tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29459499.post3132059487672384327..comments2024-01-29T21:39:07.526+02:00Comments on This Ongoing War: A Blog: 09-Jan-15: Moderates, murderers and jihadOz_in_Zionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13661581252423495040noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29459499.post-13863925453085862072015-01-09T17:15:25.839+02:002015-01-09T17:15:25.839+02:00Nice to hear about a moderate Muslim cleric - Imam...Nice to hear about a moderate Muslim cleric - Imam Chalghoumi. <br /><br />I am sick and tired of our politicians (USA politicians) claiming that these terrorists are "not Muslim", and "it has nothing to do with Islam". Well, obviously they are Muslim, and obviously it does have <b>something</b> to do with Islam. <br /><br />On NPR this morning they interviewed a Muslim community leader who said "you can't use Islam to justify these attacks". Well, this is blatantly false, people can and do use Islamic texts to justify murders such as the ones in Paris. What no Muslim leader ever seems to say (but what it sounds like Imam Chalghoumi is trying to say) is "We <b>should not</b> use Islam to justify murders and terrorism." <br /><br />This is a subtle difference, but "cannot" implies that your culture and values are entirely defined by Islam; "should not" implies that your observance of Islam is informed by a larger set of cultural values (including your own conscience) - which perhaps might include living side by side with Jews and others in peace as equals.<br /><br />No progress will be made unless we squarely face the facts.B. Smithnoreply@blogger.com