So nearly one in ten Saudis does support radical jihad? That's over 2,000,000 radical jihadists in Saudi Arabia alone. I had know idea it was so many. This is truly shocking.
Excuse me? Please don't twist my words, or misrepresent the facts I've provided.
The figures say that people sympathetic of their goals and motives, which does not mean they are militants themselves. Many people support al Qaeda because they view it as a response to western attacks on the muslim people, and are dissatisfied with their own countries sclerotic response. Others support radical groups as a way to overthrow these monarchies. It does not mean they are going to pick up an AK-47 tomorrow and start fighting or actually directly support these groups.
GirigiriHanasu said:
What audience does Fitna address? I'd say it was those people who are either too good-natured and tolerant, or too afraid, to acknowledge the connection between radical Islam and terrorism. The connection is spelled out by radical Jihadists in the film very clearly.
In a fashion completely devoid of context and understanding of the key issues. Show me the part of the movie which introduces balance, which gives a good account of the various perspectives of islam? It doesn't, and even suggesting that most muslims support these views, by showing a population graph depicting the massive growth in Muslim population. That has nothing to do with your assertion that the film only serves to inform people about the link between Islam and violence. It is indicative of the films actual purpose; to denigrate an entire religion by a smear campaign.
GirigiriHanasu said:
Where is the intolerance from non-Muslim to Muslim? Western society is bending over backwards to accommodate Muslim sensibilities. There are Mosques all over in Britain (some rather beautiful) whereas in Saudi Arabia it is illegal to build a place of worship that isn't a mosque. I would ask who is the more tolerant?
Its not comparable, because these are societies with very different cultural basis. It does not mean however you can't visit, live and work in Arab societies. You don't go to Saudi arabia to profess your alternate religion, just like you don't go to China and tell them to democratize. For the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this is particularly important since it is the caretaker of Mecca. The vast majority of the populace in Saudi Arabia countries support the current policies (that the country follow islamic principles.) Is it your place to tell them otherwise?
However Britain is claims itself to be a free and tolerant society, it should be judged to a different standard. Yet in the UK,
39% of Britons consider the presence of muslims in their country a threat to their national security, almost the same amount would not let their son or daughter marry a muslim. Over 42% believe that they hold too much political power. This is not what one would consider tolerance, and is part of the reason why violence does exist.
GirigiriHanasu said:
As for shaping people views of Islam negatively: a 15 minute film can't do this.
Seriously, think about that for a second. Are you actually going to argue that if all you watched about Islam was a few films like this, you wouldn't have negative views about islam? If you're actually going to argue otherwise, there isn't a point to go on here.
What this movie does is shape people's views of these acts. Instead of giving an honest account of the motivations behind terrorist acts, which is that they are carried out by an extremely small minority of individuals, it suggests a majority of Muslims support such behavior; which is completely not the case.
GirigiriHanasu said:
However, terrorist atrocities committed openly in the name of Islam (within minimal criticism from 'moderate' Islam) and the call for barbaric Sharia Law to be implemented in tolerant, secular societies shapes these views.
Again, you have shown little knowledge of the subject. There was plenty of criticism from modern islam, as the two articles I posted from the New Yorker and the The National Review made extremely clear. Also, what sharia law are you talking about? Its not like there is "one" set of laws, in reality there are a huge variety of interpretations and applications.
GirigiriHanasu said:
Anyway, my main point is: of course there are moderate, peaceful Muslims (but only 90% according to stats... I really can't believe those...) but this is inspite of the passages in the Koran which openly and clearly call for the violence to or subjugation of non-Muslims. Those passages exist: everyone must surely acknowledge this. And they're being used by millions of Muslims to justify violence. This also is indisputable (according to your stats).
Actually the most virulent form of islamic extremism comes from the writings of Sayyid Qutb, an egyptian scholar who was executed by Nasser in the mid 1960s. After living in the United States to gain his university degree, he found the country morally repugnant. His seminal works, "Milestones" use islamic teachings to justify jihad, but in reality it is far more closer to
Marxist thought than Islam. Most religious scholars consider his work a poor reflection of islam, as do the vast majority of practicing muslims.
GirigiriHanasu said:
So the solution seems obvious: modify, or at least clarify these passages so that such a violent, intolerant interpretation is no longer possible.
Obvious to someone who has no understanding whatsoever of the Islam. The Koran is quite literally the word of god, passed through Mohammed. It has few equivalents in other major religion. Unlike the bible, the Koran has never been edited because it can't; it is considered sacrilege and has never been done.
The wording of the Koran can be interpreted in different manners however, as can the Hadiths, which are stories about the mohammed and his companions. Absent in the film and people's discussion is how other, more common verses, which give alternate perspectives on these issues.
This gets to the core point of my response; islam has very different varieties and perspectives. It is not simply about religious violence and intolerance; only a person who has watched these movies and resources of this type would think so. How violence is used is a complex issue, with the majority of scholars and people believing its use as being repugnant and against the pillars of islam. Moreover of equal and greater importance is the focus on charity and teaching. None of this is apparent to the watcher of these films, which is Fitna's core problem.