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Don’t blame Islam

To the Journal editor:

Walter Williams as a columnist has written at length about a need to destroy the so-called Islamic State, and blasted the west for a lack of resolve to do so.

That may be true and we may need to uproot this organization before it turns its mind to us, but the way he does so is far too full of ignorance to take seriously.

He paints Islam as a monolithic beast set to devour the west, which on the whole is simply not true. Even the most cursory review of Islamic history shows a community united by a common scripture, but divided over many issues, from leadership (is it necessary for an Islamic leader to have the support of the community?), to theology, dress, and so much more.

Yes, the Qur’an does have elements that can be used to justify bloodshed, but didn’t the crusaders use Christian beliefs for the same purpose? Even the spread of democracy has been used to justify warfare.

It is tempting to adopt Islam as a replacement for communism as the monolithic enemy conspiring to destroy the west, but the world is not that simple.

Contrary to Williams’ portrayal, the core of Islam is a religion of peace and equality. While the Qur’an may say ” and kill them wherever you find them, and turn them out where they have turned you out,” it also says “fight in the way of God those who fight you, but do not begin hostilities; God does not like the aggressor.” In the charity and other regulations the prophet Muhammad laid down, Islam began, and in some ways still is, tolerant of other monotheistic faiths, egalitarian in social class and even (strange as it may seem to our modern ears) gender issues.

Throughout history, people have interpreted religion in many ways in response to changing circumstances. Deplorable as they are, even the jihadists who destroyed the World Trade Center made choices in historical context that make a tragic sense.

Our defense must begin with understanding the cultures in which hate of the West is bred, and the history behind them. We don’t need to agree with everything the Islamic world says, just see where they are coming from.

If we cannot speak their language and see where they come from, we are left with nothing but a hate that will eat up all its prey, and last consume itself.

Christopher West

Marquette

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