Moderate Muslims Turning Radical? (Why appeasement actually fuels radicalism of moderates)
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So the question again is: What goes through the mind of a moderate Muslim, who thinks the world will submit to Allah in the distant future, when they see this predominately Judeo-Christian nation going to great lengths to tolerate Islam now?
Though America’s actions are done in hopes that tolerance of Islam will result in Muslims being more tolerant of non-Muslims, an unintended consequence is emerging, namely, that these actions are actually radicalizing some moderate Muslims by providing proof that the world is submitting to Allah – not in the distant future – but right now before their eyes!
They become persuaded that that their long-awaited desire of the non-Muslim world “dar al-harb” (House of War) becoming “dar al-Islam” (House of Islam) is imminent.
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Islamic excitement can be understood in the context of honor or pride. […] In a football analogy, if a team is dishonored by many seasons of poor performance, fans are humiliated, embarrassed and become passive. But if the team suddenly has a winning streak and is headed toward the playoffs, fans are filled with pride. They come out of the woodwork, put on the team’s jerseys, fill stadiums, paint their bodies, mascots are lifted high, and when the opposing team fumbles, the cheering mob roars with enthusiasm. They become radicalized. […] In nature, when a fleeing antelope becomes exhausted, the pursing lion charges harder.
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Could it be the more the West exhibits hyper-tolerance, the more it turns some moderate Muslims, who believe the world will submit to Allah in the distant future, into fundamental violent Muslims, who view this tolerance as evidence the world is submitting to Allah now?
“Personal” tolerance in the West is rooted in Judeo-Christian concepts like “love your enemies” and “turn the other cheek,” but Franklin D. Roosevelt warned regarding “national” tolerance in a Fireside Chat, Dec. 29, 1940:
“No man can tame a tiger into a kitten by stroking it.”