I didnt mean to side step your question - I thought I addressed it showing where Orthodox Muslims have taken up arms against extremism.
As far as our public relations goes i think its hard - we are not the catholic church with a centralized leadership - Muslims represent a wide spectrum of adhearants. When African groups associated with christianity like the LRA commit crimes that violate the teachings of christianity - the American people dont blink an eye to defend their faith vs. the actions of the LRA. And what if you did - what if you were constantly being told to speak out against criminal groups who perverse christianity? Youd probably get tired of it after a while and sy "whatever, let em think what ever they want, Im done".
That article you posted summed things up nicely - for 9 years we scream our religion can peacefully coexist with America - and then this year comes and Politicians have even jumped on the anti-muslim band wagon - something they shyed away from in past years.
I dont think its liberal principals that allow Islam to grow in America - its the American founding principals - its scary to hear people say that Islam should be not allowed to gain a foot hold in America - we should be allowed to flourish just as the catholic church has the chance to grow bigger here in America.
I can understand your fears - historicly speaking - once Islam grabs a foot hold in a nation - it tends to spread and in some cases, transform that nation into a Muslim one - this is the nature of Islam - and one reason why Europe tryed desperately to keep it outside the gates of Vienna for centuries.
How many Muslims do you know Danus? - how many Muslims houses have you had dinner? How much interaction with American Muslims have you really had? because I see things entirely different from you - I see Muslims who embrace modernity and the west. What I dont see is the American people (mostly the right) getting to know about Muslims and our faith - My mother is a hardcore evangelical christian - she hates Islam, but she has a son who follows it - She says she spends a great deal of time dispelling things her evangelical friends believe about Islam - not in defense of our religion, which she feels is from the evil, but in defense of her son - you see, she has gotten to know a Muslim family - mine - and she can see what a practicing Muslim family in America does.
I don't think you intended to side-step. I think you answered it the best way you could.
When I use the word Islam, I'm speaking about the religion, and when I use the word Muslim, I'm speaking about the people who follow it.....I now you know thins, but I want to point it out that while I think Islam is evil, I'm not saying Muslims are evil....even though I know in saying Islam is evil, I've insulted Muslims. There is no getting around that as far as communicating this topic. If the tables where turned...I'd be hurt too. I'm not trying to hurt anyone personally, but when we talk about religion.....it's going to happen and we just have to put on our thick skin.
When we say Islam should not gain a foot hold in the US, we mean the religion taking on power. In the US it has traditionally been the Christians in power for the most part. That's changing, but not to any religion really. Rather to a secular form of government.
When lawmakers where more "Christian" we passed our laws to compliment those belief structures; abortion, marriage, adoption, sexual activity...even "blue-laws". (Blue laws where state laws about what commerce could and could not take place on Sundays. Mostly here in the south)
The interesting note......if Christians totally ran this country....what freedoms would we loose today? That's a whole other post right?
The fear expressed about Islam in America (to me) is largely based on the idea of an Islamic power base writing laws that favor the religion based on Islamic law. I don't fear Muslims. How many do I know....NONE really, but that's like asking a white person how many black people they know, or have had over for dinner. That use to get kicked around by black leaders and integration-alist a lot back in the day when we had more segregation. But now that blacks and whites live and work side by side, have equal pay and such, I can tell you I only have two black friends on a block of 50/50 and most on my block won't even wave or look at me....maybe it's just me, but I go to church with one, who I've had over for dinner and we are good friends.
I live in the south where there is no segregation other than economic and I statistically fall in the upper middle college educated class, so that does not even matter...hate and fear knows no income of education I've found. But, if I live in the intercity....the hood....or whatever you want to call it....I'd be hated way more than I am on my block...HA HA HA. I guess we all still have a long way to go, right?
It's easier to play the victim when you belong to a group of people who do in fact have a few "real" victims. All you have to do is jump on the bandwagon. And, that why bigotry, both perpetrators and victims, seem to be about position more than truth. I have a few black neighbors who I know don't care for me because I'm white despite the fact that they enjoy the same economic privileges I do, the same privileges they as a group once said we kept them from, and that's why they are angry! Now that's righteous anger. However not keeping them from it did not make much of a difference. Then what about the blacks I know who I am friends with? ....I think we would have been friends if given the opportunity in 1950. To be fair...I have "Billy Bob Ray" down the street who does not like anyone....
I think the "Christian right" as you mentioned, on whole, does not want to alienate Muslims. But, we are in an interesting situation....Most of us never bothered to investigate Islam until after the 911 attacks. What we don't want is to be hated either and what many do understand is that even though we might statistically be wealthier and more privileged.....we are also hated in the world largely people who profess the religion of Islam. If we are going to share our privileges, our streets, our schools and have you over for dinner....we need to know that Islam is not going to strap on a bomb and set it off at the table......many people don't feel it right now and, while it's our obligation to understand Islam and it's people, it's Islams obligation to show us it's peaceful side, just as I feel obligated to extend a hand of friendship to my neighbors. I can't do that if I can't trust and I have to ask "why should I based on what I know."
Pardon my grammar on this post. In a hurry to meet someone for dinner.
Kidding. 