Wildwood - “... I will probably be castigated but will from now on not be tolerant and decry anything to do with Islam...”
It never ceases to amaze and dismay me how the media portray Islam. They put muslims into two distinct categories – moderate and extreme. They imply that one version of Islam is lovely, cuddly and non-violent and the other is intolerant, dangerous and threatening. They are at pains to suggest that the numbers of the former outweigh the latter by an order of magnitude.
The problem with this view is that both of these two 'types' of muslims believe in exactly the same Islamic scripture. Therein lies the problem. The 'extreme' muslims are the outspoken ones who believe that Islam is the chosen religion for the entire planet. Their goal is to convert – forcibly if necessary – every single person to be a muslim. If a person refuses to convert, Islam gives them two choices – become a Dhimmi or a Kafir. If the non-muslim values their life (and who doesn't?), a Dhimmi is preferable as it offers you some limited legal status within an Islamic legal system. The Dhimmi pays exorbitant taxes as a result of living under the 'safety' of Islam and they effectively become slaves to their muslim masters. As a Kafir, your life expectancy will be short. The Koran makes no bones about the status of the Kafir – he is an infidel and as such can be killed without mercy.
The 'moderate' muslims also believe in the above. They have to – it's in the Koran. The difference between the 'moderates' and the 'extremists' is mostly a matter of the willingness to tell the truth about what is contained within the Koran and the opportunities afforded to them to enforce their system of belief/government on to the non-believers. The 'moderates' very rarely (if ever) discuss the appalling parts of the Koran within the earshot of non-muslims. They chose to either deliberately mislead the non-believers or are themselves guilty of failing to understand the teachings and implications of their own religion.
In short the 'moderates' and the 'extremists' believe in exactly the same thing. One is overt, the other covert.
I've linked this video many times before but it really is essential viewing for anyone interested in how duplicitous members of the aforementioned 'moderate' muslims really are when they don't think anyone's listening...
http://www.metacafe.c...er_mosque_the_return/