Likelihood of Success

And, if it was Islam?

Nov 12, 2009 Faith and Works, Orient

I asked, in a comment to a post on Dean’s World once again debating whether or not “Islam” is what does all this killing, or is it merely Muslims, or maybe none of the above, the following question:    But what’s the point of all this?  What if we all agree, even our friend Aziz Poonawalla — yeah, Islam, or something that calls itself Islam with some meaningful level of authority, has a tendency, and a bad one, to give potential killers an internal moral, psychological and social green light to follow through on their rage and pull the trigger, in a way that no other “major religion” has?

Now what?  Where does that get us?

This guy’s ravings were lunatic enough that he should have been put on ice a long time ago, and the Army completely dropped the ball.  Is our point that it did so because it treats Muslims with kid gloves (even as the military most assuredly does not do regarding certain other religious minorities)?  If so, then let’s focus on that point — because we aren’t about to outlaw Islam or do anything that is either constitutionally or politically impossible about it.

Dave Price, always insightful, answered as follows — and I think he’s right:

“Now what? Where does that get us?”

The first step in dealing with any problem is an honest assessment of the problem. In fact, it is often the most important step.

The acknowledgement of a uniquely Islamic problem with religious violence should lead to increased efforts to moderate Islam — shunning violent radicals, embracing moderate imams, separation of mosque and state, as well as an increase in efforts to reconcile Islam with women’s rights and gay rights.

If the problem was Christian extremists, we would not be having this discussion; they would be openly mocked and derided. There is a cult of political correctness in the West: “Ooh look how tolerant and inclusive I am! I am above tribalism! (except of course my tribe of PC moral relativists which is actually the best tribe!11!1!).”  It shuts down debate by refusing to acknowledge any reality that might involve anything resembling xenophobia.

Well, as I alluded to in the link to the David Tenenbaum story above (here’s another), which unfortunately is not unique — it’s not as if the military is scared of anything resembling xenophobia.  But, you know, it is usually different with the Jews, right?  Anyway, Dave’s point is an important one.