The two commentaries by Dr. Rushdi Cader try to be apologetic for the actions of the Muslim radicals in the Middle East and elsewhere (“Reawaken Muhammed’s words,” Sept. 4 and “‘These murderers are not our own,’” Sept. 11). When it is your faith being besmirched, it raises anxieties and defensiveness. Can’t blame him, considering just what is going on all over the world today where there are Muslims. Dr. Cader tries to put a good face on the situation for what it is supposed to be instead of what it is.
The history of Islam and the world that saw it develop is one of war and violence toward any different faith.
The United States developed its navy to defend its merchant ships from Muslim corsairs whose only reason for attacking us was that we were “infidels,” as explained to President Jefferson by a foreign minister from an Islamic country.
What we see today is the modern version of what has been the norm in the world since Mohammed founded his religion in what is today Saudi Arabia in 627 AD, 600 years after Christ.
Islamic countries like Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, etc., are intolerant of any other religion and any break from the established Muslim religion. Anyone who deviates is apostate and subject to death by one violent means or another. Islam is like the Mafia: You never leave it. Dr. Cader’s efforts at speaking out are heroic. In America, our First Amendment permits us all to express our views on anything—but not in those countries.
This article appears in Sep 18-25, 2014.