Geert Wilders' film about the Quran

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I don't agree with the Iraq war whatsoever, or any war for that matter. However I agree with the reason we're there; you do know about Saddam's regime and stuff? Granted, maybe the war was worse than the dictatorship, although it could be argued either way. I can see why some people thought we'd be doing the Iraqi's a favour, and where as they might not agree, I can't see how extremists could ever justify their actions in the same way?

“The right war for the wrong reasons”. Yes Saddam was evil, as were the UN imposed sanctions. Though we’re getting off topic.

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No, I don't think Islam is evil whatsoever, and in the hands of educated, decent people then I'd happily leave them to it. It's somewhat like knives being made to do good, however it's incredibly easy for them to be used for bad - far more than in any other religion. Which other religion over the past century has caused some it's followers to actively leave their countries in order to go and kill OTHER people? Maybe if there are similar religions my view will change, but then I'll only believe that they're just as bad for the world.

In the last century? Probably not to the same extent, not through the same means (i.e. suicide bombers). Though there has been notable atrocities, justified, as it were, through other religions. From Christian anti-abortion fundamentalists, terrorising, attacking, and in cases, “justifiable homicide” of doctors to the Northern Ireland troubles, which though loosely related to religion, played a large role. (I do consider the Northern Ireland situation as a reasonable analogy, underlying problems metamorphosing themselves into religious doctrine, hatred, bile and eventually the bombing of civilians. They may not’ve cried out praise be to God, but their religion gave them an identity.), to the Orthodox Jews in Israel and their targeting of journalists, UN delegations and peace activists, through means including pipe bombs and assassinations to the Hindu terrorists in India linked with the bombings of trains, to the murder of Muslims and the sporadic uprisings and riots. Religion the world over can be manipulated and abused, as can many ideologies.

Yes the Islamic attacks, though probably bore from local indoctrination and problems, have gone global. But the world has never before been so connected, never before been so technologically advanced. Cheap flights, the internet, telephones – I can be anywhere in the world within 24 hours. I can visit a terrorist training camp in Pakistan, learn how to shoot a gun in the US and learn how to fly in Somerset within a week. I think the conclusion that the scale and scope of the attacks is due to Islam is incorrect, they’re a child of our connected times.

I do believe Jason Burke’s summary below is as eloquent and more informed an opinion than I could offer. The usual problem when discussing things such as this against a more hardline view is you invariably end up appearing to defend the terrorists. Which I’m at pain not to. But I’d also strongly advise against generalising about such a large populous, spanning half the globe and including so many differing, sometimes diametrically opposed cultures. Religion and culture are so intrinsically linked it’s difficult to tell when one ends, the other begins.

Jeez mammoth post! To close, I think our difference in outlook stems from the fact I strongly believe generalisations can never be more than a snapshot. The individual, not the collective, is of importance.

So if 3/4th of crimes are commited by muslims (which is also a false statement but lets skip that for a moment) then to you that means 3/4th of all muslims are bad? Who taught you math?