A War on Intolerant Islam

Now that my emotions have calmed down somewhat, I might be able to express myself clearly, though again the chances of that are both slim and fat.

Firstly, I know that there are many millions of law-abiding, first amendment respecting, normal muslims out there, including a couple of fellow bloggers, for whom I have the utmost respect. But I am concerned, worried, disturbed, distressed. We are at a crossroads. Especially in the ticking time bomb for our European brothers acoss the pond.

Let's tell things as they are - the one thing in common between these protesters across the world is Islam. Most of them are indoctrinated to believe that someone who caricatures the Prophet Mohammed deserves punishment, even death.

I have no problem in peaceful protests, letters to the editor, all the tools of democratic society can be utilized against an offensive depiction of someone or something you believe to be holy. Please do. As a Jew, I know what it is like when people try and knock you down, trample on what you believe to be holy and sacred. You must fight it, denounce it as racist, abusive, intolerant etc.

But to respond with violence, to call for acts of violence against the perpretators, or any of the other despicable acts we have seen recently, that is beyond the pale. That is something the mdoern world cannot take, on such a scale. A fatwa against Salman Rushdie is unacceptable in today's world.

Liberal open societies work on the system "I may not like what you say but I will fight for your right to say it", i.e. if people want to publish or express their view, however racist, anti-semitic or disgusting I find it, they have the right to do so. As long as it doesn't incite violence. That is the beauty of open, modern societies. Long may it continue. We fought for it for a long time.

However, the attititude of much of the Islamic world is not like that. This is where liberal values and Islam's religious views clash, head to head, in a supreme battle for the world's future, to define what kind of societies will we live in. Will Europe in 2050 contain Londonistan, Central Europe one big Khilafah, our basic freedoms restricted or destroyed? The Middle East regress into a raging torrent of intolerance? The UN voting in a platform of worldwide sharia?

I know I am presenting a worst-case scenario, and there are millions and millions of peace-loving muslims who are also concerned. It is time for all of us to stand up and be counted, to state that we cannot allow this insiduous attitude to reign in our societies. Now is the time, before it is too late. Please.

A concerned and extremely disturbed TRK