My question has to do with Muslims -- why do we hate them?
We fear the violence, fanaticism, intolerance, and dedication to mayhem their religion - as interpreted by many of their current "holy" men - often condones. We have suffered mass murder at their hands, see that they are actively preparing for more mass murder, and naturally are fearful and on guard.
It's not hate, it's watchfulness and fear on the part of most of us. Their religion is in the process of becoming highjacked by aggressive fanatics. The fanatics are already in charge of Iran, and are planning who-knows-what. We would be negligent if we were not watchful and vigilant. Best to take them at their word, especially after 9/11.
Generalized "hate" is not a part of most of us, though I think most of us hate despots, dictators, and terrorists.
Most Muslims are in the grip of a culture which has made no progress for centuries. In a very real sense they are their own worst enemies, particularly as they seem innately unable to examine themselves for faults. They are very childlike in this sense, as it always someone elses fault that things go wrong. It's hard to hate them for that since most Muslims do not seem to recognize this failure to self-examine as a source of their culture's shortcomings. Their leaders, however, and their intellectuals, are a different matter altogether. They should know better, and should push their culture into more progressive and rational modes of dealing with others. |
