Yes Islam was once tolerant of christianity, but now its the other way round. Go pray to jesus in Saudi and see how many lashes it gets you.

I don’t know why there is a lot of fundamentalism in Islam, a lot of it is directed at ordinary muslims as much as it is at us. Are you saying we are responsible? I dont think so. Liberal guilt my friend is not answer.

Ps I’m pleased you want to see my girlfriend in tight jeans.
😀

Oh and before I forget, there is a fundamental difference between western democracy and fundemental Islam.

Fundamental Islam is a system of tyranny that enforces the will of few on the masses. It denies ordinary people choice, freedom and will. Islam, fundamental or not or cannot claim to represent the voice or will of any group of people. Fundamentalism is basically gangsterism, the rule of the gun, the strong over the weak.

Democracy on the hand is quite different.

Without getting intellectual here Arthur, I’d be quite happy to defend my right to drink a pint of beer, see my girlfriend wearing tight jeans and argue with others on this website.

You want to live in an Islamic state eh?

There are some things worth dying for mate, its not complicated. Don’t forget the freedoms you take for granted didn’t come for free. Europe was once, 500 years ago, almost as bad as any Islamic state is today, but we’ve moved on. Be grateful.

Ink, you’re right I wasnt that clear in my distinction between Islam and fundamental islam, so my fault there.

I must say I find religious fundementalism of any shade – jew, christian, muslim, hindu and so on to be abhorent.

But Islamic fundamentalism is different to any other form of religious extremism because it has political goals. It is more than a religion, it is also a code of politcal control. In essence someone who subscribes to this extremism is unable to tolerate anybody else who does not. So that’s a real problem for the rest of us.

The leaders and preachers of muslim countries like Iran, Libya, Sudan, Syria and a few others have been actively calling on muslims to attack the evil USA at least since the 1970’s. So why should you or I be suprised that things have come to this??? It’s not a new thing. I’m suprised the Americans and the rest of us have tolerated it for so long.

Islam has been used as a political tool to justify hate and terror for years. It’s only coming out now because the Middle East is starting to experience the modern world encroaching on it and thats a problem for Islamic extemists who feel threatened by a system of government the gives everybody the right to make up their own minds.

Ink, are you being an over-excitable little PC bunny, I didnt say Islam was evil, but in my opinion Islamic fundementalism certainly is. That’s just my own point of view, and if it makes you or anybody else want to carry out terrorist acts then that’s really sad.

Mongu – I was merely pointing out that at what point does tolerance become irresponsibilty. Does tolerating the repression of women, the preaching of violence, matrydom, and radical Islam make us more liberal or make us guilty ignoring the victims of this kind of extreme ideology. So what if the UK, the US or anybody else practices politcal expediency, everybody does. Countries have a right to act against groups that oppose their interests and support those who act in their interests. Don’t tell me you don’t do the same in your own personal or professional life?

The UK is becoming a major exporter of terror, think of Richard Reid, and the last two suicide bombers in Israel, for example.

Should the US and Israel break off relations with the UK because of this?

Currently fashionable liberal attitudes that allow Islamic fundementalism to flourish in the UK are diametrically opposed to the conservatism and repressiveness of Islam, yet it is liberals who are Islam’s greatest supporters in the UK.

Does tolerance mean we should tolerate evil as well?

Lazy as well. I started off doing an engineering degree, but ended up with with a politics degree. With arts etc. so long as you can argue and be understood, you’ll pass.

Originally I wanted to be a land surveyor or an engineer. Now I’m a journalist and a TV producer, I do science and technology stuff, which seems a good compromise. Although, admittedly, I work much harder these days.

Softcore.

When I was studying my degree I spent my whole third year going to bed at 5 in the morning.

Lets see…playing Cyberpunk, Ravenloft, clubs, band practice etc etc. I also woke up at 2 in the afternoon everyday, heh heh.

And yes I did get my degree.