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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sun Tzu who wrote (94875)	4/19/2003 10:25:58 AM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

Second, like most other people I have seen, your only perception of Islam and Islamists is the very extreme militant ones. This is not correct. Of course it's not correct ST... I never said that it was... But the focus IS upon militant Islam because it IS what has shown a violent and militant fervency and intolerance for other religious or political views. I would be JUST AS OPPOSED to militant christianity, hinduism, or Zen buddhism... I have been an observer and student of Islamic fundamentalism since college.. I have been expecting this "clash" between moderate and reactionary Islam to come to a head for years now. And with the demographics of the region (baby boom) now driving the search for some politico-economic system which provides meaning and opportunity to the muslim world, the confrontation is now upon them. Militant factions within Islam are battling for the hearts and minds of muslim youth who have become jaded by the failures of socialism and capitalism to provide such opportunities. Increasingly we're seeing muslim youth turning to militancy because of the corruption of secular governments, although they seem content to ignore the corruption and greater oppression that lurks in these Islamic Theocracies such as Iran. Which is why it's incumbent upon the West, if we wish to avoid increasing militancy and violence, to provide "guidance" toward creating political and economic institutions that ARE successful and meet the needs of the muslim people. And secular totalitarian regimes are standing in the way of achieving those goals and providing moderate and progressive muslims the sound foundation they require to create stability. Islamic miiltants can only offer the trading of one form of secular totalitarian shackles for religious ones. Militant Islam cannot provide the economic and social foundation for providing for the everyday needs of the people. Because when it comes down to the heart of theocratic government, it's run by people who desire power and control over others. People who think they know what's best for society, and who will tolerate no viable opposition from alternative systems. A democracy should be a marketplace of economic and social ideas. It should not be monopolized by a few vested interest who think they know what the people should want. Hawk