The complexity of the muslim world

[almaty 19]

someone like the Pope in Roman Catholic ?

Not really......I think this movement needs to come from the ground up and a leader will emerge.

Merc..who is the leader of all christians? and all jews? it is more complex than that...who is the leader of black america? hispanic america? ....i do not think there will be one voice for muslims...as i don't think there will ever be one voice for all christians...too many differneces in dogma..

Agreed.....I was thinking more of a new voice that emerges that will appeal to a large number of muslims. Certainly not everyone would follow or believe but there are some people that just seem to have the power to bring people together and make the world listen. I think that is desperately needed right now and I think it will come.

Martin Luthor King Jr. was not a leader of all Christians but there was a lot of people that listened to what he had to say. I think the leader in that part of the world would not have to represent muslims.....simply represent peace in a very vocal and visible way. A leader is needed that people can rally around to end the type of violence that is crippling their position in the world.

Imagine a million muslim march on Tehran calling for an end to their nuclear program.......would you be shocked? Probably.....the question is why would you be shocked?

would be great

[Fischkoepfin 1]

Agreed.....I was thinking more of a new voice that emerges that will appeal to a large number of muslims. Certainly not everyone would follow or believe but there are some people that just seem to have the power to bring people together and make the world listen. I think that is desperately needed right now and I think it will come.

Martin Luthor King Jr. was not a leader of all Christians but there was a lot of people that listened to what he had to say. I think the leader in that part of the world would not have to represent muslims.....simply represent peace in a very vocal and visible way. A leader is needed that people can rally around to end the type of violence that is crippling their position in the world.

Imagine a million muslim march on Tehran calling for an end to their nuclear program.......would you be shocked? Probably.....the question is why would you be shocked?

Martin Luther King, while internationally known and valued, had the most influence on people within the US. Outside of the US, people thought he was great and stuff, but they did not necessarily think that he was speaking to, let alone for, them.

The march on Teheran you're envisioning is something that can only happen from within the Iran if the 53+ years of purging Iranian opponents have not quenched all forms of resistance (it hasn't, but it's not easy to stand up if everyone else has ended up in exile, prison, or death).

A leader who could unite the millions of Muslims is as unlikely as a leader who could unite the Western world which seems to experiencing a similar state of disarray as it is becoming torn between crusader-extremists and those that are more moderate.

Edited February 7, 2006 by Fischkoepfin

[rclouse 0]

Well, I for one would like to thank the OP for the links. They show that there are plenty of well educated, moderate, and forward thinking muslims out there. And since their message is one of tolerance & understanding, you're never going to see it on Faux News.

[mawilson 2,133]

why would they want an end to their nuclear program?

They wouldn't. But Israel will bomb Iran's nuclear facilities no later than March or April 2006, so it's not really up to them.

[junglee069 0]

why would they want an end to their nuclear program?

They wouldn't. But Israel will bomb Iran's nuclear facilities no later than March or April 2006, so it's not really up to them.

u really think?

[almaty 19]

why would they want an end to their nuclear program?

They wouldn't. But Israel will bomb Iran's nuclear facilities no later than March or April 2006, so it's not really up to them.

u really think?

i do not think so....not politically correct with their main sugar daddy

[mercuryroad 0]

A leader who could unite the millions of Muslims is as unlikely

If Osama Bin Laden can unite thousands of extremist muslims preaching unimaginable hatred, then why is it unreasonable to assume that someone could unite millions muslims in the call for peace?

[junglee069 0]

A leader who could unite the millions of Muslims is as unlikely

If Osama Bin Laden can unite thousands of extremist muslims preaching unimaginable hatred, then why is it unreasonable to assume that someone could unite millions muslims in the call for peace?

we are too fragmented a group - too many sub-sects, too divided. shia's, sunni's - and amongst those two major divisions, there are further divisions. the sunni's have varying schools of thought - although not conflicting. there are agha khanis, ismailis (same i think), deobandis, sufis (that are further divided into different tareeka's), shias have the sistani shias, then shias that are jafri, and then some other shias......i mean i could go one forever and ever and ever about the different sects of muslims. there are political parties, missionaries...everyone has a different agenda.

how you anyone believe that 1+ billion muslims can somehow be on the same page?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

why would they want an end to their nuclear program?

They wouldn't. But Israel will bomb Iran's nuclear facilities no later than March or April 2006, so it's not really up to them.

u really think?

i do not think so....not politically correct with their main sugar daddy

Not yet. But Ahmadinejad seems hell bent to change that. I don't know it's gonna be as soon as mawilson predicts but it'll happen if that lunatic doesn't back off. And the sugar-daddies in Europe are going to back this one as well...

[mercuryroad 0]

how you anyone believe that 1+ billion muslims can somehow be on the same page?

I have to....otherwise we're all doomed. They don't have to be on the same page in every aspect of life, but they must get on the same page as far as the stance on peace, non-violent problem resolution, and standing up against those that murder and condone murder in their prophets name.

The voice of the greater good is whispering while the extremists are yelling.

[Fischkoepfin 1]

why would they want an end to their nuclear program?

They wouldn't. But Israel will bomb Iran's nuclear facilities no later than March or April 2006, so it's not really up to them.

u really think?

i do not think so....not politically correct with their main sugar daddy

Not yet. But Ahmadinejad seems hell bent to change that. I don't know it's gonna be as soon as mawilson predicts but it'll happen if that lunatic doesn't back off. And the sugar-daddies in Europe are going to back this one as well...

Maybe. I don't believe the Europeans are willing to back an attack on Iran, esp. not from Israel. I also don't think Israel is going to lob (sp?) another missile at an Iranian reactor, not now that Iran actually has medium-range missiles pointing at Israel.

I do think though that the pro-war lobby is trying hard to get the world to the point where attacking Iran seems like a cool thing to do. Hence, we have this interesting interplay between government leaks right before IAEA-meetings about Iran which are usually followed by another outburst of hate from Ahmadinejad, etc. Remember the run-up to the Iraq-war? Same pattern of misinformation and "senior government official" leaks.

[Chuckles 0]

A leader who could unite the millions of Muslims is as unlikely

If Osama Bin Laden can unite thousands of extremist muslims preaching unimaginable hatred, then why is it unreasonable to assume that someone could unite millions muslims in the call for peace?

we are too fragmented a group - too many sub-sects, too divided. shia's, sunni's - and amongst those two major divisions, there are further divisions. the sunni's have varying schools of thought - although not conflicting. there are agha khanis, ismailis (same i think), deobandis, sufis (that are further divided into different tareeka's), shias have the sistani shias, then shias that are jafri, and then some other shias......i mean i could go one forever and ever and ever about the different sects of muslims. there are political parties, missionaries...everyone has a different agenda.

how you anyone believe that 1+ billion muslims can somehow be on the same page?

In the major religions, slavery was accepted and condoned for a very long time. Eventually we all got on the same page and decided slavery was bad and removed it from our societies EVEN THO every major religous script (bible, koran, etc.) condoned slavery.

Its about time we all got on the same page about things like cartoon carictures and revenge killings, don't you think ??

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Maybe. I don't believe the Europeans are willing to back an attack on Iran, esp. not from Israel. I also don't think Israel is going to lob (sp?) another missile at an Iranian reactor, not now that Iran actually has medium-range missiles pointing at Israel.

Better to have conventional medium range missles hit you now than nuclear later. It would be an easy decision for me.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I do think though that the pro-war lobby is trying hard to get the world to the point where attacking Iran seems like a cool thing to do. Hence, we have this interesting interplay between government leaks right before IAEA-meetings about Iran which are usually followed by another outburst of hate from Ahmadinejad, etc. Remember the run-up to the Iraq-war? Same pattern of misinformation and "senior government official" leaks.

I'm afraid you're right on the pro-war lobby. This just in:

[Mirorgate 0]

I do think though that the pro-war lobby is trying hard to get the world to the point where attacking Iran seems like a cool thing to do. Hence, we have this interesting interplay between government leaks right before IAEA-meetings about Iran which are usually followed by another outburst of hate from Ahmadinejad, etc. Remember the run-up to the Iraq-war? Same pattern of misinformation and "senior government official" leaks.

I'm afraid you're right on the pro-war lobby. This just in:

Aawww... I LIKE the little guy