Stan Geiger

A Moderate Muslim

In my last post, I noted I had seen little evidence of the actual existence of "moderate Muslims." Well, one stuck his head up. Apparently, a Muslim gent ran a full-page ad in the Oklahoman denouncing the proposed "Ground Zero Mosque." In a TV interview, the fellow argued the religion itself calls for the mosque to be built elsewhere, as a show of respect for others.

Good for him.

I saw a panel discussing things on The News Hour. An Islamic scholar and law professor pointed a finger at the media in general for not helping matters. He referred to a recent event in which 5,000 Muslims showed up calling for, basically, civility between Muslims and the rest of the world. He said he saw no mention of it at all in news reports.

I take his point well. There is a gigantic media world out there today, and it makes a lot of money fanning flames.

I am a firm believer in the fact that the only thing that can shut down Muslim extremism is the Muslim world. When those in the reasonable Muslim world make an attempt to do so, they should most definitely be recognized.

Was it Will Rogers that said all he knew was what he read in the newspapers? It might be a different media world, but the more things change the more they stay the same. I don't know what the hell is going on out there unless somebody tells me about it, honestly and factually, with the bias filter on full power.

---