I have Always felt that the Institution of religion is "an opium for the poor and weak" to quote a phrase that says it more eloquently than I could. Since the dawn of mankind, the Institutions of religion have preyed upon the common man and financially benefitted from the most powerful drug of all, the ecstacy of a heavenly afterlife. While this will continue to be used, in secular nations such as the United States it cannot be used in the government, but only in private religios settings. This is a very new time to Islam. This is a religion which since its humble beginnings was a world dominating power for over a thousand years. It shadow loomed from Granada in Spain to Africa to Eastern Europe to China to Indonesia, spanning the length of the entire known world. Yet the explosive growth, as in most empires, could not be sustained, and the empire crumbled through inner turmoil, cultural differences and indiginous leaders gaining power. There were many resurgances such as that of the Mughal/Mongol empires in Southeast Asia and that of the Ottoman (Osman) empires of present day Turkey and Eastern Europe along with the Islamic Holy lands. The empires then came to crumble as the industrial growth and age of discovery entered Europe along with it prosperity to rule and colonize the world. During World War I and II many European nations could not sustain their two front battles and many countries became independent. This independance was new to many of these countries and as many areas of the world, lines were drawn not according to tribes and ethnic differences, but more based on conquest lines by Europeans. The ramifications of this are still seen today in the conflicts around the world such as in Kashmir, Africa and Indonesia. What has resulted from the de-colinization is a group of rulers, predominantly those hand picked by the Colonial head and their descendants have been ruling inefficient governments and monarchies, while the people suffer from economic, social and political depravity. Rulers take power by force or by lineage. The majority of muslim nations are ruled by a "King" or by a military dictatorship. The king usually has some "claim" to be a descendant of the Prophet of Islam (though the prophet claimed no one should rule based on lineage) and just like capitalism, if there is not competition to rule or for a product, there is no incentive to overachieve or increase efficiency. And don't even let me start on military dictators. This may sound odd, but the only country where leaders are elected democratically is Iran, and the literacy rate there is one of the highest in the middle east, especially for women, despite economic embargos and significant negative stigma's attached to the nation. Yet the main question is that why don't people revolt? Why do people take this form of nonsense from their governments. We see people so enraptured in their causes they are willing to take their own lives, yet they do not question why their countries are in horrible economic situations. Question why inflation has run rampant, GDP rates are the equivalent of individual US companies and unemployment and illiteracy rates are morbid. Yet these rulers continue to be in Power. While we see many of these rulers in the US and Europe running in Monaco, flaunting their wealth at the cost of their country's souls. My personal feelings about Israel's existence has nothing to do with the fact that Israel's existence has helped keep these inept governments in power by giving something to rally against. You see how the US rallied together behind president Bush and the governement, the same holds true as Arab/Muslim nations constantly use Israel's image as a symbol of unity. I think many arabs/muslims should rise up against their oppressive, totalitarian regimes and take what is rightfully theirs and I think much of that starts with education. The reason these MANIACS think they will go to heaven with virgins waiting for them is not because they read it in the Koran (the Holy Islamic Book), but because it is told to children their whole lives by the Mullah's. Imagine an illiterate nation, and the only ones that could read were religious scholars that wanted their own political battles fought for them. Sounds very reminiscient of Medival Europe and Early Americas.... I think its imperative to stress education to the masses in these countries to rally the people to end oppressive regimes. If they don't like Israel then Fine, go about your business and produce goods, create a stable infrastructure and then work on it in a political and if needs be military manner. Yet many rulers living their plush lives, would rather mask their own economic insecurities and problems with a "blame the US and Israel and the Infidels for our own problems!!!!!" Now most of these leaders look like they haven't missed a meal in quite some time, whereas the wild men burning flags look like they are two meals from starvation. Education truly is the key to ending these regimes in power and limiting "terrorist" activities around the globe.
F.D. Khan -- you make a really interesting point about how they're uneducated and thus rely solely on religious leaders/govt to tell them what the Koran actually says. This was how Christianity was distorted before the Reformation. Ultimately, Bibles weren't in vast supply and only church leaders/ govt were allowed to comment on what it actually said. This helped lead to the Crusades. Then Martin Luther came around and said, "what the hell is going on?? the Bible doesn't say any of that stuff!!" -- not a direct quote!! Then with the printing press the Bible became more accessible and the people could see Luther was right. Of course you still have idiots misinterpreting scripture, but you don't see it on a state-supported level.
