The Howard Government's multicultural spokesman, Andrew Robb, yesterday told an audience of 100 imams who address Australia's mosques that these were tough times requiring great personal resolve. Mr Robb also called on them to shun a victim mentality that branded any criticism as discrimination.Substitute "U.S." or even "the entire world" for "Australia" in that last sentence and that's exactly what I want to hear our leaders say, verbatim. Yes there are many "moderate" Muslims, Muslims who believe that violence is not the way, that violent conquest, retribution, and overreaction is antithetical to modern civilization, and those Muslims are all over the world, and some do speak out. Unfortunately, too few of those Muslims, the ones who dislike seeing their brethren burning effigies, taking misguided and violent retribution for unintended insults, rioting, etc., over ancient feuds, cultural misunderstandings, or just words, rarely, if ever, speak out against, much less actively work against, the more violent elements in their society and faith.
"We live in a world of terrorism where evil acts are being regularly perpetrated in the name of your faith," Mr Robb said at the Sydney conference.
"And because it is your faith that is being invoked as justification for these evil acts, it is your problem.
"You can't wish it away, or ignore it, just because it has been caused by others.
"Instead, speak up and condemn terrorism, defend your role in the way of life that we all share here in Australia."
Mr Robb said unless Muslims took responsibility for their destiny and tackled the causes of terrorism, Australia would become divided. [emphasis mine]
It'd be good to see them do so. . . and for Bush & Co. to call them on not doing so.
ETA: I also like what Angela Merkel said yesterday:
I think self-censorship does not help us against people who want to practise violence in the name of Islam. It makes no sense to retreat.
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