Comments on: Encouraging the Rise of Moderate Islam http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:08:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: aliceleng http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81364 aliceleng Sat, 19 May 2007 09:41:34 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81364 salam,i want to know some friends here.contact me...lol... salam,i want to know some friends here.contact me…lol…

]]> By: aliceleng http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81363 aliceleng Sat, 19 May 2007 09:40:52 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81363 i saw your blog and like it a lot! i am a new muslim, so i would like to know more muslim friends. you can take a look at my blog if you want: http://www.muslimfriends.com/blog/aliceleng25 i saw your blog and like it a lot!
i am a new muslim, so i would like to know more muslim friends. you can take a look at my blog if you want: http://www.muslimfriends.com/blog/aliceleng25

]]> By: blackshards http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81351 blackshards Sat, 19 May 2007 04:47:50 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81351 "Many moderate Muslims may not like the extremists, but they hate us more." That's hardly universal and no reason at all not to try. The real issue, as has been pointed out by several others, is the physical security of those who would oppose the radicals. As Michael said, being prepared to fight back is essential. “Many moderate Muslims may not like the extremists, but they hate us more.”

That’s hardly universal and no reason at all not to try.

The real issue, as has been pointed out by several others, is the physical security of those who would oppose the radicals. As Michael said, being prepared to fight back is essential.

]]> By: Dave Schuler http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81313 Dave Schuler Fri, 18 May 2007 23:49:09 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81313 The U. S. is on the horns of a dilemma. There are plenty of “moderate Muslims”—millions in Indonesia and Malaysia, Mali, and Senegal. Unfortunately, their numbers in the Middle East and, especially, in Arab countries are much more limited. If you reward both the moderate and the immoderate, you reward no one. If you support the moderate in, for example, the countries listed above, you isolate the Middle East and it gets worse there. The U. S. is on the horns of a dilemma. There are plenty of “moderate Muslims”—millions in Indonesia and Malaysia, Mali, and Senegal. Unfortunately, their numbers in the Middle East and, especially, in Arab countries are much more limited.

If you reward both the moderate and the immoderate, you reward no one. If you support the moderate in, for example, the countries listed above, you isolate the Middle East and it gets worse there.

]]> By: Jason Steck http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81265 Jason Steck Fri, 18 May 2007 19:25:38 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81265 <blockquote>Jason- when I first posted here, someone compared me to Michael Moore- even though I have never seen any of his movies, just because I disagree with Bush’s Iraq policy. So, it goes both ways, believe me.</blockquote> Fair enough. Its wrong either way.

Jason- when I first posted here, someone compared me to Michael Moore- even though I have never seen any of his movies, just because I disagree with Bush’s Iraq policy. So, it goes both ways, believe me.

Fair enough. Its wrong either way.

]]> By: kritter http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81263 kritter Fri, 18 May 2007 19:10:32 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81263 Jason- when I first posted here, someone compared me to Michael Moore- even though I have never seen any of his movies, just because I disagree with Bush's Iraq policy. So, it goes both ways, believe me. There are a lot of people who disagree with Bush's policies, but aren't part of the far left fringe. Jason- when I first posted here, someone compared me to Michael Moore- even though I have never seen any of his movies, just because I disagree with Bush’s Iraq policy. So, it goes both ways, believe me. There are a lot of people who disagree with Bush’s policies, but aren’t part of the far left fringe.

]]> By: domajot http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81259 domajot Fri, 18 May 2007 18:54:57 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81259 Jason - I'm sure you nobly refrain from categorizing comments and commentators? Jason -
I’m sure you nobly refrain from categorizing comments and commentators?

]]> By: Jason Steck http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81248 Jason Steck Fri, 18 May 2007 18:08:32 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81248 An additional problem is the way extremists operate rhetorically. Any moderate leaders that rise are instantly confronted with accusations from the radicals that they are U.S. puppets, even if the U.S. actually supports them not at all and even if they go out of their way to criticize the U.S. Its the same phenomenon that we can see on the comment threads around here all the time. Any time someone questions the lefties, that person is accused of being a "Bush sycophant" or something similar. Well, its the same phenomenon, except with the death penalty. An additional problem is the way extremists operate rhetorically. Any moderate leaders that rise are instantly confronted with accusations from the radicals that they are U.S. puppets, even if the U.S. actually supports them not at all and even if they go out of their way to criticize the U.S.

Its the same phenomenon that we can see on the comment threads around here all the time. Any time someone questions the lefties, that person is accused of being a “Bush sycophant” or something similar.

Well, its the same phenomenon, except with the death penalty.

]]> By: Lynx http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81245 Lynx Fri, 18 May 2007 18:02:41 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81245 "In addtition, any moderate group discovered to have US backing would become an immediate target for attack." Exactly. Many moderate Muslims may not like the extremists, but they hate us more. For instance, pro-democracy groups in Iran would be ruined if they were found to have the support of the US. Unfortunately we have to get it into our heads that people can simultaneously hate us AND want a democracy. Any help towards democracy or moderation would have to happen so under cover that even the recipients of the aid wouldn't know it was us. “In addtition, any moderate group discovered to have US backing would become an immediate target for attack.”

Exactly. Many moderate Muslims may not like the extremists, but they hate us more. For instance, pro-democracy groups in Iran would be ruined if they were found to have the support of the US. Unfortunately we have to get it into our heads that people can simultaneously hate us AND want a democracy. Any help towards democracy or moderation would have to happen so under cover that even the recipients of the aid wouldn’t know it was us.

]]> By: Michael van der Galien http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81241 Michael van der Galien Fri, 18 May 2007 17:55:23 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81241 I agree with Jason and.. I also think that in the Muslim world, an elite has to stand up that opposes radicals and is willing to wage war against them (see, yes, Turkey's history). I am currently reading much about Turkey, about it's founding by Atatürk, and I have to say: I am learning a lot from it. I agree with Jason and.. I also think that in the Muslim world, an elite has to stand up that opposes radicals and is willing to wage war against them (see, yes, Turkey’s history).

I am currently reading much about Turkey, about it’s founding by Atatürk, and I have to say: I am learning a lot from it.

]]> By: Jason Steck http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81224 Jason Steck Fri, 18 May 2007 17:08:25 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81224 The best route for U.S. aid is through non-governmental organizations. That will help conceal the "taint" and have the side benefits of increased multilateralism in U.S. foreign policy and increased distribution of the aid by people who are culturally familiar the areas where the aid will be used. I read somewhere about an old aid program to Pakistan that sought to build schools and train teachers so that students would have an alternative to the madrassas. The best route for U.S. aid is through non-governmental organizations. That will help conceal the “taint” and have the side benefits of increased multilateralism in U.S. foreign policy and increased distribution of the aid by people who are culturally familiar the areas where the aid will be used.

I read somewhere about an old aid program to Pakistan that sought to build schools and train teachers so that students would have an alternative to the madrassas.

]]> By: domajot http://themoderatevoice.com/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-81223 domajot Fri, 18 May 2007 17:04:45 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/foreign-affairs/12910/encouraging-the-rise-of-moderate-islam/#comment-81223 I second your doubts and concerns. In addtition, any moderate group discovered to have US backing would become an immediate target for attack. It's' a very difficult situation. Anything we try would have to be super clandestine and definitely weaponless. I second your doubts and concerns.

In addtition, any moderate group discovered to have US backing would become an immediate target for attack.

It’s’ a very difficult situation.
Anything we try would have to be super clandestine and definitely weaponless.

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