Originally Posted by
Fengxian1
That is one of the most foolish things I have heard, quite honestly. I wonder if the books you read on Islam have not come from Milosevic's Serbia or Southern Nigeria.
The entire system of Islam, as it was practiced after the Prophet (pbuh) died is based on the election of the most noble and pious man to lead the Muslim community, it is not based on hereditary links, but only merit. This in itself is very democratic and certainly goes against the trend of the Khalifate to be passed down from father to son. We can blame that on Muawiyya for betraying his pact with Hassan.
Tolerance existed in Islam long before tolerance existed in what would be known as Western Christianity. During the time of the Prophet (pbuh) and the Rashidun Christianity and Judaism, as well as Zoroastrianism and several other major faiths were practiced alongside Islam as it spread and it was illegal to harm them or persecute them. Indeed, though some (like the Shi'a Al-Hakim The Mad of al-Khahirah) would violate the Qur'anic statement: "There is no compulsion in religion", the vast majority of Muslim history relates to minority religions living peacefully alongside Islam. Even during the Ottoman rule which you use as an example for the contrary, Khalifah Mehmed II pronounced freedom of religion in the Ottoman domains and denounced those who would have persecuted the Balkan Christian orders. Jews also enjoyed much religious freedom and prosperity in not only the Ottoman Empire, but also experianced the "Jewish Golden Age in Iberia" during the Khalifates in Al-Andalus. This was during the same time period that Jews were forcibly exiled from most Western Christian Kingdoms.
When the Catholics entered Jerusalem and Antioch, they slaughtered men, women and children, Jews, Muslims and Christians (non-Catholic Christians), where was the tolerance? What about the inquisition? The Manifest Destiny expansion of the US?
I could use some historical examples and say exactly what you have, except about Christianity.
Indeed, today you imply that the Arab people are wrong for wishing to reclaim Palestine, but you group them only as Muslims, why is this? Are Christians not also persecuted alongside their Muslim brothers in the occupied lands of Palestine? I have heard many a tale from Christian brothers and sisters who live there that have brought tears to my eyes. What about Iraq and Afghanistan? I would say that invading and occupying countries is wrong, but that is my personal opinion and apparently the opinion of the majority in Iraq and Afghanistan who want to be free of occupation.
The reason for terrorism is the feeling that it is the only option, this feeling is encouraged by things like Invasions, Occupations, Puppet Governments and Dictators and discouraged by things like Tolerance, Democracy and Freedom. The United States, which preaches Democracy, did not let those words stop them when they destroyed democracy in Iran in 1953, Chile in 1973 and have never ceased to back Middle Eastern, African and Latino dictators who would make deals with the Americans. Even now, they refused to accept the elections in Palestine, only sending funds again now that war has broken between Hamas and their ally Fatah.
Where is Democracy in Arabia? In Egypt? In Pakistan? It does not exist, nor does the US truly want it to, because, like Palestine, it would mean the election of the Muslim Brotherhood (in Egypt) as well as Islamic Parties in Pakistan and Islamic groups in Arabia who are less than satisfied with allowing a Starbucks in Makkah (not joking, it exists).
Before you speak of Democracy and Tolerance, read a real history book and know that Islam was in many ways the vanguard of tolerance and learning for the Middle Ages when Western Christianity (not Orthodoxy) was content with Crusades and the Inquisition. Islam had Timbuktu, Corduba, Baghdad, al-Khahirah, Orthodoxy had Constantinople, the West had a Rome which had long passed its prime and scholars who debated how many angels could fit on the point of a needle and came to the near-unanimous conclusion that the world was flat.