Listen, I don't argue about past history (apart from the Bosnian vicious Nazi Muslim alliance on the Serbs - my people in WW2), but today, the only ones that kill in the name of religion are Muslims. They SHOUT: ALLAH U AKHBAR! A disabled woman is set ablaze in Paris. ALLAH U AKHBAR! Arab Muslim shout at their "holy" Rape in Australia. ALLAH U AKHBAR! Throats cut in Indonesia & in Iraq. ALLAH U AKHBAR! Kids in Beslan school murdered in cold blood. ALLAH U AKHBAR! Youth in Bali murdered in cold blood. ALLAH U AKHBAR! and on... You know!
You are wrong, Kiwi123. For example, Christian fundamentalists have been prosecuted for killing doctors who perform abortions.
You mean just because America too has been involved in state terror, we should condone Islamic violence. But then there is no sense in discussing any oppressive system, because the US is party to several oppressive ways.
It's the system, the ideology that needs to be analysed and criticised. People are the same everywhere. There are good and bad people everywhere. There is good and bad in each of us. Its the system, the ideology that governs us that brings the best or the worst out in us -- by glorifying and encouraging certain aspects. Like Islam does. Just because it is recognised as a powerful religion and has become a holy cow it cannot escape criticism of its ways --- not even in the name of secularism. If secularism closes its eyes to senseless killings of innocents, as a 'higher value' and as a token of its openness, then secularism is no more than an ideology that strengthens oppressive systems other than which is considered 'ours'.
skywalker: If you cannot refrain from personally attacking other posters, you will be banned, initially for a period of seven days. You will not be warned again.