Muslims for Muslim perceptions and not the other people around the water cooler at work. I also agree with what rulieg said

Ian

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 11:45 a.m.

Based on the comments I read, all of you have been deceived. It appears that people assume everything they have been told by the main stream media is true and merely regurgitate it. Did or didn't the MSMs lie about the WMDs in Iraq. If they can lie about that, don't you think they are lying about other things? Please don't be so naive. Think for yourself.

rulieg

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 11:28 a.m.

have you ever noticed that when someone brings up a Muslim terrorist the response is always "yeah, but what about Timothy McVeigh? should we be scared of all white Christians?" what a silly comparison. let's ignore the fact that McVeigh did not commit his terrorist act for his religion. I think he was an atheist but he was raised a Christian, at any rate so let's say he was a Christian. more to the point, Timothy McVeigh bombed the Oklahoma City building in 1995. that's 20 years ago, folks! in all that time since there has not been one other single terrorist act by a white Christian/atheist. on the other hand: 9/11/01 Muslim terrorists bomb WTC. 2009 Muslim underwear bomber at DTW. 2010 Muslim Fort Hood murderer. 2009 Little Rock AR military recruiters killed by Muslim extremist. 2010 Times Square bomber who said he was the "first drop of the blood that will follow." plus the USS Cole...Khobar Towers...World Trade Center #1 attack...the London Underground bombing...the Madrid bombing...the Bombay terrorists who killed orthodox Jews...and dozens in not hundreds more. all committed by radical Muslims as part of their jihad for their religion. there's really no comparison. I think what these comments show is that it's frustrating for us non-Muslims that so-called "moderate" Muslims do not speak up about this. it seems like this litany of Islamic radicalism is an inconvenient truth that moderate Muslims want to ignore. Muslim-Americans are Muslims, sure...but first they are Americans. that seems to be an uncomfortable position for many of them. why is that?

Walter

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 10:01 a.m.

The question should be, "Where have all the honest people gone?" Man's inhumanity to man is written large in all of our histories. We all know this to be true. The people who died in the terror attacks of 9/11 did not deserve to die. The many thousands of civilians that have died in Iraq and Afghanistan since then because of our counter action against the terrorists did not deserve to die either. This is why the word "Tragic" is in our vocabulary. Everyone has a right to self-defense but the means should justify the ends to be considered humane. A lot of good muslims have died along with the bad muslims because of the means used.

win

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 7:37 a.m.

@clownfish ignorance and fear win out over intelligence and compassion. I guess it just depends on which team you choose to be on. Seems like Macabre has made his choice. Hopefully we live in a world where smarter folks choose better.

clownfish

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 7:12 a.m.

MACABRE, what is it like to live in fear all of the time? Fear of a couple of hundred Muslims that hold radical beliefs, fear of liberals, fear of "the left", fear of your Commander in Chief. Do you know that a good portion of Muslims are Sufi and practice a quite peaceful time on this Earth? Did you know that FOX is partially owned by a Wahabist dictatorship? Are you asking them to moderate their message? Did you know that Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell made similar claims about 9/11, that the US DESERVED the attacks because of our sinful ways? Falwell said, "The ACLU has got to take a lot of blame for this. And I know I'll hear from them for this, but throwing God...successfully with the help of the federal court system...throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools, the abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked and when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad...I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who try to secularize America...I point the finger in their face and say you helped this happen." Robertson said, "I totally concur, Are you calling out his followers? Nobody from one of his churches came to my house and apologized. Why do expect that from Muslims? Did you call for any churches near Ground Zero to be closed because of the extreme views of these radicals? Are you aware of the scripture in the Bible that calls for us to kill non-believers by stoning, burning or other methods? Do you live in fear of your Christian brothers, as it is they that accounted for the majority of terrorist attacks in the USA from the late 70's until today? Do you live in fear of being struck by lightening, as that is far more likely than you being affected by a Muslim Terrorist attack? What have YOU done to reach out to Muslims? The Author took time to do what you wingers have been demanding, he is reaching out...what do you do? Accuse him of doing what you do everyday...WHINE. I consider you to be one of the biggest Whiners on this blogsite. Are you doing anything to help Muslims understand America, other than feed the flames by appearing frightful and ignorant in a public forum? In closing...BOO!

Jimmy McNulty

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 7:06 a.m.

Cash, McVeigh didn't act out on behalf of his religion.

Cash

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 4:08 a.m.

Macabre, "There are a billion Muslims in the world - and they are collectively responsible for letting the hundred million or so who support violence and terrorism act as the public face of Islam." Well, if you are a white Christian male, that would make you responsible for Tim McVeigh killing those innocent babies in Oklahoma City. Why didn't you stop him? Ridiculous.

Macabre Sunset

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 1:50 a.m.

Scarlet, until you've read the Quoran, you shouldn't levy the ad-hominems.

Scarlet

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 12:59 a.m.

Some pretty rough stuff being said here by people. I've read a lot of comments on other posts in the faith section complaining about where all the non-Christian writing is. I think its pretty clear, with reactions like these, why non-Christian writers might not want to share their thoughts with Ann Arbor. Macabre sunset...take a chill pill. Your comments make you sound more like a habitual whiner than anything else written by anyone else on this page.

Macabre Sunset

Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 12:35 a.m.

If it wasn't clear... quit whining about people criticizing the Muslim faith. There are a billion Muslims in the world - and they are collectively responsible for letting the hundred million or so who support violence and terrorism act as the public face of Islam. Unfortunately, you have a doctrine that emphasizes the need to separate yourselves from non-Muslims. No other popular faith commands you to act violently against those who don't share the faith. No other popular faith demands that you refuse to associate with those outside the faith. Yet that's in the Quoran and followed by a huge percentage of that billion. When you see yourself as a citizen of the World first, a citizen of the United States second and maybe a Muslim somewhere down the list, maybe you'll understand. Until then, quit whining about the criticism.

Ahmed Chaudhry

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 11:02 p.m.

So let me get this straight Macabre Sunset because I'm really trying to understand your point of view: stop whining...but my silence against these atrocities makes me a part of the problem? Which one should I do?

Macabre Sunset

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 10:34 p.m.

Oh, quit whining. Maybe if Muslims actually stood up against their radical brethren, this wouldn't be happening. But all I hear is that we deserve it because we believe Israel has a right to exist in peace. And that Van Gogh deserved death because he dared try and show what's really going on in Europe. And that the South Park guys deserve death because they dared mock the fear the radicals create. And that women unlucky enough to actually live in Muslim countries deserve to be stoned to death because they don't like following laws that prevent them from getting an education or even showing their faces in public. Your silence against these atrocities makes you part of the problem. Not us.

Mike

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 9:47 p.m.

While we cannot conclude that all Muslims are terrorists, there seems to be a growing data set that all recent terrorist acts are committed by Muslims.

Ian

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 9:22 p.m.

@win, "Those bastards who flew planes into the towers were not Muslims. They didn't dress in traditional religious attire and they certainly don't represent the beliefs and values of 1.5 BILLION Muslims around the world." You don't know how right you are. Youtube, "WTC 7." Truth will set you free.

win

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 9:06 p.m.

scary stuff being written and commented here. I'll keep it simple for the less educated among us. Your either a good Muslim or not a Muslim at all. Those bastards who flew planes into the towers were not Muslims. They didn't dress in traditional religious attire and they certainly don't represent the beliefs and values of 1.5 BILLION Muslims around the world. Much like Timothy McVeigh doesn't represent all white male Christians. You can live in fear and hate all you want, and you will miss out on great people and great experiences. I choose to respect individuals of all faiths and backgrounds. And yes, I do feel I am richer, smarter and better because of that attitude.

Ian

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 7:52 p.m.

I wonder why our State Department let Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab on the flight knowing that he did not have a passport and he was on the terror watch list? It is as if our government wanted him on the flight and helped him get on It.

AlphaAlpha

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 6:11 p.m.

What is a "moderate Muslim"?

rulieg

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 5:43 p.m.

yes, but--if Imam Rauf is your idea of a moderate, then I am worried all over again. he was indeed tied to some questionable groups, altho not directly to Hamas or Hezbollah. and it was Rauf who called it the "ground zero mosque" in the first place, and he who made the connection between 9/11 and the space. Rauf claimed to want to help increase tolerance and understanding specifically AT that site of terror. a noble idea, but he completely misread the American people's wishes, and he should have gracefully bowed out when that became obvious. the fact that he hasn't makes me wonder if he understands that tolerance goes both ways.

Maple

Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 4:58 p.m.

Thank you for this. It is SO FRUSTRATING to be in this position. The only thing that gives me comfort is knowing that other ethnic and religious groups have been through similar things in the past and we will surely come out of it okay, as they did. "However, an 18- to 30-year-old moderate Muslim man would never make headlines because of the very nature of his moderation and its treatment by headline news." Well, I think there are a few so-called "moderate" Muslims who are in the news a lot but the real problem is the definition of "moderate". Juan Williams' comment on Muslims was offensive to me not because he is afraid of Muslims on planes but because he defined "good Muslim" as one who does not wear "Muslim garb" or "identify... as a Muslim". "Moderate" has so far been used to apply to people who have a Muslim cultural background but who are not really practicing and "bad Muslim" has been freely applied to openly religious people. Which is crazy considering the fact that from all accounts the 9/11 hijackers were NOT very religious or observant and did NOT wear "Muslim garb". Incidentally, Shaq says he's making the Pilgrimage to Mecca this year...maybe the mainstream media can talk about that?