Response ...

In response to my recent post on Moderate American Muslims ... a recipient of that email wrote back ... at the end is my reply

I find it hard to believe there are no moderate Muslims because of the
butchering of this family. It is more likely that the moderate Muslims are more
afraid if the extremists find out they have taken a side other then theirs.
Cowardly? Possibly. It's hard for me to accept an all or nothing point of
view. One would hope whether they fear of retaliation or not they would still
come forward and denounce any wrong doing by one of their own.

Powerless and isolated within their own mosques it's not hard to understand
the silence. Labeling the masses in any religion is just as wrong as them not
coming forward and denouncing the murders and wrong doings. Our history as
Jews surely shows this.

We are watching history take place in the Middle East. Should we be
concerned with the fundamentalists taking control (God Forbid)? Absolutely! I
pray that wont happen as I know all Jews do. Iran is our biggest threat to
having this happen.

I find no advantage in further isolating the American moderate Muslims
(however many there are here) considering the line they are walking. Although I
would like to see more of them step up and take the risk that their brothers
in arms are willing to die for.

I believe we have a unique opportunity to help free these regime burdened
peoples in the middle east and around the world. We should embrace the
opportunity and have faith our way of life is what they're truly after and not
the annihilation of our peoples because of our race color or creed.

In the end result only history will tell and as much as we would like to
believe we can control the outcome we are all powerless to a peaceful end. I
truly believe that without a good freedom fight by the parties affected
there can be no basis for a continued peaceful future. Look at what our own
country went thru and how many Veterans died for because they believed our way
of life was worth dying for!

Peace = Compassion and Kindness

In reply:

While what you say has merit ... the problem is that we are being naive to thing that they only reason they do not stand up is fear for their lives ... in the United States there are Muslim organizations and they do not speak out on these issues against violence except for the token response just like the Palestinian leadership ... they say it nicely in English and turn around and in Arabic say congratulations ... Saudi Arabia provides a stipend for families of suicide bombers ... American TV talks about the modern progressive very small minority of Arabs who are educated ... unfortunately they are not in leadership positions nor are they likely to be in one in our life times ... the spot light does not shine on Palestinian schools, television and media that depicts Jews as vermin ... it does not point out that in Egypt for the entire time of the peace treaty Mubarak never did anything but lip service to promote peace with Israel ... neither in the education system nor in the newspapers - he allowed Israel and Jews to be the demon that was causing all the problems of the land ...

So, I am not denouncing any vast majority of any group ... I am just sick of the public and the Media speaking about Moderate Muslim Arabs ... remember they consider Assad of Syria a moderate as he murders his own people and continues military rule over his people.

If there really are moderates let the speak out in English and Arabic ... and let the Media report reality not the fiction they would hope might be reality

Yes, there is some very small glimmer of hope but remember the same American group that went and determined that the Taliban could be a positive influence ... the CIA ... are now interviewing the rebels in Libya ... there track record is not so good ... remember they did not see the over throw of the Shah of Iran ... the dictator we put in power .... they did not see any of these revolts coming ... so their track record and judgement is questionable

these are scary times and it is important to shine the light on the darkness ...

respectfully