[Politics] Is Islam Compatible with democracy

[LAcrosseRUS]

I have to write an essay in world civ and I have no clue what to say, The question is- "Is Islam compatible with democracy" Thank you

[Bobeo]

Ummm yes? I'm pretty sure that there are musilims living in the United States with no problems whatsoever....so....yes?

[JedimasterKyle]

The religion of Islam is fine with democracy, but the radical extremeists despise democracy. When America was attacked on 9/11, radical extremeists were behind it. They despise freedom and think that only men should have freedoms, but not as many as we have in America. They also take Allah's teachings way out of proportion. The normal Muslims, aka most that live in America, have no problem with democracy as it doesn't interfere or go against their religion.

[Frndlefire]

I honestly don't know enough about Islam to help you out on this. I can't imagine why not though. Perhaps not capitalism, though.

[Coach_Goldberg]

Something to think about... All of the portrayals of Muslims hating Americans in mass assemblies and protests are happing in dictatorships. Do you think dictators like free speech? I think not... So is this an accurate reflection of what most Muslims think of America? I think not. It is a reflection of what most ISLAM STATES think of America, not the people.

[BuckWyld]

yes it is, and so is communism for that matter.

[OldGoalie]

Something to think about... All of the portrayals of Muslims hating Americans in mass assemblies and protests are happing in dictatorships. Do you think dictators like free speech? I think not... So is this an accurate reflection of what most Muslims think of America? I think not. It is a reflection of what most ISLAM STATES think of America, not the people.

Well, technically that's not exactly true. Pakistan, an Islamic nation which had some of the more violent protests over the whole Cartoon thing, is actually a federal republic, which has states, a constitution and an elected president like the U.S. So to say that the portrayals only reflect what dictator states think of America is a bit of an oversimplification.

For the paper, I think you would take the following approach:
1) Decide on your basic stance (i.e. Islam either is or isn't compatible) and then
2) compare and contrast several Islamic states (such as Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, etc.) to test your theory.
3) Come up with a conclusion that either reinforces or disputes your theory.

[Coach_Goldberg]

Well, technically that's not exactly true. Pakistan, an Islamic nation which had some of the more violent protests over the whole Cartoon thing, is actually a federal republic, which has states, a constitution and an elected president like the U.S. So to say that the portrayals only reflect what dictator states think of America is a bit of an oversimplification.


Well, that is against portrayal of their prophet against their religous beliefs. I am talking about anti-American riots/assemblies. I don't believe that videos of dancing, singing Muslims on burning American flags is much more than state sanctioned progaganda. This is all fuel to feed fires on both sides. You know who profits? The Saudis and The Carlyle Group. We hate and kill and die. They just profit out of view of the public eye.

http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html

[OldGoalie]

Well, that is against portrayal of their prophet against their religous beliefs. I am talking about anti-American riots/assemblies. I don't believe that videos of dancing, singing Muslims on burning American flags is much more than state sanctioned progaganda.

OK, we're getting off the topic here, but although it was against their religious beliefs, in many of the riots/assemblies, there were plenty of people burning American and Israeli flags when the U.S. and Israel had absolutely nothing to do with the cartoon situation. I wish I could agree with you that it's only state-sanctioned propaganda, but I believe it's idealistic to think that the anti-American, anti-West, anti-Israel feeling is isolated. I think there is a real hatred taught in many of the mosques throughout the Muslim world, and until that is recognized and changed, you will continue to see flag-burning and terrorism:

http://www.freedomhouse.org/religion/publications/Saudi%20Report/FINAL%20FINAL.pdf


This is all fuel to feed fires on both sides. You know who profits? The Saudis and The Carlyle Group. We hate and kill and die. They just profit out of view of the public eye.

http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html

The fact that the Saudis are allowed to profit in this whole thing and be considered "our friends" is an absolute disgrace. See the Freedom House paper I linked to.

[Coach_Goldberg]

Hate may very well be taught, but I don't think it is about the people hating, but rather that the people are being led to hate. The muslims I have known here in the states (I've known a few) adapt very well to America and still practice the true beliefs of Islam (unfortunately, there is alot of ignorant bias towards them). The point I am trying to make is that it is nothing specifically in Islam that is hateful, and/or uncompatable with democracy. The leaders of Islam with political asperations are the problem, not the people. I just do not want this thread to become a Muslim hate cesspool.

p.s. I am not muslim, just deeply offended by bigotry

[OldGoalie]

Hate may very well be taught, but I don't think it is about the people hating, but rather that the people are being led to hate. The muslims I have known here in the states (I've known a few) adapt very well to America and still practice the true beliefs of Islam (unfortunately, there is alot of ignorant bias towards them). The point I am trying to make is that it is nothing specifically in Islam that is hateful, and/or uncompatable with democracy. The leaders of Islam with political asperations are the problem, not the people.

And that's where I think your views are a bit naive and restricted to what you know in the U.S. Sure, I know a number of muslims here who have integrate well into the U.S. and are law-abiding, good people just like everyone else, but it's not just a bunch of fanatics at the top of these Islamic countries spewing what they want. There are real mullahs preaching Wahhabism and real people buying it. Just look at the ELECTED president in Iran and the crap that he is spewing (denial that the holocaust happened, saying Israel should be wiped off the map, etc.). It's not like he staged a coup in Iran. He was ELECTED by the people. Hamas was legitimately elected and they are on the terrorist list.


I just do not want this thread to become a Muslim hate cesspool.

p.s. I am not muslim, just deeply offended by bigotry

I'm not trying to turn this into Muslim hate cesspool either, but rather I'm trying to point out that it's not a simple as you make it out to be.

In the end, I do believe that Islam and democracy are compatible, if the Wahabbists and Islamofacists can be turned back.

[enjoi]

Sorry, do your own research, hit up a library etc.