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On 12/06/2009 11:00 PM, sjm wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4B1C7DCA.3040107@gmail.com" type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">can make very nice neighbors. It would
be more correct to say that,
<br>
under Shariah Law (the more extreme implementation of Islam), Islam
<br>
is repressive, etc.
<br>
</blockquote>
And, MOST follow the Quran AND Shariah laws closely.
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
According to a friend of mine who is an anthropologist working in
<br>
Islamic Studies, only about 10% of Muslims adhere to the more militant
<br>
strains. We need to keep in mind that, much like Christianity, in many
<br>
places Islam intermingles with other elements as something
<br>
syncretistic...
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
With all due respect to your friend, I don't buy it.....NOT based on
<br>
what I know to be true from personal experience and that of others,
<br>
including some in the military IN Iraq, Afghanistan, and several in
<br>
Pakistan.
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
You should realize that your sample is small and biased, I would hope.
<br>
<br>
According to the Pew Research Center, if you had talked to EVERY muslim
in those three countries, you would have only talked to about 15% of
the muslims of the world (Afghaniston - 1.8%, Iraq - 2%, and Pakistan -
11.1%) and those would be in some of the more extreme/militant areas of
the muslim world (and I'm not going into how the war and opinions of
the military might bias a sample from those countries).
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
I can only judge by what I know to be true, as well as logic. A real
Muslim follows the Quran...ALL of it's dictates. A REAL Christian
follows the Bible and ALL of it's dictates. Thus, I know what a real
Muslim is. Further, my primary occupation puts me in a different
position than the rest of you, where I am aware of a great deal
more.....I see "more," experience more, hear more, and have had my
carcass as a possible target on one occasion last year. I am not at
liberty to discuss anything further, but I'll just classify it as
"security" and leave it at that....<i><b>don't</b></i> ask.<br>
<br>
Fred<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
A REVOLUTIONARY IDEA!
'Time to put Nana Pelosi in a home!'</pre>
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