Most Muslims 'desire democracy'

[Scurrilous]

Source: BBC

<snip>

The largest survey to date of Muslims worldwide suggests the vast majority want Western democracy and freedoms, but do not want them to be imposed.

"The poll by Gallup of more than 50,000 Muslims in 35 nations found most wanted the West to instead focus on changing its negative view of Muslims and Islam.

The huge survey began following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US.

The overwhelming majority of those asked condemned them and subsequent attacks, citing religious reasons.

The poll, which claims to represent the views of 90% the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, is to be published next month as part of a book entitled Who Speaks For Islam? What A Billion Muslims Really Think."

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7267100.stm

[subsuelo]

1. wow who woulda thought

Muslims are actually very similar to other people??

:sarcasm:

[last1standing]

2. This is just another trick of the islamofascists!

First they kill 4000 of our soldiers over there, now they want to steal our democracy!









:sarcasm:
(It shouldn't be necessary to use the emoticon, but better safe than sorry)

[uppityperson]

3. Incredible that this is news.

[FiveGoodMen]

4. Yes, except for the number of times I've heard/read news stories saying they want Sharia Law

[raebrek]

6. sarcasm is on full throttle here

NO, they want democracy but not the democracy that we have, they want the democracy that they want but not until the rest of the world changes to suit them and then they want democracy. See simple.

Sarcasm is now off.

Raebrek!!!

[uppityperson]

8. Some do, as do some fundie X-tians.

[FiveGoodMen]

15. Which is why it's not so incredible that this is news.

[harun]

14. No one really agrees on what "Sharia Law" is

What most mean by this is at least having some social rules. I doubt any Muslim country would want Saudi's system, neither would Saudi's want a lot of other systems. Muslims know a lot of these conservative rules are cultural baggage picked up through the years as more and more cultures embraced Islam. So having countries socially liberal is the desire of most and they do not feel it is against the religion.

[FiveGoodMen]

16. All agree that it's bringing religious beliefs/practices into the legal arena.

I'm against that.

Against it for Islamic laws, Christian laws, you name it.

[harun]

18. Religious beliefs and practices are what created law and have

been part of every legal system of man.

Having a religious INSTITUTION involved is where the problem lies and is what I am against.

[FiveGoodMen]

19. A lot of laws may have grown out of religious beliefs, but they didn't need to

Most laws that make any sense take the form, "Don't fuck with me and I won't fuck with you."

Murder, rape, theft, vandalism, slander, libel, fraud ... all prohibited because they're messing up the other person's life. No need for a god to clue us in on that!

Furthermore, most of these principles find their way into all religions because they're just inevitable.

The specifically religious rules about sex, drugs, prayer, and so on are exactly the things that shouldn't be allowed any legal weight.

Believe in anything you want, but we do not need god to make our laws. Period.

[harun]

23. Without God sending warners to teach us the straight path

we would probably still get hung from crosses when we said things the authorities didn't like.

Impossible to prove the direction humanity would take either way. But I respect your opinion about it.

[FiveGoodMen]

24. Fair enough. Let's agree to disagree on that one.

:hi:

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[subsuelo]

7. are you being serious?

[Hatalles]

10. It's a dumb comment.

No better than one you'd find on that other site.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RadioactiveCarrot]

11. Although

I'm not Muslim, just a heathen, I'd like some democracy too.
Where can I get a piece of that?

[provis99]

12. the article says this: "What the majority wants is democracy with religious values."

In other words, they don't want democracy.

Before the Tianamen Square massacre happened, a lot of reporters were asking the protesters at the square what they wanted, and they said "democracy". But when a few smart reporters asked what the protesters thought democracy meant, the protesters said "more money". That has nothing to do with democracy, either.

[Malikshah]

13. Thank you so much for defining democracy for me. Thank you.

I can now go and spread the good word.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:


Democracy means many things to many people.

Please define the meaning of democracy; then please provide an example of this definition currently in action in the world. Then try to apply that definition to another setting in the world.

Then you may realize the reason for my response.

[FiveGoodMen]

17. What a snotty and pointless post!

[uppityperson]

20. I am always amazed when people reply like this.

If you think it's snotty and pointless, why reply and kick it? Posting a news article like this stupid one is, though a idiotic article (not meant to OP but an obviousman one) is still news.

[Malikshah]

21. Wow-- so you agree with the monolithic definition of democracy to

which I was responding in my post.

Let me thank *you* for clearing up the issue of what democracy *really* is.

[BreweryYardRat]

22. Well, no shit!

Here's hoping they learn from our mistakes and don't use a two-party system!