<Finally, this continues to piss me off big time. While working out I see CNN. They interview a mosque buddy of Johnny Walker from CA. This young Muslim absolutely refused to criticize Walkers' actions or those of the 911 crew. Rationalized such as being the individual's "personal interpretation of Islam". If you accept this reasoning, then Islam as a faith is a personal danger to you and to your loved ones. Why do we as a society let this behavior slide without open criticism? If a buncha Hassidic Jews bombed the Empire State building you could bet your net worth that 95% of Jewish leaders would loudly and prominently and most importantly, sincerely condemn the bastards.

I would like a firm statement from the Muslim communities of the free world as well, Phil, but I’m not holding my breath for it. It is all a matter of personal interpretation. It always has been. You just have to accept the fact that, at its very best, the Islamic religion is a disorganized mess. Small wonder so many go off the deep end.

Unlike other accepted religions, there is no central Muslim leader to condemn or condone actions. Allah, and Allah alone, is to judge. Of course this implies Muslims are wrong when they attack so-called ‘infidels’, because, again, Allah, and Allah alone, is to judge -- but here we find a quirk. The argument fails with the realization that Allah, and Allah alone, is to judge Muslims -- the true believers -- not infidels -- you and me. That fact could be interpreted as apparently being left up to the people of Allah, and the people of Allah’s personal interpretation of right and wrong.

The only central leadership for the Muslim community is in Islamic political leaders. Period. Their word, and their word alone, is to be considered holy and binding, and without that leadership, the individual Muslim, as well as Americanized Muslim communities, appear to be completely lost.

There are no easy answers, Phil,
Dan