Roger Scruton says that the problem with Islamists is that they take themselves too seriously:

Now of course it is wrong to give gratuitous offence to people of other faiths; it is right to respect people's beliefs, when these beliefs pose no threat to civil order; and we should extend toward resident Muslims all the toleration and neighborly goodwill that we hope to receive from them. But recent events have caused people to wonder exactly where Muslims stand in such matters. Although Islam is derived from the same root as salaam, it does not mean peace but submission. And although the Koran tells us that there shall be no compulsion in matters of religion, it does not overflow with kindness toward those who refuse to submit to God's will. The best they can hope for is to be protected by a treaty (dhimmah), and the privileges of the dhimmi are purchased by onerous taxation and humiliating rites of subservience. As for apostates, it remains as dangerous today as it was in the time of the prophet publicly to renounce the Muslim faith. Even if you cannot be compelled to adopt the faith, you can certainly be compelled to retain it. And the anger with which public Muslims greet any attempt to challenge, to ridicule or to marginalize their faith is every bit as ferocious as that which animated the murderer of Theo Van Gogh. Ordinary Christians, who suffer a daily diet of ridicule and skepticism, cannot help feeling that Muslims protest too much, and that the wounds, which they ostentatiously display to the world, are largely self-inflicted.

He also notes that for this reason, and others, "fascist" is not an unreasonable word with which to describe them.

Islam is a very conservative, very right-wing religion, which means people within it predisposed to that sort of politics are even more virulent, moderates are kept on a short leash, and liberals better keep their mouths shut. Recognizing this fact, how then does one begin to address inherent problems in a religion? Like all other conservative cultures, such as the Southern US, outside advice is met with acute hostility and resentment, and internal dissent considered disloyal.

The answer for Islamism is the same as for the South, albeit on a much larger scale: Stop trying to avoid offending them, and don't give them any choice but to respect other people's freedom. Now, that doesn't mean invading other countries who never attacked us, or trying to terrorize billions of people with the threat thereof, but it does mean having an assertive, unthreatening attitude, and using force only in self-defense. In other words, the best way to beat them is to be the opposite of what they are, not just a mirror-image.

As I recall, there was a war involved with changing the attitudes in the South... in fact, it was an unprovoked one.

"As I recall, there was a war involved with changing the attitudes in the South..."

No, there was a war involved in putting down a domestic insurgency. As the US government reestablished constitutional authority, the amicably repatriated traitors were informed they'd no longer get a free lunch on the backs of others, and they agreed to that by virtue of surrendering.

True, a century of cowardly hypocrisy and terrorism followed, but that too was eventually dealt with assertively. Today the remaining Confederate sympathizers and racists only have left what they are entitled to have--the right to express their opinions and coexist in peace with others. The lesson took them a damn while to learn, but they have mostly learned it, and so can other likeminded people--be they Islamists or Republicans.

Now if we could only teach liberal Democrats to crack a smile.

BS: True, a century of cowardly hypocrisy and terrorism followed, but that too was eventually dealt with assertively.

Yes, for almost a century after the Civil War, the southern states provided a block vote to the Democrat Party. It was a shameful period of hypocrisy and terrorism.

Islam is a very conservative, very right-wing religion

What an amusingly mindless thing to say.

What is it that's "right-wing" about the mullahs? Do they favor lower tax rates? Reducing welfare? Fewer government regulations? Fewer restrictions on gun ownership by citizens? Cuts in social programs?

I guess that "right-wing," like "fascist," is just an all-purpose, but essentially meaningless term that leftists use to describe anything that they disagree with.

Islam is a very conservative, very right-wing religion.

What an amusingly mindless thing to say.

= = =

They are anti-sexual freedom. I wonder what the mullahs think about Darwin and evolution.

They are anti-sexual freedom. I wonder what the mullahs think about Darwin and evolution.

I'm sure they're agin' it. So? You're using arbitrary litmus tests, and ignoring any that don't fit the silly thesis.

"Yes, for almost a century after the Civil War, the southern states provided a block vote to the Democrat Party."

And now they provide a block vote to the Republican Party--for about the same reasons.

"It was a shameful period of hypocrisy and terrorism."

That it was, and liberals finally got tired of it and sent in the FBI and National Guard--but only after more passive efforts ended with three naive kids at the bottom of a swamp.

"Now if we could only teach liberal Democrats to crack a smile."

We smile all the time, but maybe some day a Republican will crack a book.

Want to compare libraries BS?

Grand Kleagle Robert Byrd, what political party is he still a member of?

And before Brian claims he's apologized, I'm curious, please provide citation and full quote that includes either "I was wrong to join the Klan" or "I am sorry I was a member of the Klan."

Claiming that joining the Klan will merely leave an albatross around your neck sounds a lot like "I'd have gotten away with it, except for those darn kids" to me.

Gee Brian, how far into you small intestine did you have to delve to vomit this piece of intellectual snobbery??????

Then again, BS from BS is the norm.......

Wasn't Brian just recently railing about bigotry?

Hilarious.

Oh, and I'll match Cecil's offer.

Obviously, some people are impervious to irony.

I think its starting to get obvious that he is just invoking verbal triggers that he knows will spur a response from certain individuals. Here's how I believe would be the best way to address him in the future:

Yes Brian your are absolutely brilliant, I never thought of it that way before. Your insight into such matters is beyond compare. Tell me how does one cram all that detailed and accurate knowledge into a human head? Why I just can't seem to wrap my mind around such concepts because of their extraordinary complexity. Your embarrassing me by making it just seem so gosh darn easy. Do you have a fan club?

Josh says: Yes Brian your are absolutely brilliant, I never thought of it that way before. Your insight into such matters is beyond compare. Tell me how does one cram all that detailed and accurate knowledge into a human head? Why I just can't seem to wrap my mind around such concepts because of their extraordinary complexity. Your embarrassing me by making it just seem so gosh darn easy. Do you have a fan club?

You know, of course, somebody has to point out that "Your" in two cases you used it, should be You're. :)