The problem of Muslim terrorism

[Bragi]

Is there a humanist, secular, left-of-centre view/consensus of some sort on a lawful and effective response to Muslim terrorism in America? Where do I find it? The subject seems to be dominated right now by the right.

Just thought I'd ask.

[uppityperson]

1. I think terrorism is terrorism and people should be treated the same no matter religion, sex, age,

skin color, heritage, etc etc etc.

Other than that, not sure what you are getting at, would you please clarify or add more? thanks

[Ozymanithrax]

2. Treat terrorist as criminals, not as warriors...

Work to charge and apprehend them for the crimes they commit in countries all around the world.

Meanwhile, allow countries dominated by western imperialism to control themselves. Let them build their countries, their institutions, and their lives as they see fit.

Address the issues of poverty that keep large groups of people in perpetual ignorance that makes them easy prey for hucksters who want to send them off to die.

Recognize that Jeffersonian Democracy does not work in all places or even most places.

[Bragi]

3. I agree completely, but...

There is nothing you wrote with which I am not in agreement.

But this is where the "however" part comes in for me:

It will take time to implement your 4-point plan. Meanwhile, we have a world religion that is followed by half the people on the planet (?) that advocates/condones -- and I need to be blunt here -- killing Infidels for their refusal to accept/adopt Sharia law.

And I wish this was just a theoretical construct from the Koran but not something we need to live with, but I think we have ample evidence that there are Muslims -- even if they be a tiny few -- who believe as a matter of faith that they have an obligation to act to promote/defend the supremacy of Sharia law.

Personally, I think that's an immediate problem for me and other infidels that is not addressed in a timely manner by your proposed approach.

I don't actually have a fixed solution to suggest, which is why I'm asking.

The other reason is that the headlines in my daily rag are worrisome:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/index.html

[TheKentuckian]

4. Probably learn to ignore it or you'll fuck around an bust this wide open

It is more important to stay away from stoking a global religious war than a few dangerous criminal radicals.

You are looking for the way into the trap. Keep fucking and you'll spread the radicalization, press harder still and it will seem the only option for too many.

Don't be a fool. We have way overreacted to that attack and are creating generational backlash.

There is a segment of every fundamentalist to impose their views and beliefs on everyone. Christian sects have been very much as guilty.

[RoseMead]

5. I think we have ample evidence that there are Christians --

even if they be a tiny few -- who believe as a matter of faith that they have an obligation to act to defend unborn fetuses.

What do you plan to do about Christian terrorism in America? :shrug:

Terrorists are criminals, and should be dealt with as such. Any attempt to conflate Muslims as a group with terrorist individuals is bigotry. That is all.

[Ozymanithrax]

6. We have Christian Americans slobbering to deny rights to Muslim Americans.

We have Christian Americans who work tirelessly to make the U.S. Constitution subject to the ten commandments, thus creating our own nightmare version of religious law as decreed by a bunch of long bearded white dudes pounding on a pulpit. There are Christians "who believe as a matter of faith that they have an obligation to act to promote/defend the supremacy of" the bible. We let them do what they want as long as they do not violate other laws. It is called freedom.

The vast majority of Muslims, don't give a rat's ass about us. They would be fine with us if we did not drop bombs on them trying to make apples sauce of those few bad apples.

We've fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and found that we have not solved the problem with the largest, best trained, and best equipped military in the world. Lets spend the next ten years trying a different way.

There are no instant solutions to this problem, and there will always be some crazy Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jain, Jew, Shinto, Buddhist, atheist who hates us and is willing to kill us. It does not make sense to send the U.S. Military rampaging around the world to kill anyone that looks cockeyed at us. You catch more flies with vinegar than you do with honey. We should try a honey tactic for the next ten years.